Here in Staten Island, we want to keep on top of what is being built in our neighborhoods!

Whether you're the type who goes to town halls as a concerned citizen or you just wanna have fun, we wanted to do a segment all about the large-scale developments soon to be completed and opened on Staten Island! From the North to the South Shore and in-between, we have collected an array of different developments that we'll take you through, one by one!

We'll be getting some awesome and unique new shop and restaurant concepts, including a restaurant and craft beer house inside a cinema! With added amenities comes added value; these commercial developments may enhance the area and cause a rise in real estate and home values here in the fifth borough of New…

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We always try to keep on top of Staten Island's real estate progress. And there is always much to talk about with this ever-changing borough!

But it's also interesting to reminisce on those projects lost to the wind too. What could have been, you may wonder? Were they better off unfinished?

So in reverse order, let's count down the Top 6 White Elephants in Staten Island real estate before these strange events are left in the sands of time.

6. Fast Ferry

 

 

We are certainly grateful to have a free 24/7 ferry leaving from St. George every 30 minutes that docks in Manhattan. However, residents on Staten Island's South Shore face the longest commute times in the country- about a quarter of them have commutes of at least two hours each…

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Is the Staten Island market topping out, finally?

Not so fast- it’s still a hot market and may be too early to call, but several key indicators were down in May. Average sale prices fell around $10,000 since the month of April to $566,449. Sold-to-list price ratio dropped about half a percentage point to 97%. In fact, this pullback is almost a mirror of February’s numbers, when we were unsure how long the prices would continue to rise.

The total sold volume was down slightly as well, and has been leveling out in general over the past four months. Total sold volume in Staten Island was $189 million in May, down $193 million in April.

Prices are, however, trailing indicators since it often takes several months for deals to close. Days on the…

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April marked yet another month for Staten Island real estate prices to hit record highs.

The average home sale price was up to $576,525. But prices are what we call a “trailing indicator”, meaning they reflect the market several months prior to the actual closing date, when the house was first put into acceptance. In this live video discussion, we look to other stats to dissect the market in its current state. 

Even though the market still appears to hold the seller’s favor, with homes selling faster than they have in many months and fetching high prices, there were some strange findings. Inventory is now up to 1,630, with 669 new listings in April. This is considerably higher than the same time last year. 

So when we saw that only 328…

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Staten Island was once a very different place than it is today. So many of the things we take for granted about our way of life were not always this way. In this live video segment, we tackle the Top Ten events that changed Staten Island forever.

Correspondent Hannah Jay and Broker/Co-Owner Anthony Licciardello run the gamut through more than three centuries taking us into the modern day. Who were the first European settlers on Staten Island? How much did Staten Island cost to purchase from the Lenape tribe? And, how did people get to the island before the first bridge was built in 1928? What was the main event that changed the infrastructure, demographics, and culture of Staten Island in such a short time?

But many of these events are…

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March has been a crazy month for weather! As we wait on the precipice of yet another snowstorm this evening, we reflect on the worst storms Staten Island has seen in a lifetime. Correspondent Hannah Jay interviews broker and co-owner Anthony Licciardello as they count down the 7 Most Severe Staten Island Storms.

Some of these storms are record holders; others can't be quantified in their toll on our lives. All have one thing in common- their destructive impact that lasted long past the storm itself.

Staten Islanders will find a few of these in our recent memory, while others provide a history lesson for younger residents. As each winter goes by, it makes for uncertain times during blizzard and Hurricane seasons. Many of you will remember the unease…

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February's home prices are still very close to record highs in Staten Island as developers and residents alike clamor for their own piece of the pie. The average home sale price last month was $558,102, down about 1% from the January's record high.

The US stock market had a rocky performance in the month of February. While some this shake-up caused some speculation that the fall would continue, the DOW has recovered for the most part. Looking at real estate statistics, which include the average days listed on the market of just 88, buyer confidence in Staten Island did not seem to be hurt at all.

Though the market still hangs in the seller's favor, a substantial listings increase since last year gives buyers more options. February saw 510 new homes…

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Over the years, a lot has changed in Staten Island. Many historical properties have fallen into disrepair, struggled to maintain landmark status, or been sold off to developers for their valuable land.

Perhaps the most high profile and most controversial of these over the past few years was Mount Manresa, the Catholic retreat and natural gem filled with some of the oldest trees in New York City. Environmentalists and Catholics alike rallied to save this property and have it landmarked by the City of New York LPC.

When the almighty dollar won out and the property was sold to The Savo Brothers, many in the community were angered to lose this natural beauty. Borough president James Oddo was so peeved that he took revenge and named the streets in the…

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Staten Island has around half a million residents. What is the island missing that would be a huge asset to those living here? Correspondent Hannah Jay and Co-Owner Anthony Licciardello discuss some ideas!

1. North Shore Railway, which once existed along the northern part of the island and could be revived from existing tracks. This would be a boon for North Shore commuters and for property values in the area.

2. Monorail to the city via Hylan Blvd that would sail above the Hudson River where the Staten Island Ferry and other boats travel. Alternatively, we could complete the ill-fated Brooklyn Subway Tunnel which began right before The Great Depression.   3. The Cheesecake Factory, a diverse and beloved restaurant across the…

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Our recently published article explored Mall 2.0 in America – or how malls can adapt by embracing change, not fearing it.

On the simplest level, malls will survive by focusing on alternatives to clothing stores that involve experience and entertainment, including stores for major purchases like furniture, and utilizing smart technology with integrated social media. Malls should also emphasize quality instead of expanding for the sake of it, and offer shoppers everyday staples like drug stores instead of just impulse items.

How can this be applied to the Staten Island retail sector? We have some ideas based on malls that are succeeding today.

High Priced Necessities, Not Luxuries

Retailers such as Cache and Bebe have shut their doors…

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