The South Sound 911 board voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a site for a new consolidated dispatch center at the old Puget Sound Hospital in Tacoma.
The board still needs to reach an agreement with Pierce County, which currently owns the 5.34 acre site. The Pierce County council would then need to formally approve the agreement.
The land will be appraised and its cost to South Sound 911 will be the value of the land, minus the cost to demolish the building, South Sound 911 said in a statement.
"The existing knowledge about the hospital site paves the way for staying on schedule," South Sound 911 Executive Director Andrew Neiditz said.
Construction on the project is set to begin in March 2017.
"The support from both boards, and from both fire and law enforcement, really signifies that this is a good path forward," West Pierce Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Jim Sharp said. "It works for South Sound 911, it works from an operational perspective and, ultimately, will work for the communities we serve."
Currently, 911 calls in Pierce County are coordinated between four separate locations. The new center will put all resources under one roof and enhance emergency services according to South Side 911.