Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
Borough President Molinaro says: “No Residential Development on Waldbaum’s Site”
Vows To Seek Commercial Buyer for New Dorp Property
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Borough President James P. Molinaro today announced that he is opposed to residential development on the New Dorp Lane site of a Waldbaum’s store that is scheduled to close next month.
“I would fight any attempt to put any residential housing on the Waldbaum’s site,” said Molinaro. “There are many commercial enterprises that wish to come in to provide the services that the community wants.
“I’m currently in talks with several commercial establishments that are interested in that site,” Molinaro added. “I will do everything I can to find a commercial buyer for that property.”
Molinaro noted that Staten Island has far less commercial property than other New York City boroughs – 5 percent compared to 16 percent citywide.
“This is why the Staten Island Growth Management Task Force is now addressing the commercial zoning issue,” Molinaro said. “We want to be a borough where you still have a corner grocery, and places to shop. We can’t have commercial property devoured by residential development. We cannot permit this to continue.”
Last year, a bowling alley next to Waldbaum’s was torn down for construction of 72 townhouses.
April 27, 2005