ANTIOCH — After months of delays, a police substation at the Sycamore Square shopping center is expected to open in the coming weeks in an effort to increase visibility in an area that has seen its fair share of violence.
The substation will serve as a space where police personnel, community service officers, and parking enforcement staff can meet and interact with residents and business communities, said Antioch Public Information Officer Jaden Baird.
“Teams and work groups will also be able to use the space for breaks, meetings, and operational needs,” Baird told this news organization.
The substation will also be available to community-based organizations for meetings and engagement activities.
While no nonprofits have been identified for use of the space, there have been discussions about how various groups could use the substation for programs, community connections, and outreach, said Baird.
With the substation, city officials hope it will help residents feel comfortable coming in to seek assistance, support, or resources.
“This aligns with the department’s vision of increasing community engagement by creating a local hub where staff can work and actively invite community participation,” Baird said. “Additionally, maintaining a visible presence in the area is intended to enhance safety while strengthening collaboration and support for local businesses and residents.”
Work to convert the space into a substation had to be put on hold as the property owner was out of the country “for an extended period,” said Baird.
City officials were able to coordinate necessary upgrades to the space only after the owner returned.
“As work began, several additional issues were identified that needed to be addressed further before construction could proceed, including electrical code compliance,” said Baird.
While it is slated to be available to the public this month, the city has yet to settle on a specific date to open the substation.
For decades, the Sycamore Drive corridor has struggled with drug activity and violence. In 2021, then-Mayor Lamar Thorpe proposed a citywide crime-prevention plan to help local youths involved in illicit activities get off the streets.
Thorpe also proposed putting property owners and businesses “on notice,” warning that those who didn’t take action to curb criminal activity on their properties would be declared as a public nuisance.
The idea for a substation at the Sycamore Square shopping center, which sits in the heart of the Sycamore corridor, was first discussed years ago. Its implementation was put on the back burner after a texting scandal and investigation into widespread misconduct rocked the Antioch Police Department.
As gun violence surged in the area in 2024, councilmembers revisited the idea for a substation.
In April 2025, the City Council approved entering into an 18-month lease agreement with Yahya Korin Sycamore Square LLC, starting July 1, 2025, through the end of December 2026, for a cost of $33,127.50.
The project also received support from Contra Costa County Supervisors Diane Burgis and Shanelle Scales-Preston, who contributed a total of $25,000 toward the substation.
According to a city staff report, the Antioch Police Department received around 2,600 calls for service within a quarter-mile radius of Sycamore Square from April 1, 2024, to April 14, 2025.
Most of the calls were for fights, drug violations, disturbances, stolen vehicle cases, and loitering complaints.
During a community meeting on Jan. 20, Sgt. Dan Fachner from the Antioch Police Department said officers have made it a “priority of going through” the Sycamore Square area during their patrol checks.
“We have a relationship with some of the business owners over there, who will call and let us know if there are large groups gathering, and we’ll try to get there and get everybody cleared out of there during that timeframe,” said Fachner.
The soon-to-be-opened substation will increase police presence in the area, Fachner added.
Beyond the substation itself, improvements are underway throughout the shopping center as the property owner has been working on upgrading lighting, signage and paint, said Baird.
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