Norwich - Residents and business owners had varying reactions Thursday to the city's plans announced a day earlier for a $33.4 million police station at the former Sears store and several adjacent lots at the junction of Main and Cliff streets.

"I think they should," said Tony Carignan of Norwich, who comes downtown just about every day. When told the price tag, he paused only briefly. "They gotta spend it. They gotta do it. That's a good spot."

Carignan and Brenda Grimes were standing across the street from the proposed new location. They said they come downtown virtually every day. Grimes volunteers at the Salvation Army on Main Street. While they don't feel unsafe, they pointed to what they think are the problems spots - Franklin Square, Boswell Avenue, Cliff Street and nearby Greeneville.

But Amanda Hall, who was walking on Franklin Street with her 6-year-old daughter and a friend waiting for the bus, didn't like the idea from the start. She repeated her objection stronger when she heard the price.

"Hell no. No, no, no," Hall said. "The first headline ought to be 'Are you crazy?' They should put the money back into the schools."

She said she doesn't feel unsafe downtown, because "there's nothing happening."

Business owners and Otis Library Director Robert Farwell, however, welcomed the idea and agreed with city officials who said a new station in the heart of downtown would change perceptions that the urban center is unsafe and would make the area more inviting to shoppers and new business owners.

Norwich Coin and Jewelry on Franklin Street is one of the longest running downtown shops at 25 years. Owner Jackie Quercia said she would not mind her taxes going up for the police station.

"It would encourage more people to come downtown and open businesses," Quercia said. "It has to help. It can't hurt."

The project has been in discussions behind closed doors for months as city officials first settled on the top priority site for the project and worked out a proposed purchase price of $2.57 million from the Lord Family Nominee Trust and the estate of Edward Lord. The two entities own the several properties involved, including the former Sears building, an auto service garage behind the main building and several adjacent parking lots.

Public discussions start Monday, when the City Council will consider a resolution allocating $100,000 as an option price to secure the properties through the anticipated Nov. 6 referendum on the $33.3 million that would needed to be bonded.

Public comment will be taken on the option resolution at Monday's meeting, at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. A public hearing on the project is expected to be scheduled for the July 16 council meeting.

Mayor Peter Nystrom and Police Chief Louis Fusaro also plan to hold public information meetings before the referendum. Nystrom said Thursday he will schedule the first one for Otis Library, across the street from the proposed new police station.

Fusaro said he would be willing to schedule meetings with civic groups, neighborhood watch groups or "anyone who will have us." Fusaro said the building was obsolete as soon as it opened in 1979 and is woefully inadequate and cramped.

"We will have many public meetings," Fusaro said, "because I think we have a good story to tell, and when people hear the facts, they will understand our needs. We've been talking about this since 1998."

c.bessette@theday.com