Green Markets and Real Estate Markets: Bountiful Developments in Staten Island
Local food isn’t the only thing growing on Staten Island. While the community’s fresh food producers are making a strong showing at the St. George Greenmarket; at the same time, the face of real estate in Staten Island continues to grow at a dizzying rate. Springtime and summer on the Island means it’s time for bountiful (and delicious) green markets and real estate markets!
Green Markets in Staten Island
Ten food producers kicked off the 2015 growing season at the St. George Greenmarket at St. Marks Place and Hyatt Street (right behind the St. George Theater) on Staten Island. Celebrating 20 years, the green market is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through December. Although we had a long harsh winter, and produce changes throughout the season, local producers have spring vegetables like asparagus, kale, herbs, flowers and even honey available now.
Green markets are critical to the community; not only affecting the way you eat, but also how it keeps farms in family hands by bringing the essence of the country to the urban jungle. Residents in St. George have the unique opportunity to see where our food comes from and the environmental impact of local food production right in their backyard.
Real Estate Markets in Staten Island
Green markets definitely help to improve neighborhood economies in Staten Island but the St. George Waterfront redevelopment project is also heating things up; continuing to make St. George a great place to live. With an abundance of residential retail and entertainment projects well under way, exciting transformations are just around the corner.
Spring Stats
St. George is one of the top real estate and rental choices of New York. In fact, according to the Staten Island board of realtors, web searches for properties for sale, a leading indicator, are up 62% in the period from April 2014 to March 2015, with an astounding 128% increase for views of specific properties. New listings in Staten Island increased 11.0 percent to 603 and pending sales were up 19.8 percent to 363. The New York Times says developers are focusing on the North Shore because of its accessibility to Manhattan and easy commute.
Other Notable Projects
Staten Island Board of Realtors has provided these updates below in their recent article, “Staten Island: A Bountiful Fresh Crop of New Developments”:
- URL (“Urban Ready Life”) Staten Island, a residential and retail development with emphasis on connecting the community to the waterfront, in partnership with the city, are creating park-like open spaces and a mile-long esplanade to take advantage of the spectacular waterfront location.
- URL also comprises 35,000 square feet of retail space, with no chain stores included. Rather, visitors will find Coffeed, a charity-minded espresso bar originally from Long Island City, and a 5,000 square foot garden whose bounty will be available at an on-site farm stand.
- Lighthouse Point, a $200 million retail and residential complex planned for St. George will use the historic brick campus of the United States Lighthouse Service Depot. Its completion is planned for 2018.
- Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in early April for Empire Outlets, a $350 million mall and entertainment complex project in St. George.
- Financing is nearing completion for the $500 million New York Wheel, a 630-foot-tall Ferris wheel modeled on the London Eye.
Staten Island Real Estate
The North Shore is a great community to find your first home or rent an apartment. To learn more about real estate or apartments for rent in St. George, contact Gateway Arms Realty today! You can also reach us by phone at 1-718-273-3800.