Philadelphia’s General Consulate of Italy to leave Public Ledger Building
The consulate had complained about disruptions during construction in the Center City building.
It’s not just the Sixers.
Philadelphia’s General Consulate of Italy is the latest organization exiting the Market East area.
The consulate announced it was leaving its office in the Public Ledger Building on Friday afternoon via Facebook.
Its new office will be at 1818 Market St.
“The new headquarters will be located in a building with better security features and offices more suitable to welcome the public,” the consulate’s post read.
The move marks an end to the consulate’s struggles at the Public Ledger Building.
There the consulate’s staff faced inadequate heating and cooling in both the summer and winter months, the office told The Inquirer last year, as well as intermittent electrical disruptions as the building’s owner, Baycrest Management, converts a portion of the 13-story property into apartments.
During a particularly cold day in December, the disturbances even led the consulate to briefly suspend its operations, creating further chaos for Italian passport and visa seekers ahead of the busy holiday season.
The 15-member office’s lease at the Public Ledger Building was supposed to run through 2027.
The consulate will be closed between Tuesday and Feb. 1 during its move to its new home.
To access the building, as before, members of the public will need to book an appointment ahead of time, the consulate’s office said on Facebook.