The new ten-story Bronx Housing Court at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The $44 million state-of-the-art facility, located in the newly designated Special Grand Concourse Preservation District, houses thirteen courtrooms, judges' chambers and offices of the Clerk of the Court.

Joining the Mayor at today's ribbon-cutting ceremony were Judith S. Kaye, the Chief Judge of the State of New York, Jonathan Lippman, the Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York, Luis M. Tormenta, Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction and William Diamond, Commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

"Today's opening of the state-of-the-art Housing Court is a proud moment in the history of the Bronx," Mayor Giuliani said. "The new courthouse will restore a level of distinction and significance to Housing Court proceedings that was absent in its previous location. With its sandstone and roman brick facade, the facility is also a welcome architectural addition to the Grand Concourse Preservation District.

"But more than a new building, the Bronx Housing Court is yet another symbol of the borough's resurgence. New York City and the Bronx are doing better than they have been in years -- crime has been reduced to historic lows and jobs are returning. And now, the Bronx will now have a Housing Court for the 21st Century and beyond. I want to thank all the architects, designers and construction workers who labored so hard over the last few years to create such a spectacular structure. In particular, I would like to pay a special thanks to the team at the Department of Design and Construction for their supervision and oversight of this important project," the Mayor concluded.

The new 94,000 square-foot Housing Court was constructed on the site of the old Family and Children's court. Rafael Vinoly Architects, Severud Consulting Engineers, Syska and Henessy and Electronic Systems Associates all participated in the project.