Mayor Mary Verner won unanimous support Monday for her plan to buy a police evidence warehouse and an office building by borrowing from the city's main investment fund. The council approved the purchases of the Gardner Building, 1427 W. Gardner, for $1.8 million and the Great Floor warehouse, 4010 E. Alki Ave., for $2.8 million.

Last year, voters rejected a bond proposal that would have included $11.5 million to build a new evidence building. Under the new plan, the city will spend $2.8 million to buy the warehouse and $600,000 to upgrade it. Verner said Monday that she's hopeful the new evidence building will be functional by the end of the summer.

Under the plan, the city will repay its investment fund with savings from vacating leased space, including offices at the Monroe Court, a building owned by Dr. Marcus DeWood. DeWood has lobbied against the plan and criticized the city's financial analysis of the deal. Verner asked another well-known Spokane developer, Mark Pinch, to speak about the plan. Pinch told the City Council that the proposal was sound.