Improvements to Staten Island's North Shore Waterfront

The city has been working effortlessly on plans to improve the waterfront along the North Shore of Staten Island, giving this mostly forgotten borough new life to the active and sleepless city. At the moment, the island is being boosted by the rapidly active construction for the New York Wheel and Empire Outlet Mall, being the world's tallest observation wheel, ranking in at 630-feet tall, and New York City's very first and only outlet mall. Also within the last two years, the North Shore opened new residential developments, such as Urby, with hopes to draw in the crowd that would typically settle in Brooklyn or Manhattan. There is a lot being put into our disconnected borough and turning the North Shore into a desirable destination for both residents and tourist!

Unveiled recently, the elected officials and developers have been looking for ways to beautify the neighborhoods along the waterfront by revamping piers and creating green spaces. Recommendations of this idea came from a community forum, where the Design Trust for Public Space and Staten Island Arts outlined strategies for ways to revitalize, improve sustainability, and boost economic development in the evolving North Shore. This project is named the "Future Culture: Connecting Staten Island’s Waterfront" and the first of many series of feedback sessions occurred.

Residents of the neighborhoods would like to get involved in helping improve the North Shore by sharing ideas on how to do so. The agenda for Future Culture is to foster the local culture by cultivating the quality of public spaces that will be used to promote creativity, diversity, all enhancing the area and nearby neighborhoods. Some of these ideas include but are not limited to investment funds, fellowship programs, resources and sponsors for large neighborhood events, such as festivities, educational programming. immigrant and heritage-based organizations and groups, and more.

There was also mention in creating a big and better green space that will be closer to the water's edge, and revamping the docks and piers to allow recreational events, such as the piers in Brooklyn Bridge Park or Chelsea.

While the ultimate goal is to update the area for current residents and attract new visitors and homebuyers, it will also cause a financial boost in the St. George area and surrounding neighborhoods. However, the improvement projects will bring over thousands of construction jobs to people in New York City.