Following the creation of the Greater New York City in 1898 the population of the Bronx boomed, and the need for additional municipal services became apparent. By 1905, the growth of the borough required expanded police forces. A new precinct, first known as the 41st Precinct, was completed in 1906 on quasi-rural land near the New York Botanical Garden. Designed by the firm of Stoughton & Stoughton, the neo-Italian Renaissance building is rendered in red brick and terra cotta. The wooden brackets at the roof, the clocktower, and the diapering (decorative diamond patterns) of the brick add to its quaint appearance. Renamed the 52nd Police Precinct by the mid-century, the building's exterior remains extremely well preserved. It is both a New York City landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.