"We're building for the future of this borough, even duringthese tough times for our economy," says Mayor Michael Bloomberg ina release. He adds that the courthouse project represents thecity's biggest capital investment for a building in the borough'shistory. Bloomberg was joined at the ceremonial groundbreaking bystate and city officials including state chief judge Judith S. Kayeand Staten Island borough president James P. Molinaro.

Currently a municipal parking lot, the four-acre site willcontain the five-story courthouse building, a 660-car parkinggarage and a memorial green. The courthouse will replace facilitiescurrently housed in separate buildings at 67 Targee St., 18Richmond Terr., the Homeport and Borough Hall. It will contain sixcivil courtrooms and eight criminal courtrooms.

The five-story parking garage will include 500 spaces availableto the public and 160 spaces for court personnel. Seventy-sevenadditional parking spaces will be made available on a section ofthe site that is being reserved for possible future development,according to a release. To minimize the impact of construction onthe St. George area and maximize the amount of available parkingspaces, the garage will be built first. Through January 2010--90additional public parking spaces will be made available in a vacantlot that was converted into a parking facility and is operated bythe city's department of transportation.