The move-in date may be a couple years away but we’re getting a sneak peek of what the new headquarters will look like for the St. Petersburg Police Department.
- Rendering released of future SPPD headquarters
- New headquarters will be built across from current headquarters
- Completion date is December 2018
The St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday approved the initial construction details for the new police headquarters and held a demolition ceremony at 1301 1st Ave. North.
Mayor Rick Kriseman took the first swing at the old police department annex, calling it a crime scene -- a crime that the department worked in the run-down building for so long.
"I was actually embarassed when I first toured," he said. "Here we are, we're the fourth largest city in the state, and we have some of the best police officers in the country working for us. And they're having to work in these conditions.
The actual demolition of the building will take place on Aug. 1.
All the hand-me-down furniture and cramp workspaces will make way for a new $70 million, 167,000 square-foot police facility.
One of the first things residents will notice about the building is the glass. The mayor said it's because the chief wants it that way.
"He wants his department to be transparent," Kriseman said. "And he wants people to be able to see what's going on, and that's what the glass is for."
Chief Anthony Holloway said he thinks the new building will be great for moral.
City council members also approved $6 million for a renovated firing range at 1845 13th Ave. N., and $5 million for an onsite parking garage.
Police say the site prep will take about a year, with construction beginning July 2017. The completion date is December 2018.
The building will house the police department’s 562 sworn and 230 civilian employees.