South Shore, Staten Island
The South Shore is a geographical term applied to the area in the New York City borough of Staten Island, south and east of the island's ridge of hills (and Richmond Creek and Fresh Kills south of Historic Richmond Town) along the waterfront and adjacent areas from the Narrows to the mouth of the Arthur Kill, although many observers prefer to restrict its scope to the neighborhoods located between the shoreline of Raritan Bay on one side and Richmond Creek and Fresh Kills on the other, thus encompassing the neighborhoods of Great Kills to Tottenville only. Those who use this narrower definition of the "South Shore" prefer to assign the communities that lie along the Lower New York Bay, and inland for approximately 2 to 2½ miles, from Bay Terrace and Richmondtown to as far north as Grasmere and Concord, as belonging to the East Shore. The neighborhood is represented in the New York City Council by Joe Borelli.
Geologically, the area is the outwash plain formed from the edge of the terminal moraine, and continues as an underwater shoal into Lower New York Bay, where it was a prime oystering ground in the 19th century.
Prior to the 1960s, the South Shore was undeveloped, however after the building of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, its population rose sharply.
However territorially defined, the South Shore is noted for the rapid urbanization that took place in the area during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Its population is predominantly white, but according to census data has been growing more heterogeneous in recent years. Many residents are of Italian, Irish, English, and Jewish descent, with a massive boom to the Italian population in the 1980s and 1990s across a lot of many south shore neighborhoods and spread out.[1] The area generally has a low crime rate except for thefts. Truancy, however, is a recurring problem.[2]
Commerce was previously dominated by small businesses despite the presence of Hylan Boulevard running along the eastern boundary of the South Shore. However, a number of shopping centers have been built over the last decade. The area is still known for small businesses, including 24-hour delis, pork stores, pizzerias, cafes, gourmet food shops, and a number of independently owned pharmacies, florists, hair and nail salons, paint stores, and car repair shops.
Transportation
Staten Islanders on the South Shore have the longest average commute of anyone in New York City.[3] Commuters to Manhattan have the option of express buses, which run along Hylan Boulevard, Richmond Avenue, and New York State Route 440, or the Staten Island Railroad (formerly SIRT.) Express train service cuts the commute time to and from the Staten Island Ferry. Morning express trains make all local stops to New Dorp, and then express to the St. George station. In the evening, express trains travel from St. George to Great Kills, then make all local stops until Tottenville. Local trains make all stops to Great Kills.
The Charleston Bus Depot opened in January 2011 at Arthur Kill Road in Charleston.
Talks have been underway to implement a new Fast Ferry service from the Prince's Bay/Mt. Loreto area on the Raritan Bay to both Midtown Manhattan and the Wall Street area. It is estimated based on several studies that the ridership base for such a ferry route would be substantial given the lack of sufficient alternative public transportation to Manhattan from this area and its population of high income professionals commuting to Midtown Manhattan. It is estimated the trip via ferry would take approximately 40–45 minutes, almost half the time it currently takes to commute via express bus to Manhattan. It has been speculated that either SeaStreak USA or NY Waterway (both of which currently operate fast ferry service to nearby locations along the Staten Island facing coast of New Jersey) are considering operating this service.
Temporary, eight-week ferry service from Great Kills, Staten Island to Manhattan will begin on November 26, 2012. The ferry will improve commutes of neighborhoods that have been worst hit by Hurricane Sandy. The ferry will run from Great Kills Park to Pier 11 at Wall Street and continuing on to 35th Street. The one-way fare will be $2.00.[4]
Many commuters from the South Shore of Staten Island drive over the Outerbridge Crossing to the Park & Ride facility operated by NJ Transit at the Metropark Train Station in Iselin, NJ (appx. 10 min drive) which offers express rail service directly into Penn Station with transfers available to PATH service at Newark Penn Station to lower Manhattan, 33rd Street, Hoboken and Jersey City.
References
- ↑ http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/data/2006chp-504.pdf
- ↑ Richmond County District Attorney's Office - Press Release for September 29, 2005 Archived September 29, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Weiner (NY09) - Report - Report Prepared By: Representative Anthony D. Weiner on New York City's School Scaffolding $inkhole:". House.gov. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
- ↑ http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/greatkills.shtml
Coordinates: 40°32′13″N 74°09′40″W / 40.537°N 74.161°W