Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro pushes for continuance of St. George Renaissance
Next wave of improvements follows ferry terminal renovation, esplanade, Yankees
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today announced that he is working with Mayor Bloomberg to keep the revitalization of St. George moving forward with an array of new improvements.
“Today, even in the midst of a recession, St. George is in a better position than ever before for economic development, thanks to smart planning with the renovated Ferry Terminal, the Staten Island Yankees’ stadium, and the creation of the waterfront esplanade,” said Molinaro. “I am committed to keeping this revitalization moving forward for Staten Island’s “gateway,” and I feel confident that these exciting projects are catalysts for positive economic development and quality of life improvements.”
- Lights and Medians: Plans for new medians and street lights along portions of Bay Street and Richmond Terrace are moving forward. Bids are currently being sought for both projects, and the attractive new streetscape should debut next year.
- Library: At the request of the New York Public Library, Molinaro will fund $700,000 worth of capital improvements to the St. George Library, which continues to provide a full range of services, even during difficult fiscal times.
- Tourism Revenue: Molinaro provided capital funds for an Information Kiosk in the St. George Terminal, as part of his ongoing effort to encourage the millions of tourists who ride the Ferry each year to come visit Staten Island’s shops, restaurants, and attractions, and help our local economy. Earlier this month, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) selected a contractor to design and build the Kiosk. Each year, tourism generates $46 billion for New York City.
- Ferry Terminal Retail: Significant progress has been made over the past few months in the leasing of retail space at the Staten Island Ferry Terminals. Currently, there are three signed term sheets with new retailers for space at St. George, and three more deals are in the late stages of negotiations. We anticipate the first of these retailers will open in this summer and the spaces will be substantially leased by Fall 2009. Contractors are at St. George beginning to install the necessary utilities and storefronts.
- Waterfront Access: Continuing the improvement of the St. George waterfront, Molinaro has asked the City to complete the promenade repair work adjacent to the condominium towers on the northern side of the Ferry Terminal. The work is two-thirds finished and a small portion remains to upgrade.
- St. George Theatre: To help keep the historic St. George Theatre operating as a magnet for the arts, Molinaro has provided capital funds for a new marquee and technical equipment for stage productions. The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Design and Construction are working with the Borough President’s Office to complete the projects by next year.
- Courthouse: Construction on the new $40 million courthouse facility is underway, and its completion is anticipated for 2011. This massive project will provide St. George with a modern, energy-efficient building, the first in the area with a LEED certification, featuring a green roof and solar panels specifically funded by the Borough President’s Office. It will also have a staging ground for the popular Greenmarket. Perhaps most importantly, there will be 730 parking spots -- 150 more than previously.
“We have a unique opportunity to plan wisely for the long-term future of St. George,” said Molinaro, “and I want to commend the EDC and President Seth Pinsky for their cooperation on many of these projects that will make Staten Island’s official “downtown” a hub of business, government, cultural and tourist attractions, and a great place to live.”
May 20, 2009