NYC EDC and Staten Island borough president announce consultant for development of new S.I. Community

Real Estate Weekly, July 9, 2003

New York City Economic Development Corporation President Andrew M. Alper and Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro announced on July 2, that a planning consultant team has been chosen to develop a master plan for redevelopment of the 36-acre Stapleton Homeport and surrounding neighborhoods. The team, headed by Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Alschuler Inc. (HR&A), also includes Cooper Robertson & Partners, Vollmer Associates LLP and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.

The consultant team will work closely with the Homeport Task Force to create a comprehensive reuse strategy that focuses on development opportunities along the waterfront from the Homeport to the St. George Ferry Terminal. The resulting plan must also address the needs and concerns of the communities in the area.

"By working closely with the Task Force, the consultant team will shape and guide the redevelopment of Homeport to take full advantage of this part of Staten Island's incredible waterfront," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "Our mandate is for the team to develop a coordinated reuse strategy that will make the best use of the Homeport site and strengthen the economic viability of the surrounding neighborhoods."

The consultant team was selected as a result of a Request for Proposals created under the auspices of the Homeport Task Force and issued earlier this year. The REP called for a nationally recognized planning consultant to develop a strategy that incorporates the commercial corridor along Bay Street adjacent to the Homeport. The area is bounded by the intersection of Edgewater Plaza and Bay Street to the south, Bay Street to the west, the pierhead line to the east, and the proposed National Lighthouse Museum to the north.

"All the consultant teams we interviewed were extremely qualified, so it was a pleasure to pick the best of the best," said Molinaro. "Redevelopment of the Homeport is one of Staten Island's top priorities, and I'm confident that this team will come back with a plan that will be acceptable to the community and will continue the revitalization of the waterfront from the St. George Ferry Terminal to the Verrazano Bridge."

"The Homeport is a tremendous asset. Only by creating a cohesive Master Plan for its redevelopment can we ensure that we will realize its full potential," said Alper. "This initiative coupled with other projects currently underway on Staten Island, such as extending the waterfront esplanade from Stapleton to the St. George Ferry Terminal and expanding the Visy Paper recycling plant, are excellent examples of the Bloomberg Administration's commitment to the future of all of Staten Island."

The consultant team will review existing data and studies; identify community needs and desires; determine the feasibility of locating various industries at the site; evaluate traffic conditions, both pedestrian and vehicular; and recommend ways to enhance public open spaces and access to the waterfront.

It is expected that the consultant team, working closely with the Task Force throughout the process, will produce a preliminary report in six months and the final report in mid- 2004. The Homeport Task Force, established by Mayor Bloomberg, is a partnership of the Bloomberg Administration, the Staten Island Borough President's office and the Staten Island community. Its 17 members include elected officials, community representatives, local businessmen, and City agencies, such as the Department of City Planning and NYC Economic Development Corporation.

HR&A has an extensive background in major real estate and waterfront development and the skills necessary to assist in laying the groundwork for realizing a solid, economically rational and community-supported development plan for the Homeport. Cooper Robertson & Partners, an urban design firm with a strong commitment to urban waterfronts, prepared the Master Plan for Battery Park City, the Memphis Riverfront, Boston Seaport and Maritime Park in Miami. Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates has directed the design and construction of more than 300 landscapes for public, private and institutional clients throughout the United States. Vollmer Associates is a multi-faceted engineering and planning firm that will add transportation and traffic expertise to the Homeport team.

New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City's primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC's mission is to stimulate job growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity and strengthen the City's competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City's many opportunities.