Gulf Shores City Council will take up an issue concerning the old Sacred Heart Hospital near the airport.  They will have further discussions about it becoming the new Gulf Shores Police Department Headquarters. The subject is planned to be addressed by the city at the March 4 council work session.

The council will discuss a contract with Police Facility Design Group to present a plan to retrofit the former Sacred Heart Hospital south of Cotton Creek Drive and east of State Route 59.

“The City contracted with PFDG for the design of an all-new Justice Center which would combine the police department, jail, and municipal courts under one roof, a memo from Construction Manager Clint Colvin states. “Unfortunately, when the bids were received in December, all bids came in significantly over budget. In an effort to keep the project within budget, the decision was made to retrofit the former Sacred Heart Building with the Justice Center. This will provide the updated facility so desperately needed by the GSPD within the original budget for the project.

The project will also include adding a jail to the rear of the building and the total cost for the design would be $1.5 million.

The building has remained empty for years after the medical group left the premises.