Apr. 23--DURHAM -- Police Capt. Jon Peter laughed on Wednesday when he saw a familiar, one-arm chair making its debut at the new District Three police substation.

The weathered chair, transferred from the old substation at Shoppes at Lakewood, had seen better days. But that piece of furniture was among hundreds of items entering a new home at the much larger, better appointed station.

The new station is at No. 8 Consultant Place at a cluster of businesses at the intersection of Shannon Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, in the South Square area. It's in the former Coldwell Banker office, and sports upscale wood paneling, a freshly painted interior and meticulously cleaned carpets.

The building was bathed in sunlight Wednesday as computer cords lined the floors and officers tried to get things organized. The atmosphere was hectic, but upbeat.

"I think it's a good location,' Peter said. "We need the size. Our old location was definitely too small. This makes things much more professional and efficient.'

Peter said the new substation has two interview rooms, instead of one in the old station, which will help his detectives and High Enforcement Abatement Team (HEAT) unit when they talk to suspects and witnesses.

He said the station is more centrally located, noting that District Three 'has really grown more in the southeast corner toward the Southpoint, N.C. 751 and N.C. 54 area.'

"Our district is huge,' Peter said, estimating that it covers 30 square miles and includes about 80,000 people.

He said an open house is tentatively set for May 16.

Lt. Kevin Cates, who has spent hours helping to arrange the move, said the hardest part was "coordinating the technology.'

All the computers had to been disconnected at the old station and reconnected. On Wednesday afternoon, progress was being made, but not all the bugs had been worked out. Yet "there haven't been any major hiccups,' Cates added with obvious relief.

At nearby MHS Unlimited Corp., which provides services to those with mental health and substance abuse issues, clinical consultant Melissa Stewart was happy about her new neighbor.

"I think it's great,' she said. "We feel safe. Other than the potential parking problems, I think we're going to be all right.'

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