How to measure Peel Plaza success

There’s more newspaper coverage about the divergent opinions about Peel Plaza around the council table. 

I’ve criticized the project before, but am starting to come to terms with the fact that this will happen if I like it or not.

One of my criticisms of the project is the apparent lack of a proper cost-benefit analysis.  Setting aside the costs, it is important for the city to outline the desired benefits of this project so we can measure if the development is a success down the road.

We’re told that the current police station is not ideal.  I imagine this to be the case – operating a station in an office tower can’t be easy considering the constraints that come with it.  Thus, it is logical to conclude that a new police station (Peel Plaza or otherwise) should make for more effective policing.

I think we should measure the success of the new location on all or some of these metrics:

Are crime rates lower 5 years after the police move into the new station? (If the police are unable to do their jobs in the current location, presumably citizens will be safer once they have moved.)

Is employee turnover lower? (A better work environment should lead to better job satisfaction.)

Are recruitment costs cheaper? (A new facility with good technology should be attractive to new cops.)

Do people feel safer?

If we can answer yes to these questions in a few years I would say the new police station is a success (even if it cost a lot).