Tamaqua borough will back a loan for a new police station and community center.

During Tuesday’s borough council meeting, borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt explained that the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership is managing the proposed project at the former Moose Building on East Broad Street.

“Part of the funding for that project is a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project grant, which is a reimbursable grant,” he noted.

Steigerwalt said the partnership is seeking a $2 million construction loan to cover the costs until the grant is reimbursed. Partnership director Micah Gursky asked Steigerwalt whether the borough would back the loan in the meantime.

“We’ve done this in the past,” council President Brian Connely said.

Council voted unanimously to back the loan.

“When they find a finance institution that may require some additional action from council,” Steigerwalt said.

Bids for the project are due today.

The partnership purchased the building in 2022 along with adjoining parcels on East Mauch Chunk and Pine streets. Blighted buildings on those properties have since been leveled to make way for a 36-space parking lot.

Plans are to have space in the 10,000 square-foot building for a two-story, state-of-the-art police department. The police department is headquartered at the Tamaqua Municipal building, 320 E. Broad St., which also houses borough offices and borough hall. The building was constructed as the Tamaqua Armory around 1913, according to borough records.

The community center will be in a different area of the building, which had been vacant for decades.

Retired state Rep. Jerry Knowles helped secure the grant. Knowles, who worked as a Tamaqua police officer beginning in 1972, said the department hadn’t changed much since he was employed there.

Once work is complete, the partnership will turn the property over to the borough to operate.