Staten Island

New subway cars have hit the tracks of the Staten Island Railway for the first time in over 50 years. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Tuesday launched new cutting-edge R211S subway cars into service that feature wider doors, security cameras, digital route screens in all cars, and enhanced accessibility features. To celebrate the new cars, MTA officials and commuters took an inaugural ride from St. George Terminal.
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Transit

NYC’s curbside compost program expands to all five boroughs

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 7, 2024

NYC’s curbside compost program expands to all five boroughs

New York City's compost program is now underway in all five boroughs. On Sunday, curbside compost collection began in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, requiring buildings with four or more units to provide storage areas and labeled bins for yard and food waste collection by Department of Sanitation workers. The program’s final expansion follows its success in Queens and Brooklyn and aims to prevent rat infestations while promoting sustainability.
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Policy

Project to protect Staten Island shores and restore marine life is complete

Credit: SCAPE & Ty Cole

September 27, 2024

Project to protect Staten Island shores and restore marine life is complete

After over a decade of effort, a coastal resilience project designed to protect Staten Island shores with livable habitats for sea creatures is complete. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced the completion of Living Breakwaters, an $111 million project creating 2,400 feet of breakwaters to safeguard homes and businesses in Tottenville from future extreme weather events. The project features eight partially submerged structures that will break storm waves, decrease erosion, and serve as habitats for marine life.
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Architecture And Design

Lottery opens for 131 units at shoreside Staten Island rental, from $1,790/month

Renderings courtesy of BFC Partners

February 26, 2024

Lottery opens for 131 units at shoreside Staten Island rental, from $1,790/month

In a Staten Island neighborhood gearing up for development, this new 100 percent affordable building is leading the way. The Pearl, located at 475 Bay Street in Stapleton, is a 12-story tower with 270 apartments, about half of which are affordable to households earning at or below 80 percent of the area median income. The project is one of the first developments to be built under the recent Bay Street Corridor rezoning. A housing lottery opened last week for 131 apartments; qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the units, priced between $1,790/month for studios and $2,481/month for three bedrooms.
do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

Staten Island Ferry to offer food and drinks for the first time since Covid

Photo by Scarlet Sappho on Flickr

January 30, 2024

Staten Island Ferry to offer food and drinks for the first time since Covid

Staten Island Ferry riders will be able to enjoy food and drinks on board for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced a request for proposals (RFP) for vendors interested in selling food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, on the Staten Island Ferry. Proposals are due by March 7, with the new concessions expected to be in operation by the fall.
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First section of landfill-turned-park project opens at Staten Island’s Freshkills Park

Photo Credit: Benny Polatseck | Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 16, 2023

First section of landfill-turned-park project opens at Staten Island’s Freshkills Park

On the site of what once was the world's biggest landfill, New York City's second-largest park is growing. On Sunday, Mayor Eric Adams announced the opening of the first public section of the new Freshkills Park on Staten Island. The 21-acre North Park area features new walking and cycling paths, an overlook deck, a bird-viewing tower, and connections to the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge.
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Plan to revitalize Staten Island’s North Shore includes 2,400 homes and waterfront esplanade

Conceptual rendering of the future St. George Esplanade. Credit: FXCollaborative.

September 14, 2023

Plan to revitalize Staten Island’s North Shore includes 2,400 homes and waterfront esplanade

After several failed projects, Staten Island's North Shore could finally see a long-promised revitalization. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced a $400 million investment and released a new roadmap to redevelop a stretch of the borough's waterfront with 20 acres of continuous open space, 2,400 units of housing, and new commercial space. Construction will resume this fall on a two-mile waterfront esplanade that will be "on par with Brooklyn Bridge Park and Hudson River Park," according to Adams.
More on the north shore plan, herE

Photo credit clockwise: Jessica Minghi/Borough Chocolates, Jacques Torres Chocolates, Jessica Minghi/Borough Chocolates, Chocolate Noise.

January 25, 2023

The best local chocolate shops in NYC

It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to crave chocolate. But the sugar-coated holiday certainly provides a good excuse to indulge. Far beyond the red-wrapped drugstore box, creating the sweet (or bitter) treat is now recognized as a craft all its own. Chocolate purveyors range from the old-fashioned to the eco-conscious to makers who hand-mix exotic ingredients and flavors. If you're really hooked, you can make an event of it at a chocolate-themed restaurant, factory tour, or private tasting. Whether you're looking for a last-minute gift for someone special or just a sweet snack, the New York City establishments listed here have something for every chocolate lover–and you can order online or visit the source right in your borough.
Find the chocolate of your dreams, this way

‘The Godfather’ mansion on Staten Island can be booked on Airbnb for the month of August

All photos courtesy of Marc McAndrews for Airbnb

July 18, 2022

‘The Godfather’ mansion on Staten Island can be booked on Airbnb for the month of August

The Staten Island home that served as Don Corleone's residence in the 1972 classic film The Godfather is now available to rent on Airbnb. Located in the neighborhood of Todt Hill, the English Tudor-style mansion was featured in the movie's opening wedding scene. Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the iconic mob drama, the current owners are renting out the home for the month of August, for $50/night.
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Distinctive Homes

New York City’s first net-zero energy library opens on Staten Island

All images courtesy of The New York Public Library

March 17, 2022

New York City’s first net-zero energy library opens on Staten Island

The New York Public Library on Wednesday opened its 14th branch on Staten Island and the first net-zero energy library in New York City. Located in the Bricktown Commons shopping center on the South Shore in Charleston, the $17 million, 10,000-square-foot building was designed by Ikon 5 Architects to be energy efficient, with solar panels providing nearly 100 percent of the energy the building will use. Managed by the city's Economic Development Corporation with the Gilbane Building Company, the new branch offers patrons a variety of amenities, including dedicated spaces for adults, teens, and children and flexible multi-purpose rooms for programs and classes.
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Staten Island woman’s collection of over 20,000 Black history artifacts to be auctioned

All images courtesy of Guernsey’s

March 9, 2022

Staten Island woman’s collection of over 20,000 Black history artifacts to be auctioned

Thousands of historical items illustrating the Black experience in America are going up for auction. Compiled over 60 years by former New York City teacher Elizabeth Meaders, the collection is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive, surpassing collections belonging to museums and other private institutions. The Elizabeth Meaders Collection of African American Historical and Cultural Artifacts will be put up for an online auction as a single collection through Guernsey's on March 15.
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Photo: FAD Holiday Market

November 18, 2021

The 15 best NYC holiday markets of 2021

Even a pandemic can't keep a New York City shopper down. The city's retail landscape may look different now, but that hasn't dimmed the sparkle of beautiful baubles, clever crafts, and the company of fellow shoppers. While most of the city's holiday markets went virtual last year, many of our favorites have returned in their fabulous original form. The big Manhattan markets at Union Square, Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle are still impressive, but smaller, more intimate neighborhood gems shine brightly on their own. They're all great places to find seasonal delights like ice skating, live music, drinks, food, and family fun designed to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where the goods are

Events & Things To Do

Smash your past-it pumpkins for fun and compost at these NYC parks

Credit: Max Guliani for Hudson River Park

November 3, 2021

Smash your past-it pumpkins for fun and compost at these NYC parks

Pent-up aggression, post-Halloween boredom, or just a desire to do something useful with your jack-o-lanterns that have seen better days–they're all good reasons to join in the fun at a pumpkin smash. Post-holiday pumpkins make fabulous compost material, and several (free!) events around the city are offering a chance to "squash" your way to a greener community while teaching kids about composting. To quote Noreen Doyle, president and CEO of Hudson River Park: “By encouraging our community to smash, bash and crash their leftover pumpkins into compost, we can all play an active role in working towards a greener future.”
Pumpkin smashing and more ways to recycle unwanted goodies

Events & Things To Do

New NYC Ferry route connecting Staten Island and Midtown West launches this month

Photo: NYC Ferry

August 17, 2021

New NYC Ferry route connecting Staten Island and Midtown West launches this month

Starting next week, commuters from Staten Island will have another way to get to Manhattan. Launching Monday, August 23, the newest NYC Ferry route takes riders up the Hudson River for the first time and stops in Midtown West, with a total travel time of about 35 minutes from St. George. With this latest route, NYC Ferry now officially serves all five boroughs.
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Transit

Full, 24-hour Staten Island Ferry service resumes today

Photo by Natalie Maguire via Flickr cc

August 16, 2021

Full, 24-hour Staten Island Ferry service resumes today

By Dana Schulz

In 2019, the Staten Island Ferry served 70,000 passengers on an average weekday, running at least every 30 minutes all 24 hours. But in March 2020, the Department of Transportation reduced service to only once per hour due to declining ridership during the pandemic. Starting today, though, full service is resuming. "The Staten Island Ferry knits this city together, and the return of 24/7 half-hour service is a sure sign that a recovery for all of us is underway," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
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Transit

New minor league baseball team officially headed to Staten Island next year

Richmond County Bank Ballpark, photo by Doug Kerr on Wikimedia

July 26, 2021

New minor league baseball team officially headed to Staten Island next year

America's pastime will return to Staten Island next year. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday a plan to reopen the former Staten Island Yankees stadium with a new minor league baseball team. The Richmond County Bank Ballpark did not open in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year, the waterfront stadium sat empty after Major League Baseball removed the "Baby Bombers" from its parent team as part of a reorganization of its farm system.
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Uncategorized

NYC says unvaccinated young people are behind Staten Island’s uptick in Covid cases

Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

July 13, 2021

NYC says unvaccinated young people are behind Staten Island’s uptick in Covid cases

Some neighborhoods in New York City are seeing a slight increase in the number of coronavirus cases for the first time in weeks, as vaccinations slow and the Delta variant continues to spread. According to the city's Health Department, the city's seven-day average rate of positivity increased to 1.28 percent as of Monday, the highest rate in nearly two months, with 363 new cases on a seven-day rolling average. With a seven-day positivity of over 2.4 percent as of July 9, Staten Island has the highest test positivity rate of any borough. City officials point to those who remain unvaccinated, "particularly younger people," as the reason for this uptick.
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Policy

Frederick Law Olmsted’s farmhouse on Staten Island recognized as national landmark

Photos courtesy of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation

December 8, 2020

Frederick Law Olmsted’s farmhouse on Staten Island recognized as national landmark

The National Park Service this month placed a Staten Island farmhouse once owned by Frederick Law Olmsted on the National Register of Historic Places. Formerly part of a 130-acre farm, the property, known as the Olmsted-Beil House, is significant for the role it played in Olmsted's discovery of landscape design and parks as a public good, which later influenced his ideas for Central Park and Prospect Park. Despite its designation as a city landmark in 1967, the house, while intact, has deteriorated over the years and requires significant restoration work.
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Architecture And Design

After 55 years, the Verrazzano Bridge gets a second ‘Z’

Photos: Patrick Cashin/Metropolitan Transportation Authority

February 6, 2020

After 55 years, the Verrazzano Bridge gets a second ‘Z’

By Alexandra Alexa

On Tuesday crews from MTA Bridges and Tunnels began addressing a 55-year-old spelling mistake by replacing the first of 19 signs on agency property to feature the correct spelling of Verrazzano with two Z's instead of just one. The bridge was named after Giovanni de Verrazzano—the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor—but a longstanding dispute over the name's proper spelling led to the bridge being inaugurated as the Verrazano-Narrows bridge in 1964. In 2018, Governor Cuomo signed legislation to add a second Z into the name.
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Transit

NYC council members to introduce Staten Island secession bill

Photo by InSapphoWeTrust via Flickr

December 10, 2019

NYC council members to introduce Staten Island secession bill

By Alexandra Alexa

As part of their renewed push for Staten Island secession, Republican Council Members Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo will introduce a bill to the City Council Tuesday to establish a secession task force. As the Staten Island Advance first reported, the task force would have 18 months to gather data showing the “impact and viability” of the borough's secession. While Matteo and Borelli say Island leaders and lawmakers—including Borough President James Oddo—have expressed support for the legislation, they are the only council members to support the bill so far.
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Policy

Staten Island officials revive call for the borough to secede NYC

Photo by InSapphoWeTrust on Flickr

November 13, 2019

Staten Island officials revive call for the borough to secede NYC

Staten Island officials this week said they will push forward plans for the borough to leave New York City, reviving a fight partially won over 25 years ago. As first reported by the Staten Island Advance, Republican Council Members Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo, who represent the borough, plan to introduce two pieces of legislation that would create a committee to determine the logistics and costs of the secession, as well as a commission a study to look at the feasibility of designating county governments within the city. In 1993, Staten Island residents voted to leave the Big Apple, but the measure never went further after failing to pass in Albany.
Sayonara, Staten Island?

Policy

The neighborhood of Mariner’s Harbor, near the wetlands in question. Image: Wikimedia cc.

October 29, 2019

State grants permit for developer to build BJ’s Wholesale Club on Staten Island wetlands

Despite opposition from residents and public officials, 18 acres of forest wetlands near Staten Island's north shore will be turned into a BJ's Wholesale Club, a gas station and a parking lot. Gothamist reports that the state has said it will issue a permit to allow the land's owner, real estate magnate Charles Alpert (operating as holding company Josif A. LLC), to destroy what activists say is an invaluable natural storm barrier in order for the project to move forward.
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New Developments

Reports find open space falls short of key goals in Bushwick, Long Island City, and part of Staten Island

Photo via Joe Mabel / Wiki Commons

October 11, 2019

Reports find open space falls short of key goals in Bushwick, Long Island City, and part of Staten Island

By Alexandra Alexa

New Yorkers for Parks has released three new Open Space Index reports, a series of in-depth “neighborhood snapshots” of parks and open space in Staten Island's Bay Street Corridor, Bushwick, and Long Island City. According to the reports, the Bay Street Corridor failed 11 of 14 open space goals, Bushwick failed 12 of 14, and Long Island City failed 11 of 14. The goals factor in characteristics including the total amount of open space, access, tree canopy, and overall maintenance. According to the City’s own standards, all of the neighborhoods lack sufficient open space and what does exist is often hard to get to or improperly maintained.
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Policy

LPC approves Bjarke Ingels’ plan for a rooftop addition at a Brooklyn Heights landmark

Rendering via LPC

July 18, 2019

LPC approves Bjarke Ingels’ plan for a rooftop addition at a Brooklyn Heights landmark

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans from starchitect Bjarke Ingels to build a rooftop addition at a landmarked building in Brooklyn Heights. As part of a penthouse renovation of the 29th and 30th floors of the St. George Tower at 111 Hicks Street, Ingels would construct a fake water tower to hold a new elevator shaft, raise the roof deck, and add a pool. As first reported by Brownstoner, the Danish architect, whose firm is known for New York City projects like The Eleventh and the Spiral, presented his plan to the commission as a personal project. "I have a massive self-interest because I hope to make it my home," he said.
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City Council approves Staten Island’s Bay Street Corridor rezoning with 1,800 new residential units

Rendering via Department of City Planning

June 27, 2019

City Council approves Staten Island’s Bay Street Corridor rezoning with 1,800 new residential units

The New York City Council voted 44-2 to approve Staten Island's Bay Street Corridor Rezoning plan Wednesday, SILive reports. As 6sqft previously reported, the city proposed to convert the area between Tompkinsville Park and Tappan Park from manufacturing to residential while constructing 1,800 new units that would house 6,500 residents in the area. About a quarter of the new residences would be income-restricted affordable housing through the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program. The rezoning plan has drawn opposition from some community groups and Borough President Jimmy Oddo on the grounds that it would add to the area's traffic and transportation woes.
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Affordable Housing

Staten Island’s New York Wheel may get its turn after all

Image credit: S9 Architecture / Perkins Eastman

May 29, 2019

Staten Island’s New York Wheel may get its turn after all