City, Police Dept. Weigh New HQ Options

by Eldon Graham

THE INQUIRER BUILDING stands at 400 N. Broad Street, as an empty hub and a monument to the old days of the Philadelphia inquirer and the Daily News. Philadelphia officials finally want to put it to good use, such as housing Philly’s finest. Photo by Eldon Graham

Round and round we go, and where it stops, only Mayor Jim Kenney, for now, knows where it will go. It is in the hands of the mayor since his administration is tasked with finding a solution to the perilous working conditions of the Philadelphia Police Dept. Headquarters, better known as the “Roundhouse”. Plans for a new and improved PPD HQ may finally have some traction now that Mayor Kenney’s administration is showing interest in the former longtime home of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News on Broad Street.

Since the early days of former Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration, the Philadelphia Police Dept. has been looking for a new permanent HQ. Their current headquarters at the Roundhouse at 8th & Race Streets has had a number of problems over the years, significant enough that top brass believe a move is warranted.

City Controller Alan Butkovitz declared the department’s aging infrastructure “substandard and dangerous” as long ago as 2006. Four years later, Butkovitz found many of the problems unfixed. In 2010, he called on Nutter to spend $1.2 million to at least correct major issues such as fire-code violations, leaking roofs, and electrical problems.

In 2009, complaints of mold on the ceilings, holes in the walls and cramped offices at the Roundhouse, caused then-Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey to comment, “The conditions in which officers have to work leaves a lot to be desired,” adding that “it makes a difference in terms of the ability to be able to effectively fight crime.”

Numerous incidences of flea infestation have resulted in cops feeling uncomfortable in their own surroundings. Another source of discomfort in the building is its poor insulation. The walls leave little to the imagination and do even less to shield occupants from the outside elements. In summer, the building is well above ideal temperatures; it can feel well below freezing in the winter. Commercial insulation will be top priority for the building.

The Inquirer Building, formerly called the Elverson Building, has been vacant for the past five years. In October 2011, Philadelphia Media Network sold the building to developer Bart Blatstein of Tower Investments, Inc. (The Inquirer and Daily News moved to their current location at the renovated former Strawbridge & Clothier flagship department store at 8th & Market Streets.) Blatstein had originally intended to turn the Inquirer Building into a casino, but those plans have since fallen through.

According to a statement released by Mike Dunn, deputy communications director for the City of Philadelphia, “The Kenney administration is in the midst of a thorough review of plans developed by the previous administration to relocate Police Headquarters and the Medical Examiner’s Office to 4601 Market Street. This is due diligence, given the scope and anticipated cost of the entire project, as well as a thorough review of other space needs.” The building at 4601 market was known as the Provident Mutual Life Insurance building, the company for which the building was constructed.

THE ROUNDHOUSE building, which currently is Phila. Police Dist. HQ and houses the boys in blue, has had reported infrastructure problems for a decade.

Dunn’s statement added there are multiple options to look at. Many believe the Inquirer Building to be a top candidate. “In light of this review, it is incumbent on the administration to simultaneously review various options, while we also continue work at 4601 Market to move the site’s improvements along. The administration is committed to choosing a site that meets the needs of the affected departments, particularly the Police Dept., and that is a responsible choice for taxpayers.”

The Market Street location was selected during the tenure of Mayor Michael Nutter, who had hoped to get it up and running before he left office. The estimated $250-million cost is one of the prime reasons Kenney is seeking a more cost-effective solution. In fact, to many City Hall observers, undoing Nutter’s costly financial projects has been one of Kenney’s themes since he took office. A sizable amount of money has already been poured into the 4601 Market Street site.
“The City has spent $40 million to date for acquisition costs, design plans, environmental remediation, selective interior demolition, exterior renovation including windows and roof. Work continues at the site,” Dunn said.

MAYOR KENNEY and his administration believe the old Phila. Inquirer Building is a valuable option and an potential resource for a new Police HQ. Photo by Eldon Graham

3rd Dist. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, who fought long and hard to get PPD headquarters in her district, could not be reached for comment on the shifting status of the situation.

Compared to the Roundhouse’s dilapidated structure and problems, the 526,000-square-foot Inquirer Building seems like it could be put to good use for Philadelphia’s finest. Some in City Council think that it is a good-enough idea, including 1st Dist. Councilman Mark Squilla, who has said he supports selecting the Inquirer Building – “if the police are OK with it and it works for the administration, then it sounds good to me.” (The Inquirer Building is across from Squilla’s district, opposite Broad Street.)

There are some obstacles to the Inquirer Building’s suitability, including its underground parking garage, which has a narrow one-way access ramp leading from the parking garage out to Callowhill Street. The driving ramp is wide enough for only one car to pass through it at time. This is not ideal for people who have to be on the move and at the ready at all hours of the day, especially when their presence is needed. The response times for leaving the building and reaching disturbances may be hindered because of these logistics.

It is also unclear if the building can hold enough police cars and people to get to crimes and dangerous situations. The administrative staff will also will need accommodations in line with parking and workstations as well. A parking garage does operate across the street from Inquirer Building. However, there is some doubt the police will want to pay for parking.

FORMER Mayor Michael Nutter and former Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey led a contingent of City officials along with former Congressman Chaka Fattah and 3rd Dist. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell during a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new police HQ in 2014 at the Provident Mutual Life Insurance Building located at 4601 Market Street. Photo by Kim Glovas

The Mayor’s Office continues its stance that nothing has been finalized, or is close to being resolved. “As no decisions have been made, it is impossible to comment on cost comparisons, but I reiterate that the administration is committed to choosing a site that meets the needs of the affected departments” – the Nutter plan called for other City agencies, including the morgue and medical examiner’s offices, to be relocated to the Market Street location as well – “particularly the Police Dept., and that is a responsible choice for taxpayers,” Dunn said.

If another location is deemed more suitable for the PPD, then alternate plans for 4601 Market Street will be made accordingly. “The City is committed to finding other uses for that space if these departments are ultimately located elsewhere. It will not be abandoned,” Dunn emphasized.

When asked if there was a timetable on making a decision, the administration said, “If 4601 Market is used for the current plan, completion would be first quarter of 2019. If the Police Headquarters is relocated to another site, projections for both cost and completion date could not be determined until that decision is made.”

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