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New York real estate: St. George, Staten Island

By Joe Filippazzo | Special to amNewYork

1:58 PM EDT, June 25, 2008

: A man muses over his wine choice at Enoteca Maria on Hyatt St. in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island. (EMILY ANNE EPSTEIN / June 25, 2008)

On Staten Island, all buses, trains, taxis and yes, the ferry from Manhattan lead to St. George.

And while proximity to Manhattan is the chief reason why it's such a big hub, St. George is experiencing a renaissance that is making the borough's northernmost tip a destination in its own right.

"I used to live in Manhattan but I came here because it's more peaceful and calm but still upbeat and lively. It's just a great neighborhood," said resident Tracey King, 47.

"And there's things like this," she said, motioning to a seven-piece bagpipe ensemble tuning up on the sidewalk. In the summer, street-side entertainment has become routine as restaurants try to draw strolling passers-by inside with guitars, keyboards, and even the occasional Scottish aerophonics.

"It's sort of a best-kept secret of New York," said RJ Fitzsimmons Jr. of the borough's Gateway Realty Corp. "It's a mixture of it all; an active community, less congestion, no alternate side of the street parking, more affordability, and there are incredible panoramic views of Jersey, Brooklyn and Manhattan."

And New Yorkers have certainly noticed. There are about 800 condo units currently being developed, many of which are already spoken for. Not many of the single-family houses are new, and that's for good reason.

In 1994, a large portion of St. George was designated a historic district and the rolling hills of large Victorian and Tudor homes have been placed under the city's protection. Fitzsimmons said that in the past decade, only a dozen or so new homes have been constructed.

But the influx of spending power has attracted commercial development that has all but secured St. George's future. Just some of the indicators include several high-end restaurants, the renovation of the ferry terminal, the restored St. George Theater, and the 2001 construction of the Richmond County Bank Ballpark, the home of the Yankees' farm team.

"If you build it," Fitzsimmons said, "they will certainly come."

Find it: St. George is bounded by Upper New York Bay to the north and east, Jersey Street to the west, and Victory Boulevard to the south.

Neighborhood Highlight: St. George Theater

One of the strongest indicators of St. George's rebirth is the renovation of the St. George Theater. The 2,800-seat Baroque-style venue hosts educational and recreational shows, concerts and programs.

"It brings a unique vitality, culture and entertainment to Staten Island," said Luanne Sorrentino, vice president of operations, "and it gives the area a great boost."

This spectacular theater opened in 1929 and was the jewel of the North Shore for decades, but the construction of the Verrazano Bridge in 1964 slowly drained the area's vitality. The forlorn theater fell into disrepair.

But Sorrentino, two of her sisters and their mother took control of the dilapidated space in 2004 and poured their life savings into it with no help from the government. "It was only after we succeeded that they decided to help us out financially," she said. "Now it's here to stay."

35 Hyatt St., 718-442-2900.

To Do

Richmond County Bank Ballpark

Built in 2001, this 7,000-seat stadium is home to the Staten Island Yankees, the farm team of their Bronx counterparts. A minute's walk from the ferry, cheap tickets and not a bad seat in the house, it's a great place to spend the day and watch a ballgame. (The SI Yanks aren't half bad either!) 75 Richmond Terrace.

Staten Island Museum