St. George, Staten Island

By Alan Krawitz | Special to amNewYork

April 20, 2006

Located at the northeastern tip of Staten Island where the Kill Van Kull enters Upper New York Bay, St. George, also known as "Downtown Staten Island," has seen its share of ups and downs since the early 20th century.

Once dominated by 19th-century Victorian homes and mansions, the area now offers trendy housing options such as the upscale Bay Street Landing condo complex, newly constructed high-rises and Manhattan-style townhouses. Actor Paul Newman is said to have lived in the area during the mid-1960s.

Richmond Terrace in St. George is not only the administrative center of the borough but also a transportation and entertainment hub with its ferry/bus/railway terminal, the Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of the New York Yankees minor league ball club and the St. George Theatre.

The area, once considered part of the New Brighton neighborhood, reportedly was renamed after George Law, a local investor who was involved in the consolidation of ferry and rail service.

The neighborhood grew rapidly in the early 20th century as municipal ferry service to Manhattan commenced in 1905.

Downtown Staten Island experienced a downturn in 1964 following the construction of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge that shifted development and commerce to the interior of the island.

Today, the consensus is that the area is in the midst of a resurgence fueled by a combination of rising property values due to new construction, redevelopment of the waterfront and an easy commute to Manhattan.

Robert Fitzsimmons Jr., a senior vice president at Gateway Arms Realty, said that strong, reasonably priced housing has helped St. George continue to grow.

"In St. George you have different types of housing that appeal to different types of people. Newly constructed town houses and condos hold more interest for young professionals and the area's Victorian homes -- many of which are circa the early to late 19th century -- are sought after by older, longtime residents moving from the island's interior," he said. "But both younger professionals and longtime residents enjoy the area's close proximity to Manhattan."

The Buzz

Most residents of the area are surprised at how quickly housing is being built and renovated. But, some residents say that all the building is taking its toll on local parking.

"On Staten Island you need a car, and now the parking is really getting tight," said Karl Reina, co-owner and chef at Karl's Klipper on Bay Street.

Reina said the National Lighthouse Center and Museum being built right across the street from his restaurant could make parking even worse.

In addition, Reina said a homeless shelter has some area residents worried about changing the downtown's character.

"Since we have so many of these new condo complexes going up, I think that many people are concerned about the possible effects of the shelter on the community."

Real Estate

St.George is home to a mixture of 19th-century Victorians, Tudors and mansions, but new construction of high-rise condo complexes and town houses are vying to attract a growing base of young professionals. One popular, upscale residential development is the Bay Street Landing that abuts the bay between the ferry terminal and the head of Victory Boulevard. Two other condo complexes -- the Pointe and the View -- are under construction. Prices for the most part are refreshingly below what it will cost to buy or rent across the harbor.

What's selling:

» 37 Sherman Ave. One-family detached home, 2,400 square feet, sold for $507,500

» 350 Richmond Terrace, one-bedroom co-op, 683 square feet, sold for $130,000