3/21/2009
Public Building Commission, (312) 744-9277
Chicago Police Department, (312) 745-6110
Mayor Richard M. Daley today cut the ribbon on the new Englewood District Police Station, a state-of-the-art facility designed to address the needs of 21st century law enforcement.
“Like all of our new police stations, this facility features modern computerized technology so that our police officers can rapidly and efficiently address emergencies,” Mayor Daley said. “By investing in these types of capital improvements — police stations, campus parks, libraries, and firehouses — we are creating strong neighborhood anchors that contribute to community pride and improve the quality of life for our residents.”
The $21.1 million station, located at 1438 W. 63rd Street and serving the Seventh Police District, was built by the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC). The new Englewood District is a modern police station that was built to help meet the needs of the community as well as the challenges of contemporary law enforcement. The 44,000-square-foot facility is twice the size of the old Englewood District Police Station, which was built in 1954 at 6120 S. Racine Avenue.
The new Englewood District is a modern police station that was built to help meet the needs of the community as well as the challenges of contemporary law enforcement. The 44,000-square-foot facility is twice the size of the old Englewood District Police Station, which was built in 1954 at 6120 S. Racine Avenue.
The new station will represent another investment in the Englewood community. In recent years, the community has benefitted from the new Engine Company 84, the new Englewood Senior Center, the West Englewood Branch Library, Miles Davis Elementary School and the new Kennedy-King College campus.
Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis, PBC Executive Director Erin Lavin Cabonargi, Alderman JoAnn Thompson (16th) and other public officials joined Mayor Daley for today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The opening of this new station will help give our officers more resources to better serve the community and give the community yet another new anchor,” said Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis.
The new police station is equipped with features that enhance the Chicago Police Department’s overall technology initiatives, which are essential for crime reduction and community policing:
- A high-tech roll call room to enhance presentations during briefings and training sessions.
- A community meeting room to promote neighborhood involvement.
- An advanced fiber optic network for high-speed communuications and easy expansion.
- Locker room facilities and a fitness room for officer health.
The station is designed to achieve “Gold” level certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The environmentally-friendly features of the building include a green roof, reflective surfaces to reduce the urban heat-island effect, recycled content in buiding materials, such as ceiling tiles and flooring, and a stormwater management plan.
“We believe that this station will stand for decades as a symbol of the Police Department’s commitment to the community,” said Erin Lavin Cabonargi, executive director of the PBC. “The design balances the competing demands of both security and openness, and does so in a structure that will benefit the environment and future generations for decades to come.”
The PBC manages construction and renovation projects for the City of Chicago and its other sister agencies. Mayor Richard M. Daley serves as the PBC’s chairman. Additional information about the PBC and its projects is available at the agency’s Web site: www.pbcchicago.com.
