City Council advances its plan for Downtown police substation

Liberty Avenue site to open by Nov. 18

Pittsburgh City Council gave preliminary approval Wednesday for a police substation near Market Square.

The city is planning to open the Downtown outpost at 600 Liberty Ave. — the Lantern Building — by Nov. 18. Officials have said it could house a command post during large events, plus offer visibility, general help and a place for officers to file reports. Mayor Bill Peduto has said the facility would serve as as a “general mini-station” and help the city transition to a system of seven police zones, up from six now.

Plans call for the city to lease the building from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust; the rate would be $1 annually for five years, plus a $5,000 security deposit. Total costs to the city are budgeted at about $82,000 for the five years, including taxes and utilities.

The figure does not include modest improvements at the building, such as bulletproof glass, said Wendell Hissrich, the city public safety director. Expenses for that work have yet to be finalized; Mr. Hissrich said donors are providing support.

“It’s a combined effort between the city, the business community, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and some other organizations that have come together to make this happen,” he said.

City Council is expected to take a final vote Tuesday on a lease authorization for the substation.

Also Wednesday, council members gave preliminary approval for a $2.3 million contract with Purvis Systems to install a new fire and emergency medical services alerting system. Fire officials have said the system will modernize the city’s method of dispatching fire and EMS calls.