Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration is rethinking the much publicized move of the police headquarters to 46th and Market, despite the start of $250 million in renovations and plans for an art installation and possibly even a new Police Athletic League branch.
According to reports first in Phillymag.com and then Philly.com, the Kenny administration is assessing the feasibility of moving police headquarters from its current location at 750 Race St. to the old Philadelphia Inquirer building at 400 N. Broad, leaving the future of the sprawling 87-year-old Provident Mutual Insurance Co. campus at 46th and Market in question. Kenney told Philly.com that the plans to move to West Philly are now “up in the air.”
In a proposal devised by Michael Nutter’s administration, the Provident campus was planned to be renamed the Public Safety Services Campus and would include the Department of Public Health and the Medical Examiner’s Office. But Kenney told Philly.com yesterday that the Provident campus might be better for “health-related” services and that moving police to the Inquirer building would place it near City Hall and other downtown offices.
The City Council approved more than $250 million in funding to complete the renovations at the Provident, which were scheduled to be completed by December.
June 2nd, 2016 at 10:15 am
What the heck?!?
June 2nd, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Supposedly the brass never liked that it wasn’t centrally located, even though the large campus means they could combine several different functions, as the article mentions. Now Kenney is looking at buying the old Inquirer building and converting that for just the police. Except they would have to buy that building and convert it and they have already sunk a couple million into converting 4601 Market.
So they would have to buy and convert the Inky building from scratch as opposed to finishing 4601 Market, which the city got basically for free.
June 2nd, 2016 at 2:32 pm
dammit. i was looking forward to an influx of popo.
am i alone in thinking this smacks of a back room deal?
June 2nd, 2016 at 4:05 pm
OOOOOOF Course!!!! Nothing in this city is what it claims to be….
HEAD SPINNING!
SOOOO what do they plan a nice juicy turn over to a jannie contributor?
Sickened at the apathetic lazy evil self serving arses in the hall. AND GREEDY! GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY. Creeps that use their positions to serve themselves. Makes me wonder what Kenny wants From Jannie that he’s not getting
June 2nd, 2016 at 5:40 pm
I guess it’s all fun fun fun till her daddy takes the T-Bird away. Bah Humbug. too soonish? Well, as Grinchy as my sourpuss face rebuffs as I consume this stale air of languid pursuit or the indelible green promises she or so made, I must note, I may in fact remain at ease that the creepy ME’s office won’t inhabit that dusty old relic of assurance in not, dirty insurance.
June 2nd, 2016 at 8:31 pm
This shouldn’t even be considered at this late date! There isn’t enough money for schools or pre-K, so how could there be money for this?
June 3rd, 2016 at 9:37 am
How would the ME’s office and DUI breathalyzer testing and other whatever benefit local business in West Philly? How would it benefit the residents. Who cares? Tilting at windmills. Sour grapes. Who cares. Are the West Philly denizen so righteous that they must be indignant over EVERYTHING? That is not a rhetorical question.
June 3rd, 2016 at 10:22 am
It would be a let down if this magnificent building, on the brink of coming back to life, is allowed to slip back into disuse. I was optimistic that the influx of all of those city workers would revitalize the businesses around there. Gotta have some good lunch options besides hoagies.
June 3rd, 2016 at 11:08 am
RE: What does Kenny want. I would place a strong bet that once jannie “BACKS the SUGAR DRINK TAX” All will be well with her special project… In My Opinion