Hey guys, I'm not from NYC or anything, but because I love big urban cities I am naturally a huge fan and have read books about NYC and its history, as well as visited several times. I have family in Queens and have visited Manhattan and Brooklyn.

But out of curiosity, I always wondered about Staten Island. It's just this separate Island from NYC that is much smaller and less densely populated, and mostly suburban, right? What is Staten Island like? Any subway connections or just the ferry? Is it at all like the other boroughs or is it just full of malls, etc like another suburb. Do Staten Islanders identify much with the city? Also, are there any major attractions there?

Since Staten Island is relatively the least developed borough, I would expect a great amount of future development there. Are there a lot of projects planned? Now that we're on the topic, does anybody have pictures of Staten Island?

well Staten Island is that island connected to Brooklyn via the Verrazano bridge.
It's like New Jersey, although I have been there just a few times. The beach was nice.
Only ferry connection. I don't think they identify much with Manhattan, and as for attractions, nothing comes to my mind.
And absolutely NO projects, they passed a law to stop and restrict development because it was growing at high rates, so they did the right thing and passed a law. Otherwise it began to urbanize

SI is like our own pocket of rednecks. Alot of firefrighters/EMS/police families live there as well. They buy like 20 houses that face each other and share a huge back yard. Very weird. You dont even feel like your in NY because there are so many trees.

well Staten Island is that island connected to Brooklyn via the Verrazano bridge.
It's like New Jersey, although I have been there just a few times. The beach was nice.
Only ferry connection. I don't think they identify much with Manhattan, and as for attractions, nothing comes to my mind.
And absolutely NO projects, they passed a law to stop and restrict development because it was growing at high rates, so they did the right thing and passed a law. Otherwise it began to urbanize

there are projects in staten isl, they're just not hi-rise, more so like the low rise/row style projects in the jamaica ave area in queens

man staten island is I dunno kinda weird to me, its kinda reminds me of some parts of yonkers /north new jersey

Here's something I never understood.

I know that SI has its own rapid transit system. I also know that a subway route connecting St. George and lower Manhattan, following the route of the ferry, will never be built. But why no SI rapid transit connection to the rest of the city using the Verazano bridge? Such a line would have a short distance to go through Bkyn to get to lower Manhattan, as well as connecting SI with Qns and Brx.

Why hasn't this happened?

Edsg25, I think it has to do with some type of vibrations the train would cause to the bridge..It slips my mind right now...but if you visit http://www.straphangers.com and ask on the board you'll get an answer

Go to this website to read Staten Island's current zoning changes:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/sigrowth/sigrowth1.html

NY1
November 1, 2004

City Announces Plan To Redevelop Staten Island Homeport

http://www.ny1.com/Content/images/live/71/140482.jpg

There's now a plan in place to redevelop some prime Staten Island real estate that's been sitting vacant for 10 long years. NY1’s Amanda Farinacci explains what's in the works for the Staten Island Homeport in the following report.

It's a sprawling mass of waterfront property that's been waiting...and waiting...for a future. Monday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a plan for the 36-acre Homeport that's set to transform the site on Staten Island's north shore into a bustling residential, commercial and retail space.

“Our final plan for Homeport responds to the community's concerns and also fits perfectly into our administration's five-borough strategy for economic growth by making our communities more livable, more business friendly, and more economically diverse,” said Bloomberg.

The Homeport Task Force was formed last year and charged with holding public hearings and surveying local residents and business owners to hear how they want to make use of the space. The results of that survey prompted a plan to create a 24-hour community at the Homeport.

It includes three residential developments - roughly 350 units of low-density housing - as well as retail shopping, a sports complex, a farmers market, a restaurant and a banquet hall.

“I’m very excited,” says Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro. “This is not only the revitalization of the pier, but it's also the revitalization of the neighborhood.”

The project will cost the city $66 million in seed money over the next five years to get the site ready for development, which will be contracted out to private companies.

A part of the site will be reserved for future commercial development, and an esplanade will offer public access to the waterfront.

City Councilman James Oddo says residents should not be concerned about adding more housing on an already over-developed island.

"It's not going to be the type of hi-rise housing or high-density housing that would either block views or exacerbate the current conditions," said Oddo.

The plan also allocates $400,000 to restore nearby Tappen Park as part of a revitalization of the entire area. The hope is to turn the park into a gathering place similar to Union Square, with refurbished lawns, new plantings, and a new plaza for informal events.

The project is on an aggressive timeline, with the bulk of the landscaping and infrastructure expected to be completed by 2007. The entire project could be finished as soon as 2009.

- Amanda Farinacci

Copyright © 2004 NY1 News

I have a question. I've been to New York, but never to Staten Island. Why was Staten Island (then Richmond I believe) ever annexed by New York city? It shares little in common with the other boroughs, and is even geographically isolated. It might as well be in New Jersey! Where there ever plans to urbanize it like Manhattan or Brooklyn, and plans fell through? Or was it just purposely left as a bedroom borough?

The city needed a place to put its trash. Sounds terrible but it could be true as the Fresh Kills landfall served this city for decades.

LOL. What's the population compared to the other boroughs?

I read that a long time ago, by the times of dukes and counts, they had a duel between the families of NJ and NY over the island, and they had some challenge, and the winner was the NYer.

1st off, Staten Island Isnt "much smaller". staten island is nearly as big as brooklyn or queens in physical size. (dont let the subway map fool you, that map is far off with size). Besides, it seems that the majority of people living in staten island want to keep it the way it is. Building a subway there might draw alot more people to live out there, something i think the residents are against. One thing i always wondered, was why only have 5 boroughs? From what i heard (could be a mistake) was that the dutch fought over the state line and got staten island out of that deal. I think it would have been better to have gotten HUDSON COUNTY (NJ) along with it. With that additional borough, staten island would have an easier subway connection. drilling a tunnel from bayonne to SI should be alot shorter than from brooklyn. Besides, NYC would then be completely separated by 5 bodies of land.

look at the map: http://www.geocities.com/vincentpa.geo/gifs/still/usNyNyMap.gif

SI is like a bit too urban for NJ but its definitely not NY either. It even got a forest like thing, when you're there you can hardly believe that you are in NYC.

welcome to the forums dynamicdezzy!

It is essentialy in vertigo.

Interesting to think how political borders were made to the way they are now. It makes sense to incorporate Hudson County.

Staten Island is the only borough in NYC that voted for Bush!

That is amazing. Staten Island is politically so radically different from the rest of the city

Staten Island is the way station to NJ. Generally speaking 1st generation immigrants move to Brooklyn/Queens. 2nd generation move on to Staten Island before finally moving to NJ.

Useless trivia, Staten Island would be the most populous city in NJ.

Staten Island is the way station to NJ. Generally speaking 1st generation immigrants move to Brooklyn/Queens. 2nd generation move on to Staten Island before finally moving to NJ.

Useless trivia, Staten Island would be the most populous city in NJ.
Not really. SI is more expensive than NJ. And, imo, is shittier.

Staten Island is largely forgettable. In my opinion it's less distinct than the nicer towns in New Jersey. Who'd live in SI when you could live in Montclair, for example?

Because it's in NYC! ;)

I always played it out in my mind that, if I were ever to move to NYC, I could settle down in SI once I start a family. But that's really thinking ahead....

My family used to live in Perth Amboy right across from SI and to me it feels more like New Jersey than NYC. Unfortunately my memories of SI is the horrible smell near the landfill.

Staten Island too urban for NJ? Please. Most of Hudson Co. is more dense and "urban" than Staten. Staten might as well be part of NJ. People there go to Woodbridge and Elizabeth to do their shopping. They drive to Bayonne and Jerz City to take the light rail and PATH.