Philly considers new home for police HQ

    A plan to build a new, high-tech police headquarters in one of Philadelphia’s old buildings has taken a step forward.

    Philadelphia City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell has introduced bills that would allow the city to borrow as much as $250 million to convert the vacant Provident Mutual Life Insurance Co. building into a modern police hub, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports Sunday.

    The 87-year-old landmark building at 46th and Market Streets has been empty for about six years, and the move could transform the police department and the surrounding neighborhood. The plan also calls for moving the Medical Examiner’s Office to the Provident Mutual building.

    If the city council approves the two funding bills the project would take two to three years to complete.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal