After Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island were named New York City boroughs in 1898, the New York Police Department was forced to expand and grow with the city.This borough consolidation meant that the NYPD was now responsible for policing the whole city and for protecting all of its 3 million residents. In order to compensate for this expansion, plans to replace the old headquarters, which was located on nearby Mulberry Street, were put into place. To commemorate the new additions to the city, Ancient Greek-style caryatids, or sculptures of women that act as building supports and columns, were placed high above the street on the left and right sides of the entrance, each holding plaques inscribed with the names of a borough. According to architects Hoppin & Koen, the building’s intimidating size and structure were intended to remind both criminals and officers of the importance and strength of the law.
When the new headquarters was built in 1909, the surrounding neighborhood was soon filled with gun shops and cop bars. One particular bar and restaurant that was simply named “Headquarters” was popular with officers and sat just across the street from their offices. According to rumors, an underground tunnel was built to connect the police building to the restaurant during Prohibition, allowing officers to safely sneak in some quick drinks.
240 Centre Street served as New York’s police headquarters until 1973 when the department relocated to its current location at 1 Police Plaza near City Hall. After the relocation, the old police headquarters building remained empty for almost a decade. In 1983, developers purchased the building from the city and began renovation to convert the building into an apartment complex.
| 1909 | Headquarters built |
| 1973 | Relocation to 1 Police Plaza |
| 1978 | Becomes New York City Landmark |
| 1983 | Building is renovated and converted into apartment complex |
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