Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the resignation of Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Kenneth Holden. Commissioner Holden led DDC for over four years and oversaw the cleanup of the World Trade Center Site.  Commissioner Holden will join Continuum Health Partners, Inc. as its Corporate Vice President for Real Estate and Facilities.  Chair of the Mayor’s Committee on Appointments Nathan Leventhal will conduct the search for Commissioner Holden’s successor.

“Ken Holden was one of the unsung heroes of September 11th,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The cleanup of the World Trade Center Site was one of the most remarkable efforts in our City’s history.  It was done swiftly, safely and respectfully and New Yorkers can thank Ken Holden for his contribution during one of our City’s most trying periods.  Ken has been a great asset and I wish him luck in his new endeavor.”

“I want to thank the staff of the Department of Design and Construction for their exemplary work during my tenure,” said Commissioner Holden.  “Their commitment to this City is unparalleled. I also want to thank Mayor Bloomberg for his support and friendship and for allowing me the honor of serving this great City.”

In 1999, Ken Holden was appointed Commissioner of DDC by Mayor Giuliani, and reappointed by Mayor Bloomberg in January of 2002.  In 1995, as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Construction, Kenneth Holden advocated for the creation of a single capital construction agency to improve the City’s ability to deliver its capital construction program.  In 1996, the DDC was created to design and construct New York City’s critical public works program through consolidating the capital construction functions of the Departments of Transportation, Environmental Protection and Citywide Administrative Services and Holden served as the agency’s First Deputy Commissioner. 

Under Commissioner Holden’s leadership DDC managed the clean up of the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Approximately 1.7 million tons of steel and debris was removed from the World Trade Center ahead of schedule, under budget, and with no fatalities.

In the four years that Kenneth Holden has been Commissioner, DDC has successfully achieved its original goal of vastly improving the City’s public works program:

• DDC completed nearly 1,500 projects.
• 85% of DDC projects, or 1,274, were completed on time or early. 
• 473 lane miles of roadway were reconstructed or resurfaced.
• 199 miles of sewers were constructed or reconstructed.
• 302 miles of water mains were replaced.
  

Among the projects that were completed are the new Flushing Library, the Randall’s Island Fire Training Facility, Intake Center for the Agency for Children’s Services, and the 33rd Precinct Police Station.  Major roadway and sewer projects include McGuinness Boulevard, Harlem Gateway, and Chatham Square.