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 new development negative words in Latin!
Learn more about Oddo's revenge plot and legal battle to name the streets, as well as more on landmarked Institutions like Snug Harbor. We also talk about the Nor'Easter (rocking the building as we film!) and mortgage applications rising despite rising interest rates.
We cover the following institutional properties:
1. Mount Manresa, now in development purgatory under the Savo Brother's ownership. Learn about how James Oddo took revenge on this bitter sale.
2. St. Francis Friary, now the Coptic Orthodox Church
3. St. John's Villa
4. Princes Bay Lighthouse
5. Snug Harbor
6. St. John's Seminary, now being transformed into luxury senior housing
Posted by Anthony Licciardello on
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