If you are like most Staten Islander’s you’ve probably taken a trip down to the Jersey Shore on a hot summer day. One of the most popular shore destinations for Islanders to visit is Long Branch, New Jersey. It’s closer than other towns like Seaside, and features the stunning gem known as Pier Village. The village includes apartments, restaurants, boutiques, beach clubs, and hotels all steps from the beautiful beach. Spending an afternoon in a place like Pier Village can make you wonder why the prime beach space surrounding Staten Island is so underutilized.  Thankfully, some Great Kills residents and business owners are looking to change that.             

Development of the area may still be in the “idea” stage, but it’s easy to envision its…

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Developers continue to see the value that Staten Island holds. The most recent acqusition comes in the form of a 676 acre plot of land in the Bloomfield section. Originally set to house a Nascar arena, the property has been sold to a Staten Island Marine Development firm which plans to repair the site for industiral use. After being in limbo for years, residents are looking forward to discovering how this project will translate into job growth and economic development. 

The area has undergone some maintainence since its purchase, mainly cleanup of debris from last years Super Storm Sandy in compliance with the Emergency Watershed Protection progam. The EWP was created by Congress to remedy any damage caused by natural disaters. To further satisfy the…

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Every week, Gillani Homes will share a featured listing right here on our blog. Each listing has its own distinct personality and features that vary from home to home. As a prospective buyer it is most important to find the right home that fits your needs and checks off all the boxes on your list. Between size, neighborhood, finishings, proximity to transportation, and more the task of finding the right home can be daunting. Luckily, here at Gillani Homes we have a diverse selection of homes for sale on Staten Island that are bound to make your search a rewarding one!

This week's featured home is 62 Kingsbridge Avenue. Located in Bullshead, this home is in a key area for an easy commute. It's just a short drive to the Staten Island expressway where the…

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It's been over a year since the devestating Superstorm Sandy hit our Staten Island shores. while much progess has been made to rebuild, many homeowners throughout the beach communities have not been able to return to their homes. Thankfully, state buyout plans are currently expanding to additional neighborhoods. With previous success in areas like Oakwood Beach, it is the state's intention to buyout additional storm dagamed, flood zoned areas so that they may return to nature.

The most recent extention of the program is in Ocean Breeze. From Naughton to Seaview Avenue, and Quincy to Oceanside Avenue, rougly 129 homes are eligible for the program. Homeowners looking to opt-in to the buyout can expect full pre-storm value for their properites. Typically…

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The American Bald Eagle is the national animal of the United States. The extent of its majestic presence can only be understood by those who have seen one soar before their eyes. For some, the bird is not just a sight to see, but a powerful cultural symbol that represents strength, wisdom, and freedom. In the early 90’s, the bird was at risk for extinction, prompting environmentalists to ban DDT, a harmful chemical in pesticides that was stunting the population. Since 2007, the birds have been removed from the “protected” list and have even been seen on Staten Island! 

Photo by Stephen Lobaido, Who spotted the bids at Chapin Woods.

Local bird watchers recently spoke with the Staten Island Advance and recalled the areas in which the Bald Eagles were…

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Page Avenue in Tottenville has seen its share of retail growth over the past few years. With shopping plazas featuring everything from hair salons, frozen yogurt joints, upscale restaurants, and even Staten Island’s first drive-thru Starbucks, the area has become a convenience for neighborhood shoppers. Charleston shopping plaza featuring big box stores like Target, Home Depot, Christmas Tree Shops, and Bed Bath & Beyond is just minutes away. Thankfully, shoppers can look forward to even more welcome change with the renovation of “Tottenville Square” shopping plaza located at the corner of Page Avenue and Amboy Road.

(Hollister Construction Services Artists Rendering of the Project) 

By summer of 2014, the “Tottenville Square” renovation will be…

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Gillani Homes has been very busy this past summer, attending various events throughout the Island to immerse ourselves into your communities.  Each year, we raffle off our famous “Lotto House” which features a slew of different scratch off tickets.  The prize sends you our best wishes and our hopes that it will bring you riches! At each event we collect hundreds of free raffle tickets which ultimately added up to over 1,000 entries! Early this month at our annual office meeting, we chose this year’s winner. Congratulations to our winners, Dee & Tony Orabona of Grymes Hill.

 

If you would like to enter for a chance to win this unique prize, look out for Gillani Homes at events around your town. Here’s a look at where we have been over the course of…

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If you were thrilled to learn that Staten Island is “The Borough of Parks,” you're in for a special treat in the years to come. Freshkills Park has slowly been coming to fruition in small stages throughout the past few years. The park, which sits upon a former landfill, will become the largest park in New York City upon its completion. The project is a huge undertaking and many of its promised features are still in the preliminary planning stages. The city offered residents a sneak peak this past weekend which had made it clear just how grand this park will prove to be. Divided up into five sections, the massive piece of land will feature sprawling meadows, intricate pathways, and various outdoor recreation zones. Since the park is so large, it would…

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 Have you ever wondered what the large castle-like structure is that can be seen on your journey across the Verrazano Bridge? Most Staten Islanders already know this, but we’ll l clue you in on the hidden gem that is Fort Wadsworth. The fort is one of the oldest military sites in the nation and has stood since the Washington administration. While the fort hasn’t been active since 1995, it currently serves as part of the Gateway National Park Recreation Area.  Special events and activities can be enjoyed at the park no matter what time of year it is. Here are some of the great features Fort Wadsworth has to offer.

The Goats of Fort Wadsworth. Yep, you read that correctly. There are goats at Fort Wadsworth.  Since 2007 the goats have served as a…

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Dear Valued Customers,

The New York State STAR benefit program provides homeowners with a partial exemption from school property taxes. In order to combat fraud the state has required participants currently receiving basic exemption to re-register for the program. Registration began on August 19th and continues to December 31st of 2013. Seniors who already receive enhanced STAR are exempt from the new requirements. First-time applicants are also not affected by this year’s registration guideline. To register visit the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s website here. To register by phone call 518-457-2036.

For more information on the STAR program, please visit the links provided below.

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