OCEAN CITY – The city’s long-discussed plans for a modern public safety facility once again have a new look: The latest one calls for demolishing the current structure on Central Avenue and building a new one at the same location.

Just recently the city entertained the idea of moving the police and the courts to a historic building on Asbury Avenue commonly referred to as the Crown Bank Building. It is currently being used by the Police Department as a temporary space until a new facility is constructed.

But the building, which hosts about two dozen boutique-style shops on the first floor, turned out to be too large a renovation task.

Five years ago the city explored the idea of a new public safety building on the site of Fire Department headquarters on Sixth Street. The price tag and some objections to the location caused officials to move to a plan to expand and renovate the current safety building, but due diligence on that proposal found higher-than-expected costs.

The city has $30 million in place to finance a new or renovated structure, but there is no assurance that $30 million will be all that is needed.

Meanwhile, construction of a police substation at Eighth Street and the boardwalk is slightly behind schedule, but the expectation is that the facility will be ready for use by Christmas.

The substation will serve as a temporary home for the department and afterward will support police personnel right at the boardwalk during the busy summer months when the population swells. During those months the police force also expands with the addition of Special Class I and II officers.

The city bonded a total of $15 million for the substation construction and upgrades to Fire Department headquarters.

Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com