Even the nicest, most expensive new building would be far less expensive than remodeling the old police station. Upfitting old buildings for modern use is an enormously expensive undertaking. If they had wanted to spend 3 times as much to redo this building, rather than putting up a new building, then everyone would be screaming that it was a waste of taxpayer dollars. No developer would have bought it, because the price he'd have to charge a potential buyer after the remodel would have made it unsellable.