Democratic commissioner disapproves of potential new $135 million Tallahassee police HQ

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, a Democrat, expressed his disapproval of the potential to build a new $135 million police headquarters.

“After hiding the price tag for years, City Management reveals they intend to build a $135 million of a police station,” Matlow said on social media.

“Meanwhile, we’re told there just isn’t money to fund affordable housing, pay our firefighters or house the homeless,” he added.

He also referred to the proposal as a “Taj Mahal police palace” and mocked the budding idea by posting a picture of a glamorous, golden hallway inside of a building with chandeliers and a painted ceiling.

The proposal is set to be voted on during the commission’s Wednesday meeting.

The commission unanimously voted in 2020 that the Northwood Centre would host the eventual new headquarters for the Tallahassee Police Department. Matlow was on the commission at the time.

Since then, the city has held citizen workshops and meetings to best understand the needs and interests of the residents in the community in order to determine the best course of action.

The years of consideration resulted in a proposal that surrounds the headquarters with housing, retail, hospitality and community art spaces.

The current headquarters has been in use for over 50 years and the city determined that due to a growing population and updated, modern needs, a new headquarters was in the best interest of the community.

Matlow, whose staffer, Ryan Ray, is the chairman of the Leon County Democratic Party, endorsed fellow progressive commissioner, Jacqueline Porter in her 2024 reelection efforts. He also endorsed community activist and former Tallahassee mayor, Dorothy Inman-Johnson, who is running against a current member of the city’s commission.