GUSTINE – The city is exploring the possibility of purchasing the former Sletten’s building in downtown Gustine to convert to a police station, officials have confirmed.

Council members met in closed session June 16 to discuss negotiations on the property, located at 5th Avenue and 5th Street.

City Manager Margaret Silveira said numerous details remain to be worked out, but that the property holds great potential.

The building is currently occupied. If the city moved forward in purchasing the building, officials stressed, it will assure that the current business tenants are relocated.

“We definitely do not want to put anybody out of business,” Silveira stressed.

Silveira said she will further research costs and report back to the council in closed session July 7.

“The council wants to know what the overall costs are, not just the building,” she explained.

She and Police Chief Richard Calderon said that the size of the building would lend itself to Police Athletic League facilities as well as housing a police station.

The city has been exploring a variety of options for replacing the cramped, inadequate facilities the police department now occupies.