New St. Louis Police Headquarters
For the most part a police headquarters isn’t much different than any other office, so reusing a 1990 office building makes perfect sense. During the open house last Saturday I saw every floor of the new St. Louis Police headquarters, it seems like the space worked well for their needs.
It’ll take a few weeks for police and civilian staff to get relocated into the new building. Hopefully having the long-vacant building occupied again will lead to nearby storefronts getting new businesses. The police are leaving their old headquarters built in 1927 because renovating it for their continued use would’ve cost considerably more. Besides, they couldn’t have stayed during renovations.
What will become of the old building?
— Steve Patterson
It’s a very pragmatic, cost-effective solution in a fairly central location. I think the big challenge, now, is the future of the old headquarters building – finding a viable reuse will be a challenge, and without one it will be hard to justify “saving” an historic and iconic structure.
I’ve heard there’s already interest in the structure. I think someone will rehab it, my question is what will the selection process be?
Glad to see this smart-looking building getting a new use. The exterior even has the look of a modern city police department. Just need the SLPD shield embossed/frosted into that central glass column to complete the scene.
Hoping too the presence of the police department accelerates the redevelopment of downtown west. It’s been happening in small parts for awhile but maybe this can help begin the cascade.
I too hope this will help spur interest in the surrounding area.