Pittsburgh police poised to open new Downtown substation next year

A new Pittsburgh police substation slated to open early next year in Downtown will be larger and house more officers than the substation that’s there now, officials said.

In a unanimous final vote Monday, City Council approved a deal to lease office space at 439 Wood St. from PNC. The space will replace the current Zone 2 substation on Liberty Avenue at the start of the new year.

The new substation will be larger, with space for community meetings, bicycle storage and e-bike charging for police, Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said.

Eighteen officers and a lieutenant will be assigned to the site, Police Chief Larry Scirotto said.

Officials said the new substation will allow people to walk in and talk with an officer or community liaison, and it will create a more visible police presence in the Golden Triangle.

The city initially was considering a $590,150, five-year deal to lease the space. Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, said Monday that he and Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, renegotiated the deal with PNC to save the city about $213,000 over that five-year period.

“They just truly want to be a partner with the city of Pittsburgh,” Coghill said.

The agreement includes the lease, renovations, utilities and maintenance.

Related:

• Plans advance for new Downtown police substation on Wood Street

• Pittsburgh police look to open new Downtown substation on Wood Street