The downtown Federal Way Police Department substation is nearing readiness, said interim Police Chief Andy Hwang.

“The project is progressing very well,” Hwang said of the substation, located at 31620 23rd Ave. S. “We’ve executed a one-year lease agreement, and I want to thank Mayor (Jim) Ferrell for finding the space and also want to thank Mr. Pat Rhodes for donating the space to us at no cost.”

The substation is located at the Park Lane Executive Center, a 40,000-square-foot office building in the city’s downtown core, directly across from the Transit Center. The substation will take up 2,000 square feet on the building’s first floor.

“It’s located strategically downtown, and it will go a long way in terms of enhancing our security and safety of the downtown area,” Hwang noted.

He said the city is currently reviewing bid proposals for signage, and waiting on a part to complete the substation’s “network connectivity.” Hwang showed renderings from two companies for a fairly permanent “monument” style sign for the substation during the brief presentation he gave to the Federal Way City Council on Feb. 18. After those two items are taken care of, he said the city is aiming for a grand opening sometime next month.

Ferrell thanked Rhodes for making this space available to the city for free, at least for the first year or two.

“Again, thank you to Pat Rhodes who made this space available, free to the city, at least for the first year or two,” Ferrell said. “We’ll see what happens. We’re putting a pretty permanent sign there, so we’ll see how that plays out.”