Real Estate Blog - staten island

THINKING OUT OF THE BOX

OK, what is the box and why should we think out of it, you may ask?  

Many years ago, the expression in every corporate training program was, "THINK OUT OF THE BOX". How do we make our business grow?  How do we improve our methods of performing our tasks?  How do we clean our homes more proficiently? (The Roomba vacuum, maybe!)  If one method worked for so many years, it was inevitable that a better method awaited our stagnant brains to keep us on top of the game.  

Recently, I read of a new business on Staten Island that caused me to raise an eyebrow.  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of bars, restaurants, clubs on the Island.  How so many can make a profit is of interest to me.  Each establishment has a gimmick or a clique, as a hangout for…

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New York Water Taxi Coming to St. George?

With the development boom on the north shore, St. George is on track to becoming the place to be on Staten Island. Luckily, for the "Forgotton Borough", those developemts have opened up the rest of New York's City's eyes to the opportunities here. The most recent entity to take notice is the New York Water Taxi, which may soon be making a stop in St. George. 

NYWT is looking to capitalize on the boost in tourism from the Empire Outlets and the New York Wheel projects. The Wheel will accommodate up to 1,440 people per ride, welcoming as many as 30,000 visitors per day and an anticipated  4+ million visitors per year. An additonal ferry service would take the tourism stress off the Staten Island Ferry which many Islanders use for daily commutes. 

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New C-Town Supermarket Opens in Grasmere

A welcome addition to the neighborhood has opened its doors in the Grasmere section of Staten Island.

A brand new 6,000 Sq. foot C-Town supermarket is joining the family of over 300 C-Town stores spread acrross the east coast. This location has taken over space formerly occupied by Dolphin Gym in a shopping plaza just off Clove Road.The store is conveniently located next to the Grasmere station of the SIRR which would allow for easy grocery shopping for residents without a car. 

One of the food aisles in the new C-Town Supermarket in Grasmere. (Staten Island Advance/ Irving Silverstein)

This C-Town location is owned and operated independently by the Hamdan Family, who own two other locations in Brooklyn. The Hamdan family's goal in opening the…

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West Shore Light Rail Plans Developing

With economic development happening on Staten Island's West Shore, many are wondering how well the infastructure can hold up. It's no secret that mass transit to the area is lacking. Luckily, officials are taking the necessary steps for a solution. The Staten Island Economic Developement Corp. plans to push for funding on two studies that could make the planned light-rail a reality.

According to the Staten Island Advance, the idea is to build a 13.1-mile public transit system with stops from Richmond Valley to Elm Park. It would carry Island commuters to the Bayonne Bridge and connect with New Jersey Transit's Hudson Bergen Light Rail Line, which leads to PATH trains into Manhattan. Robert Moore, chairman of the SIEDC, describes the plan as a "signature…

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Gillani Homes Listing of the Week

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 10 Pine Terrace, located in the heart of Annadale. This home is centrally located within short walking distance to the Annadale train station allowing for an…

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Amusement and Attractions Returning to SI Boardwalk

A request for expressions of interest for Staten Island beachfronts was issued by by the city earlier this year. This could mean that amusement parks may be returning to the eastern shore, perhaps as early as summer 2014! Back in the early 20th century, Staten Island beaches were popular tourist destianations and featured rides and attractions on the scale of parks exisiting today, like Coney Island's Luna Park. These new additions would help restore the shore to its former glory. 

Vintage Postcard: Great Roller Boller Coaster Amusement Co., South Beach, Staten Island. Collection Milstein Division, New York Public Library

The request mentions the possibility of rides and carnival attractions at a vartiey of sites. One such site is Midland Beach,…

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Bluebelt Set to Expand in Oakwood Beach

Following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Bluebelt will be expanded in the Oakwood Beach area. It was announced by Senator Schumer on Thursday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the project to minimize flooding caused by storms like Sandy. 

The expansion, formally known as the Creek West Branch project, will address wetland rehabilitation and flood management in the area, which is prone to flooding. The Bluebelt is a crucial part of Staten Island's storm water management system and currently services one third of the Island. 

"The tremendous damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy to both inland and shoreline areas in Staten Island made it crystal clear that we need to enhance our flood mitigation and sewer capacity measures…

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Volunteer on Monday to Help Count the Homeless on Staten Island

Project Hospitality, Staten Island's largest social agency, is looking for volunteers this monday to conduct a count of the homeless.

The Homeless Outreach Population Estimate, or HOPE count, aims to estimate the number of homeless living within the five boroughs. It also provides a rough figure of how many homeless are not accessing shelters or other services available. The data collected will also help the department determine the best allocation of funds. 

Volunteers are especially needed on the south and east shores of Staten Island to search for homeless who may have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy. While the homeless rate on Staten Island has not grown as much as the other boroughs, 279 new beds were filled as a result of Sandy.

To…

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SEWER, WATER-LINE INSURANCE--DO YOU NEED IT?

A year ago, I received a letter from the DEP "inviting" me to purchase insurance to cover the cost of repair to the aging sewer and water lines that exist on Staten Island. I mulled it over, held on to the letter for a number of months and eventually sent it to the circular file.  

Recently, I again received the same letter from the DEP urging me to purchase said insurance which is being offered by American Water Resources.  Only 14% of all Staten Island homeowners have signed up for this program. Of the City's estimated 600,000 homeowners, only 103,021 homeowners have enrolled.

The cost is $4.49 a month for the water line protection and $7.99 a month for the sewer line protection. There are exclusions, naturally, to the insurance coverage.  The…

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Controlling the Deer Population on Staten Island

Deer have been spotted all over Staten Island over the past few years. First in the more wooded areas of the South Shore near the Charleston shopping center, then down in Prince's Bay by Mount Loretto. Recently, they've  been found as far north as South Beach and even up high in Todt Hill!

The abundance of deer has been a heated debate topic among islanders. Many accidents have been caused by deer unexpectedly darting out onto the roads. Others worry about the effects overpopulation would have on the environment and the possibility of deer carried diseases spreading to humans. 

The question remains- How do we control the deer population in the most humane and efficient way? Birth control may be the answer. This idea is not without it's challenges.…

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