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Committee advances sublease for new forensic science space at 4101 Market Street
Summary
City public-property officials told the committee a sublease at 4101 Market Street would allow relocation and expansion of forensic science operations into a modern, life-science–ready building; the committee voted to report the ordinance favorably.
Philadelphia City Council’s Committee on Public Property and Public Works voted to report an ordinance authorizing the commissioner of public property to enter into a sublease with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development for premises at 4101 Market Street for use by the city.
Joseph Braske, commissioner of public property, said the city’s current forensic science center at Eighth and Poplar streets—built in the 1920s and renovated in 2006—is nearly at capacity and will require substantial structural repairs within the next decade. Braske said 4101 Market Street, built in 2023, is a life-science–enabled building with features the department considers suitable for a modern forensic laboratory, including energy-efficient systems, a rooftop park, and LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum certifications.
Braske said the building’s design and modern building systems are expected to lower operating and maintenance costs for the city and to provide the laboratory space needed for DNA, ballistics, chemistry and related forensic analyses. Council member Young said the update had been “well overdue” and expressed support for moving forward.
The committee reported the ordinance favorably and sought suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next City Council session. The ordinance enables the Department of Public Property and partner agencies to negotiate lease terms and to proceed with planning for relocated forensic operations.
