A Hertel Avenue police station that was closed last month due to mold problems will likely be temporarily relocated to an old school in the Riverside neighborhood, The Buffalo News has learned.

Sources confirmed that officials are in the final stages of negotiating a deal to move

operations of the Northwest District police station to the former All Saints School at Esser

Avenue and Eckhert Street. The vacant complex is located just east of Riverside Park.

Officials from Mayor Byron W. Brown's administration could make an announcement within

several days.

Following a complaint filed by a police officer, the station at 669 Hertel Ave., west of

Elmwood Avenue, was closed last month. Operations were temporarily moved to a shuttered school

at Minnesota Avenue and Cordova Street. Walk-up service has been provided to constituents at

the Central District police station at 695 Main St.

Some have raised concerns that a prolonged stay by officers at the University District site

could hurt police response times, especially when trouble calls involve incidents in

Riverside, Black Rock and on the West Side.

City officials said environmental tests revealed no hazardous levels of mold or asbestos in

the Hertel building. However, North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr. said it was determined

that removing the mold could take up to several months. Golombek said he's pleased that the

police station will apparently be moving to a site in the heart of the Riverside neighborhood.

News of the likely relocation came on the same day that Mayor Brown and Council members

received a letter from state Assemblyman Sam Hoyt. The Buffalo Democrat commended Brown for

making a "reasonable" decision to close the police station. But Hoyt claimed his constituents

are "growing more concerned" that the relocation could undermine police services. He submitted

a list of questions to the city, asking them to disclose how public safety has been affected

since the station was closed. Hoyt said residents also want to know how long the Hertel

station will remain closed, whether visitors to the station should be concerned about their

health, and other lingering issues.

Some police officers have also claimed that there were elevated numbers of illness in the

building. The administration responded that the amount of sick leave in the district is the

lowest in the city.

Hoyt said "transparency" is key when health issues are involved.

"I encourage you to hold a public information meeting where all of these questions can be

answered openly and honestly," Hoyt told the mayor in his letter. "Our police force and the

entire community need these answers."

Hoyt's letter angered Golombek, claiming residents have been keep abreast of developments.

"He's Sammy-come-lately," said Golombek, almost shouting. "Sam should worry about what's

going on in Albany. This is simple grandstanding by Hollywood Hoyt."

Golombek is contemplating a challenge to Hoyt in the September Democratic primary.

The former All Saints school building had been on a short list of alternative sites for the

temporary relocation, but there were concerns about space availability. The Boys and Girls

Club has a grant to use some of the complex for youth programming. Golombek said officials

have concluded that there will be adequate space to accommodate both entities.