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SPOTLIGHT —ON—

he forgotten borough is capturing everyone’s attention. And Baran points out the continued expansion efforts by Island natives Rich- Staten Island appeal is moving beyond the attractions on the ard and Lois Nicotra. The husband and wife team run the Nicotra Group, Tbustling North Shore, spreading to the rest of the island. which owns, manages, and leases more than one million square feet of prime commercial space, including eight Class A office buildings, the “The spotlight is finally on Staten Island and a lot of people are start- Hilton Garden Inn, and a Hampton Inn & Suites in a 415-acre natural ing to recognize us,” said Linda Baran, president of the Staten Island wildlife preserve in the Corporate Park of Staten Island. The Nicotra Chamber of Commerce. Group’s latest project is the ongoing construction of the eight story 330,000 square foot office building, which will generate an estimated Corporate giants Amazon and IKEA each recently built fulfillment cen- 2,500 full- and part-time jobs. ters on Staten Island, generating hundreds of jobs. Baran said that while transportation remains an issue, the proximity to waterfront and logis- The Chamber president notes while retail is in retraction in much of tics helps as has a “big push” by Borough President James Oddo to devel- the country, there’s a “boom” on Staten Island, with the redevelop- op the West Shore. ment of the Staten Is- land Mall, the arrival of “For a long time, it “The spotlight is finally on Staten Island and a lot the Empire Outlets, was difficult attract- and a new shopping ing larger compa- of people are starting to recognize us.” center coming to New nies, but the water- Dorp with 60 retailers front is untapped. –Linda Baran, president Staten Island Chamber of Commerce including an Alamo Our waterfront is a Drafthouse. true asset. There are large swatches of vacant land, especially compared to the rest of the “We are seeing thousands of visitors a day from across the globe visit city, and now developers and others are coming here,” she said. Empire Outlets and the North Shore of Staten Island. Tourists are no longer taking the ferry right back to Manhattan, but staying to enjoy “The surge in development activity in Staten Island, specifically the our shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions,” said Travis Noyes, St. George waterfront, is indicative of a larger transformation taking senior vice president of Empire Outlets. place in the borough, one in which we’re thrilled to be involved in,” said Lester Petracca, Triangle Equities’ president and CEO. “Nearing Resident and business owner Barbara Young is pleased to see all the completion in the coming months, Phase I of Lighthouse Point will new projects in the borough. deliver to the waterfront a mix of retail shops, indoor and outdoor restaurants, entertainment space and a 12-story residential tower “Once there was nothing to do here but now you look at the Empire with 20 percent affordable units. Once this initial phase of our $250 Outlets, the Staten Island Mall, and a new mall being built in New million project officially opens, we expect it to contribute to the revi- Dorp and you say, ‘Oh wow, there are things to do on Staten Island,’” talization currently taking place in the area.” she said.

Broadway Stages is converting the former Arthur Kill Correctional Fa- The founder of Barbara Young Medical Billing Services said her busi- cility in the Charleston section into Staten Island Stages, with one of ness has been expanding in recent years, in part because with more five soundstages already completed on a 69-acre campus. people moving to Staten Island, “we now have a need for more health care services.” “Staten Island has been such a welcoming community and we look forward to continuing to build our relationships with the local busi- “All this development has people coming back and it’s creating a lot nesses, organizations, and residents of the Island,” said president and of buzz,” Baran said. “It is also trickling down to small businesses and CEO Gina Argento. contributing to our local economy.”

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been incremental but it is definitely The impact of each development Linda Baran, president of Chamber on the upswing,” said Janet Dugo, the spreads beyond its own doors— of Commerce, said they are starting Museums, Music, More: Chamber’s project manager of the Prendamano states that Urby is at to draw Brooklyn businesses out to Downtown Staten Island Commer- 97.5% occupancy and now restau- the area too. She said another sign of Staten Island’s Growing cial District. “There’s a change and rants are opening in the area that are positive change is the merchants in one part is that entrepreneurs finally drawing customers from throughout the area are moving to create a busi- Leisure Options feel there is potential here.” the borough. ness improvement district. “There’s tremendous growth opportunity The Chamber is also doing its share to boost the area. Dugo said that one here. There’s such demand for housing and focus has been on fostering a sense of connection even in the “retail des- people want a walkable commuity and erts” like the stretch where an MTA station and a new MTA police station transit-based development.” consume real estate. The Chamber hung banners on cyclone fencing –James Prendamano, CEO of Casandra Properties Inc. that beautified the site and “provided bread crumbs to point people toward “Staten Island as a whole has been Yana Azbel saw the new develop- the next commercial area, saying, St. George Theatre is proud to be part of shockingly stagnant since 1975 but ments and last year decided to open ‘Don’t worry, keep going.’” these developments have had a pro- Love Your Furniture Again Antiques or years, the main topic of con- Wu-Tang Clan, Shoalin’s famous na- found impact,” said James Prenda- in Stapleton, which, she said, was The Chamber also used grant mon- versation when it came to enter- tive sons, to open The Flying Guillo- staten island community. mano, CEO of Casandra Properties once home to many antique stores. ey to aid beautification and store- Ftainment and leisure options on tine, a kung fu-themed bar. A Shore Thing: Inc. a commercial real estate agency. “I think this will eventually be a nice front improvements (new signage, Staten Island was the proposal for the “Ten years back this area was not as location like Park Slope,” she said. better lighting) along one four-block New York Wheel, which at 630 feet “The growth has been small and Staten Island’s North Shore appealing but I am bullish on it now,” “Business has been getting better stretch as a catalyst. “That prompted was to be the world’s largest Ferris steady, despite the Wheel not going and better. It’s going to be a great other stores to make their own im- wheel, drawing people from far and up,” said Doreen Cugno, president Booms Along Bay Street “There’s tremendous growth oppor- area again.” provements,” Dugo said. wide to the borough’s North Shore. and CEO of the St. George Theatre tunity here,” he added. “There’s such But even as the proposal shuddered and one of the pioneers on the North he most eye-catching project Cugno, president and CEO of the St. demand for housing and people to a halt, the entertainment menu Shore, whose efforts to restore the on the North Shore of Staten George Theatre, who points to crucial want a walkable community and continued expanding. theater 16 years ago were, along with T Island near the ferry terminal new projects like the Empire Outlets transit-based development.” the arrival of the Staten Island Yan- fell apart last year but while the future mall and Lighthouse Point, (luxury The Staten Island Arts’ Cinema Con- kees, a profound first step in the area’s of site of the New York Wheel is un- apartments, a hotel and office space) Prendamano said all this growth has nex has created a free screening series revival. Back then, she recalls, her certain, its legacy is a positive one. that followed in the Wheel’s initial produced lots of winners and very few and the Chamber of Commerce has building was considered a white ele- wake. While the 630-foot Wheel is not losers, unlike many gentrification pro- hosted free outdoor music events. phant and ticket buyers would ask if it The spotlight on what was to be the happening, there’s now talk of a cesses in other neighborhoods. “This world’s largest Ferris wheel helped smaller version on the site. wasn’t big bad developers pushing “The last few years have seen a true spur development in the Bay Street people out— in all these develop- WWW.BROADWAY-STAGES.COM Corridor region—from St. George The birth of those projects and others ments; we took down a total of three renaissance on the heels of brand new energy to Stapleton and Tompkinsville— like The Accolade condos at 90 Bay St. houses and created a market that that is bearing fruit for others. and the Urby Staten Island luxury didn’t exist,” he said. “People used to and investment, notably in the wake of Empire rental complex in Stapleton have be- go through these neighborhoods and Untitled-2 1 9/9/19 5:28 PM “The Wheel drew well-deserved at- gun a transformation of the Bay now they want to live there.” Outlets’ development and opening, as well as tention to this area,” said Doreen Street Corridor region. “Change has an infusion of new restaurants and breweries.” –Aileen Fuchs, president and CEO of Snug Harbor

Earlier this year, Snug Harbor Cultural was safe to drive near there. “Now we Center and Museum hosted the New are a cool place and Staten Island is York City Winter Lantern Festival on the map,” she said. which attracted 150,000 visitors, mak- ing it the largest cultural event ever in Also on the map are well-established the borough. (Snug Harbor’s visitor- staples beyond the St. George The- ship is up 20% and a city-funded $19.5 atre. Staten Island has some of the Businesses are million renovation of its Music Hall most beautiful green spaces, like High opening along the will allow for larger-scale and more Rock Park and Clay Pit Ponds State Bay Street Corridor modern productions.) Park Preserve. Even the former Fresh Kills garbage dump is gradually being Gary Angiuli epitomizes the impact And there are bigger changes to come. “Staten Island’s North Shore has al- turned into parkland. Then there are these large-scale developments are The city recently rezoned 14 blocks of ways been alive with culture,” said Ai- tourist attractions like the Alice Aus- having on the street. The son of an the Bay Street Corridor, which could leen Fuchs, president and CEO of ten House, the Jacques Marchais Mu- FREE SERVICE Let us handle the Italian immigrant who owned an add 1,800 housing units (including Snug Harbor, “However, the last few seum of Tibetan Art, Historic Rich- OPEN TO THE auto dealership, Angiuli saw a “vi- many designated affordable housing). years have seen a true renaissance on mond Town and Fort Wadsworth. GENERAL PUBLIC brant, creative community” taking While there are concerns about the the heels of brand new energy and in- shape, with the arrival of Urby and city fully funding corresponding infra- vestment, notably in the wake of Em- Cugno said the current building HELPING STATEN ISLAND FIND EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL BILLING Empire Outlets. He was inspired to structure, like sewers and schools, lo- pire Outlets’ development and open- boom, which is adding hotels, retail, transform a dilapidated space (that cal merchants say the rezoning offers ing, as well as an infusion of new market and affordable housing will Certified Nursing Assistants Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) brokers suggested he rent for a ware- tremendous potential. “Change is restaurants and breweries.” Snug Har- help fuel even more growth in enter- so you can focus on Patient Care Associates (PCA) house) into the 33,000-square-foot hard but if it’s done correctly it will be bor also hosts the Noble Maritime tainment and leisure activities, too. Licensed Mental Health Workers HVAC Workers restaurant row on Minthorne Street, good for Staten Island and good for Collection, the Staten Island Chil- “We need more time but I think in two Licensed Social Workers right off Bay Street in Tompkinsiv- the businesses,” Sykes said. dren’s Museum and the Staten Island years you will see a quantum leap,” Clerical Workers ille. The space has five restaurants Museum on its grounds. The organi- she said, adding that the North Shore Lab Technologists Transporters THE HEALING owned by local entrepreneurs and Angiuli points to the $92 million zation will publicly release a new could use a first-run movie house and Central Sterile and OR Techs Medical Assistants Start saving & start healing. No service fee for the first month! will house a shared workspace set aside for a new and improved master site plan later this year. a black box theater. Physical and Occupational called Enrichmint. Across the street, Cromwell Recreation Center as an- Environmental Angiuli built “Inspiration Plaza,” a other sign that “the business In 2014, the Flagship Brewery, with its All these sites would benefit from im- Therapists Contact Barbara Young at 2,500-square-foot recreation space. growth can be symbiotic with a tap room and brewery tours, opened proved transportation options, Fuchs Food Service Workers AND MORE 718-668-1874 or [email protected] new community.” “It’s a true re- in the Bay Street Corrider, leading said, from borough-wide bike sharing Jay Sykes, founder of the Flagship naissance,” he said. co-founder Jay Sykes to say, “We’ve to more bus access. And many Staten Brewing Company, which was Angi- gained a nice foothold in the commu- Islanders feel that even a smaller ver- Must be 18 years or older uli’s first tenant, said his taproom is He knows it won’t happen over- nity now.” The following year the Na- sion of the New York Wheel would be a Please bring your resume to our office: 900 South Avenue, Suite 300 Follow us attracting more people from other night, saying it will take five to 10 tional Lighthouse Museum joined the big addition. “It’s not a make or break 790 Port Richmond Ave Staten Island, NY 10314 boroughs now. “They come on the years for the area to fulfill its poten- roster. Coming soon to the Boulevard thing, but it would add value,” Sykes Staten Island, NY 10302 www.bymedicalbilling.com ferry and places like Empire Outlets tial. But Angiuli is confident it’s go- shopping center in New Dorp is the said. Added Cugno, “It could be half the Or E-mail your resume to: definitely help keep people spend- ing to happen. “We are poised for Alamo Drafthouse movie theater. The original size and still attract tourists, [email protected] ing time over here,” he said. greatness here.” Alamo has partnered with RZA of the since the view from there is priceless.”

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