SI Waterfront Plan Goes To Public Review

NEW YORK CITY-The City Planning Commission on Monday kicked off public review for a redevelopment project intended to transform Staten Island's North Shore waterfront, including a 625-foot Ferris wheel. The project, which will also include the first outlet mall in the five boroughs, now must make the six-month journey through the mandatory Uniform Public Use Review Procedure.

“Many past planning efforts, including the recent Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and the North Shore 2030 report, have called for improved use of and investment in the North Shore's waterfront,” according to the New York City Economic Development Corp., which is spearheading the project intended to transform the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island. The development of two adjacent sites near the Richmond County Bank Ballpark is intended to “complement and bolster the economic growth of St. George and of Staten Island. It will attract more of the approximately two million tourists who ride the Staten Island ferry each year, as well as increased numbers of New York City and Staten Island residents, to the underutilized waterfront.” 

The New York Wheel will be built just north of the ballpark, and its 625-foot height will make it 84 feet higher than the Singapore Flyer, currently the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, although an even taller one is now planned for Dubai. The New York Wheel will consist of 36 capsules, each able to carry up to 40 passengers with a maximum capacity of 1,440 people per ride. It's expected to attract as many as 30,000 riders per day during peak season and an estimated 4.5 million visitors per year.

A 125,000-square-foot Terminal Building will sit at the base of the wheel. It will include retail, restaurant space, a 4-D theater and exhibition space about New York City history, alternative energy and environmental sustainability. A 950-space structured parking garage will also be built on the site, featuring a green roof with open space, solar panels, planted gardens and a playground. The latter is among the components that were added following the project's unveiling last September.

The retail component, BFC Partners' Empire Outlets, will hold as many as 125 designer outlet retailers and a variety of restaurants and cafes in a 340,000-square-foot space. The plans also include a 200-key, 130,000-square-foot hotel, and a 15,000-square-foot banquet facility. BFC also plans a 1,250-space structured parking garage below the retail and hotel components to accommodate commuters and tourists alike. Construction is expected to begin next winter, with a 2016 completion date targeted.

Since the project was first announced, Superstorm Sandy struck the city hard, and in particular the waterfront, and this has meant modifications to the plan. Crain's New York Business reported that the project will incorporate new flood-resistant standards. In addition, a section of the esplanade that separates the ride from the harbor will be improved, with the goal of better integrating the two spaces and help protect against future storms of Sandy's magnitude.