The Center Hall Colonial has become synonymous with the development of new homes both in Staten Island and across the country.
However, the stately nature of the Center Hall Colonial home draws its roots from over two centuries ago. Today, the home has become a fan favorite of today's home buyer, especially when it comes to the high end and luxury home segment.
The Center Hall Colonial is a home that basically, likes the name suggests, has is the main access corridor through the middle of the home. The home is generally symmetrical in nature its and the floor plan is basically allocated into four rooms on the first floor, family room, formal living room, dining room, and kitchen, with the homes main corridor equally dividing each room.
The Center Hall Colonial is home is found in most modern luxury home communities here on Staten Island and across the country. Basically, a Center Halls allure rests in entryway. A common entryway feature dramatic two story, chandelier lit foyer with balconies. The intent is to make a bold statement to those who enter, making it a high end buyer favorite. The second level layouts can include variant numbers of bedrooms.
While its existence has been around for centuries, its mark on the modern high end architectural landscape has had a solid 25 year run.
(photo below right, 80's version of the center hall colonial)
On Staten Island the modern center hall colonial began to gain a foothold in the early 1980's. The prominent development of these properties existed almost exclusively on the South Shore, as large land tracts were available at the time. Sprawling developments grew in size as the 80's moved along with some huge developments took place in Richmond Valley, Tottenville, Princes Bay and Todt Hill. One of the first such communities that were developed was the Estates at Johanna Lane off Seguine Avenue in Princes Bay.
As time moved on through the 1990's and 2000's the much of the development Center Hall Colonials grew more dramatic. Ceilings got much higher along with the height and scope of the homes grand entry foyers. Today's modern and new construction Center Hall incorporates much of the same layout seen over the last 15 years. If you're in the market for a center colonial you will notice a marked difference in this specific feature 
in Center Halls from the 1980's and Early 1990's. (Photo left, more dramatic entry foyer in a home dated 2004)
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