The landmarked Central Park police precinct - the city's oldest - reopened this week after a $61.7 million renovation that included replacing a leaking roof and dilapidated brickwork with an atrium made of two-story, bulletproof glass, up-to-date computer and communication systems, better heating and ventilation, and an additional 2,300 square feet.
The complex of Victorian Gothic cottage-style buildings were originally built as a stable and storage shed for park staff in 1871 by Jacob Wrey and intentionally designed low standing to fit harmoniously within the park. The structures were converted into the 22nd Precinct station house in 1936 and officially named the Central Park Precinct in 1968.
The dilapidated precinct was closed in 2001, though work on the project didn't begin until 2009, at which time the repairs were estimated at $46 million. That number rose after workers found and had to remove contaminated soil and trolley tracks. Since the precinct had closed, police moved into a temporary structure on the adjacent parking lot. They moved back to the main building in June 2011 amidst ongoing renovation.
According to Mayor Bloomberg, "Central Park is safer than ever - with crime down by more than 20 percent since 2001 - and the enhancement to the station will help police officers build on this record of success."
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