**Updated 9:30 p.m. April 16
SC Johnson will donate $350,000 for a new COP house on Mead Street in Mount Pleasant.
This is the first Community Oriented Policing house in the village, and the money will be used to build a single-family home and initial programming at the house, according to a story in The Journal Times. The home will eventually transition into a private residence.
Mount Pleasant police Chief Tim Zarzecki said SC Johnson made the overture, and he only found out Wednesday morning before the announcement was made. He said in a statement that he appreciates the support from SC Johnson.
“The police department alone cannot solve the complex social issues that affect a neighborhood. It truly takes a partnership among residents and businesses working together to bring about impactful change,” he is quoted as saying.
Land at 2229 and 2237 Mead Street was approved Wednesday at the Planning Commission and will go before the full village board on May 12.
Racine Community Outpost already owns the land and will build a single family home on one parcel. The second parcel was rezoned from conservation to “residential single family/overlay institutional or public service” for construction of a community policing office.
MPPD Chief Tim Zarzecki told Racine County Eye that Outpost approached him about a COP (Community Oriented Policing) house on the southeast side of the village and that he was hoping there would be support at both the village board level and in the community.
“We’re working on getting support (for the house),” he said. “The first step was getting the land.”
With the gift from SCJ, much of the financial issue has been resolved.
This would be the first COP house in the village. There are six in the City of Racine, one just a few blocks away from the proposed Mount Pleasant site, at 1750 Mead Street.
Construction is expected to begin this spring and complete later this fall.