Police may add substation in Downtown Pittsburgh (Liberty, Penn: lease, hotel)

[tyovan4]

Hoping to make people feel safer in Downtown, Pittsburgh city leaders are trying to place a police substation in the Golden Triangle.

Possible sites include the Lantern Building, 600 Liberty Ave., which officials toured last month, Mayor Bill Peduto’s office confirmed Thursday. In a Nov. 28 letter, he asked the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust whether the nonprofit might lease space there to the city at a reduced cost or no cost.
...
Wendell Hissrich, city public safety director, said the substation idea arose during a community meeting over the summer. He noted “numerous complaints from residents and from visitors that they are somewhat hesitant to go Downtown in the Market Square area.”
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The space also would give city officers an efficient stop to do paperwork, saving them a trip to the Zone 2 police station in the Hill District, officials said. Mr. Hissrich said officers from the Port Authority, Point Park University and other agencies could use the facility, too. He would like to have it in place before spring, he said.

“I think it’s probably long overdue, to be honest with you,” said Scott Schubert, acting Pittsburgh police chief.
...
Police may add substation in Downtown Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

I'm glad to see that City leadership has finally been pressured enough to do something long-term about safety concerns downtown. It also seems like a good idea to have it be a multi-agency space - definitely good to collaborate with the Port Authority Police.

I definitely support this moving forward

[bradjl2009]

I think this would be a very good thing to do. This would be a benefit for the public and the officers themselves as well. I feel like we might be one of only a few cities with no police station of any sort in Downtown.

[Copanut]

Sounds like a good idea.

[gladhands]

Can't see a downside to this.

[slavicamerican]

It's kind of surprising this hasn't happened already. I spent a weekend in the Hotel Monaco this summer and was put off by the after hours crowd downtown. Penn Avenue is great, but Liberty and up to Mellon Square is just as funky as it was when I left in the 90s.

[bluecarebear]

Yes!!!!!!!

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by gladhands

Can't see a downside to this.

I know the temperature is frigid, but you and I agreeing on something is like H-E-double-hockey-sticks freezing over

[erieguy]

I think it's an excellent idea and will serve a great purpose. I hope the acceptance is still so welcoming when the police continue to enforce the law and the criminals are left to pay for their crime/s.