Real Estate Blog - staten island

Federal Build It Back Program Increases Funding

An additional $700 Million of federal funds will be allocated to the Build It Back program which has done wonders for Staten Islander's hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. The funding comes from the 1.4 billion dollars the city was awarded for community devlopment. According to The Staten Island Advance, the breakdown is as follow- "Slightly more than $1 Billion will go towards housing- the bulk of it, $716 million, to rebuilding or repairing one to four family homes through Build it Back."

According to the city, the funds set aside for home repairs should be enough to cover damages incurred by "priority one" homeowners. The residual should cover some reimbursement to "priority two" homeowners. Even still, the city expects to see more money funded into the…

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Cooking Up Culinary Acclaim on Staten Island

Staten Island has been making headlines in the culinary community of New York City. NYC is home to thousands of restaurants and where two popular Island eateries rank is quite impressive.

Denino’s Pizzeria and Tavern in Port Richmond has been a staple in the community since 1937. Highly reputed as the best pizza on Staten Island, the family-friendly establishment claimed the number 64 spot on the Zagat top 100.  The menu includes about 30 different varieties of pizza and other traditional Italian-American favorites like fried calamari, mozzarella sticks, and rice balls.

Bocelli’s Italian restaurant in Grasmere comes in at number 95 on the Zagat top 100. The restaurant guide describes Bocelli’s:  “With "delicious" seafood specialties that "aren't…

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Transportation Improvements Coming To Staten Island

New Yorker’s are known as some of the most hardworking people in the world. With our busy schedules and workloads, the last thing we need is a daunting commute.  Luckily, for Staten Islanders, officials have taken notice of our desire for a hassle free trip to and from work every day. The improvements will undoubtedly make getting “From point A to point B” less stressful and more enjoyable. Here is a look at the improvements coming to our borough.

(Photo by Lisa Bettany)

The first improvement comes to a service that we are very well known for, The Staten Island Ferry. Chances are, no matter where you live in the city, you have seen one of the bright orange ferry boats make a trip across the harbor.  According to The Staten Island Advance, starting…

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Could the Great Kills Waterfront Become The Next Pier Village?

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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Staten Island Keeps Evolving With Redevelopment In Bloomfield

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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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 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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New York State Buyout Program Expanding to Ocean Breeze

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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Bald Eagle Sightings On Staten Island Soaring To New Heights

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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Tottenville Plaza Renovation Revitalizes Retail in the Area

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' Annual "Lotto House" Raffle- Where We've Been This Year.

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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