Central Business District Overview

Downtown Staten Island (SI) provides a unique and bustling atmosphere for businesses and residents alike. As the welcoming point for nearly 70,000 daily commuters who use the Staten Island ferry, Downtown SI is comprised of four adjacent neighborhoods: St. George, Tompkinsville, Stapleton, and Clifton.

Downtown SI has experienced recent growth far outpacing other areas of New York City. Staten Island’s population has increased 24% over the last two decades, more than triple Manhattan’s growth rate during that time. The ongoing expansion of the healthcare, accommodation, food service, and education sectors have contributed to Downtown SI’s growing economy. Artists and musicians have gravitated to Downtown SI to remain close to Manhattan while also having affordable live and work space. In 2006, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation held its first four-day film festival, bringing international and independent filmmakers to a diverse local audience.

View the Downtown Staten Island Central Business District Summary 

Office Market

Downtown SI is home to over 75,000 residents and 12,000 workers in financial, legal, communications and other professional fields. The area has experienced a 32% increase in private sector employment over the last twenty years, versus only 4% citywide. With over 1 million square feet of commercial office space, Downtown SI can offer businesses a more affordable option than many other business districts.

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Available Commercial Incentives

• Commercial Expansion Project (CEP)
• Energy Cost Savings Program (ECSP)
• Industrial and Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP)
• Relocation and Employment Assistance Program (REAP)
• See www.nyc.gov/businessexpress for more information about incentive programs

Office Market Snapshot¹

1. Data gathered by CoStar

Retail Market

Downtown SI offers plenty to see and do: a farmer’s market, free concerts and fairs in the parks, restaurants, shops, theatres, museums, and one of the most scenic stretches of New York waterfront. Along the Bay Street Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods, the Downtown SI’s commercial retail mix is primarily made up of local restaurants, small retail businesses, financial institutions and real estate/developers. At the St. George Ferry Terminal, the City has recently developed 17,000 SF of space and signed 6,000 SF of retail leases. Additionally, the terminal has a new interactive, multi-lingual, information center that showcases cultural, outdoor, sports, culinary, and tourist attractions in Staten Island and how to reach them.

Demographics¹

Current Retail Environment²

1. Data gathered from Demographics Now
2. Data gathered from CoStar 

Who's Here

• Walgreens
• Domino's Pizza
• Edible Arrangements
• Rite Aid
• Western Beef
• Everything Goes Bookstore and Cafe
• Subway
• Kentucky Fried Chicken
• Taco Bell

Large Scale Development Activity

Goethals Bridge Modernization Project

The newly modernized Goethals Bridge will feature 12-foot wide lanes for both regular, bus and HOV use. The bridge will include bicycle and pedestrian lanes and will also be public transit accessible.

• Cost: $8.8 million
• Use: Transportation
• Status: Planning

Freshkills Park

At 2,200 acres, Freshkills Park will be almost three times the size of Central Park and the largest park developed in New York City in over 100 years. The project will transform what was formerly the world’s largest landfill into a cultural and recreational destination with natural areas, sports fields, playgrounds, comfort stations, and pathways. The first phase of construction is now underway, and sections will begin to open in 2011.

• Cost: $180 million
• Use: Open space / recreation
• Status: Planning / construction

New Stapleton Waterfront

The Homeport, a 35-acre decommissioned U.S. Naval Base in Staten Island, will become a new, mixed-use residential community that will continue the revitalization of the historic Stapleton community. The project includes 850 rental housing units, ground-floor retail and parking; roadway infrastructure and 6-acre public, waterfront open space

• Cost (Phase I): $33 million
• Use: Residential / retail / transportation / recreation
• Status: Groundbreaking in 2011

Former Coast Guard Site Redevelopment

This 3-acre parcel is a key link between St. George Ferry Terminal and Stapleton Waterfront. Proposed upgrades include the renovation of three historic buildings, capital improvements to public space, and construction of new buildings. In the interim, the public plaza adjacent to the site offers arts and entertainment programming to further enliven the entire St. George area.

• Estimated Cost (Phase I): $20.2 million
• Use: Residential / hotel / retail
• Status: Planning

St. George Ferry Terminal Ramp Replacement

This project will rehabilitate the ramps leading into the St. George Ferry Terminal with stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The project consists of the rehabilitation of 8 ramps, demolition and reconstruction of the North Ramp access to parking lots and Richmond County Bank Ballpark, architectural improvements to the bus gates and canopies, improvements to pedestrian access, and creation of a bikeway and parking facility for cyclists. The project also includes refurbishing the Flute Sculpture, painting all structures, installation of new drainage, and paving the North Municipal Parking Lot.

• Cost: $175 million
• Use: Transportation
• Status: Construction

North Shore Right of Way

The MTA is conducting an Alternatives Analysis study on the reactivation of the North Shore former rail Right of Way for transit use. The AA study will assess whether the ROW can increase transportation options and the quality and speed of service for North Shore residents and workers. The MTA will consider bus improvements, including bus rapid transit, and light and heavy rail. They anticipate completion of the study in 2011.

• Cost: $1.5 million
• Use: Transportation
• Status: Planning

Staten Island Civic Center

As the future home of Staten Island’s Supreme Court, this project involves the creation of a substantial town square to be built around a new Courthouse building. The five-story edifice, the borough's biggest capital investment ever, is slated to be completed in January 2013. It will include the development of new office space, streetscape improvements, and a parking garage.

• Cost: $200 million
• Use: Office / streetscape
• Status: Construction

North Shore Esplanade Project (Pier 5A)

Streetscape upgrades along Murray Hulbert Avenue between Hannah Street and Victory Boulevard will improve existing paths for pedestrian and cyclists along the North Shore Esplanade. The public pier adjacent to the Cromwell Center will permit a future kayak launch site.

• Cost: $4.6 million
• Use: Transportation / streetscape
• Status: Planning

Downtown Staten Island Map