With real estate prices rising in the other boroughs, Staten Island is starting to look more like Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Extensive retail and residential developments are underway in what has always been New York City's suburban borough.
Geographically and culturally, Staten Island has always seemed more like a part of suburban New Jersey than of the urban leviathan that is New York City. That image is changing.
New development in the borough, especially on the northern end, near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, includes high-density condos, expansive retail districts, and urban amenities that would be at home in Williamsburg or Greenwich Village. There are even plans for the city's first outlet mall and a 630-foot-tall Ferris wheel. Developers are, in essence, trying to offer the best of both worlds: urban living, without the exorbitant costs that dominate Manhattan and that have crept into the other three boroughs as well.
"Big-city cool is popping up in a place not always noted for it: Small-batch espresso will soon flow at a coffee shop; a jug band played kazoos at a recently opened brewery; and stores selling brand-name skinny-leg pants are on their way. And a fresh crop of renters and buyers, unable to afford pricier precincts and unfazed by stereotypes about how the place can seem insular, bland or run-down, are setting sail for the island."
"[I]f the pace of progress has been halting, this year could mark a turning point, with major projects starting construction, hundreds of new apartments coming to market, and online searches for Staten Island homes jumping off the charts — a strong indicator of future sales."
FULL STORY: Staten Island’s Turning Point?
Mayor de Blasio Stresses Affordable Housing in State of the City Address
In his State of the City Address on Feb. 3, the New York City mayor made it clear that his overriding priority is affordable housing. He targeted six neighborhoods in all five boroughs where development will be required to include affordable housing.
Former Landfill Doubles as Public Park, Energy Producer
Once the world’s largest dump, Freshkills Park now offers new city park space and powers local households with biofuel.
Staten Island Sues Over Congestion Pricing, Too
The borough’s president says the plan would bring more traffic to Staten Island and unjustly burden its residents with air pollution and tolls.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
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