Concetta Pepenella Broker Associate

Today September 9, 2008 At the SIBOR (Staten Island Board of Realtors) round-table discussion, the Parks Department gave a presentation of the proposed roads for the landfill. The meeting didn't have attendance as the Molinaro meeting had during the Borough Presidents presentation on the future of the landfill roads, but an eager crowd did show up.

Michael Morello, Manager Environmental Planning for Parks Department gave a visual presentation and explanation of how the closed landfill is operating at this time. He explained to the crowd that the leached runoff is captured and filtered using a state of the art system and then emptied into the Kill van Kull as clean water. Michael also explained the methane gas is collected and sold by the city. Parks Department wants to rebuild roads and run these roads through the landfill. One road could rise as high as 140 feet high.

The Parks department & Borough President are in disagreement with the east west roadway connection from the West Shore expressway and Richmond Avenue. The problem is the current roads in place are 22 feet wide and not wide enough to support two lanes in either direction. Any expanation would require interruption of the leached system and or roadways running through sensitive environment that could take years to approve. The Parks department wants to re build the roads. Borough President Molonaro wants to use existing roads.

A New Proposal has been introduced by the Borough President! A one way loop using existing service roads as two lanes. The cost of this revised plan is 32 million dollars & will take only 4 years to complete. Parks Department and Borough President office are in agreement.

Sometimes the most difficult problems have the easiest answers. Now all we need is ferry service into Manhattan using the landfill docks.

Borough President James P Molinaro and his senior staff presented to SIBOR (staten island board of realtors) roundtable group, plans for a road through the former Fresh Kills Landfill.

"With 2200 acres of property, lets give the people of Staten Island a new road system that works." -Borough President Molinaro

Molinaro and his staff, including Megan Deveroux an environmental scientest, want to open and expand exsisting roads, with two lanes in each direction.

Molinaro said; "We need to have those roads. The roads are already there, why not use them?"

If you would like to read from Borough Presidents Staten Island web site just go to http://www.statenislandUSA.com There you will find a sample letter to send to Mayor Michael Bloomberg address to: City Hall, New York NY and fax it (212)788-2460

Here is a map showing exsisting landfill roads.

There will be a meeting September 4,2008 7PM at PS58, for the public to discuss using exsisting roads.

The next SIBOR roundtable September 9,2008 9AM will discuss The Citys Parks department side of the issues.

comments are welcome.

Connie Pepenella Appleseed Realty GMAC 718-226-7100

http://www.pepenella.com

Grasmere Staten Island is located a few minutes from the Verrazano Bridge on the East side of Staten Island; with many small ponds and lakes. A busy neighborhood plenty of shopping close by & the busses roar thru the neighborhood en route to Manhattan or Brooklyn, mostly working class people live there. Staten Island railway runs thru Grasmere and into St George to the Staten Island ferry. The Staten Island ferry is a free ride into lower Manhattan. FYI the Staten Island ferry floats past the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

There is an energy that lives in this neighborhood, chock full of history. I listed a house in Grasmere recently, see pictures of below. The townhouse is new to the neighborhood and represents how Staten Island has grown and developed. Grasmere is easily accessable to the culture and arts and business life of the city. The property is at the highest point in the development; A very spacious unit with all the amenities any home owner would desire.

3 Bedroom 3 Bath Townhouse Staten Island New York 10304

call Appleseed Realty GMAC real estate { 718-226-7100} Connie Pepenella

http://www.pepenella.com to find your Dream Home

Yesterday wasn't an ordinary real estate day here at Appleseed Realty GMAC real estate. I got a call from Michelle Park Reporter NY1 News, Staten Island Unit, first thing in the morning regarding the Outlet Center now known as: Waterfront Commons in Tottenville. My blog comment on activerain had been found somewhere at the top of a google search. Michelle wanted my opinion as a Tottenville resident of the planned project. I agreed and we set up an appointment to meet later in the day.

New York1 News Interview Click on the link to read the full story and also to listen to the television interview.

Here are a few photos taken during the interview.

Reporter Michelle Park, Staten Island Unit, and Concetta Pepenella

The Tottenville Waterfront Outlet Mall is a wonderful idea. But the Owners & The Building Department need to take some responsibility prior to construction of this development to be sure the roadways are adequate to support the traffic the mall will bring.

Feel Free to leave Your comment......................

Last night I attended the Special Meeting of the Tottenville Civic Association at St Marks Church. I could guess about 75 people were there along with two uniformed police officers, the project manager Joseph Margolis, and the Engineering Consultants, the Realtor selling the project. To their credit they brought the waterfront project and made an excellent presentation of the Outlet Mall.

The project will be built on 30 acres of property including underwater; 4.8 Acres wetlands and Ponds. A 14 screen multiplex, 16 restaurants and 15-16 outlet stores. A total of 400,000 sq ft of retail space, 1189 parking spaces underground and 1700 above ground. The mall will be shaped like a horse shoe with the center area as large as 2 football fields. The football field area will host local community outdoor activities. The area will be pedestrian friendly with seating areas, walking paths over looking the water and a boat dock to pull up to the mall. They presenter ofered a plan to Widen Arthur Kill Road. Sounds Very Very nice! Construction jobs, Jobs boosting the local economy, I love the idea!!!

But wait, hold everything! As a Staten Island Loving Resident we need to take a closer look at this. Some key words: Global Warming, Traffic, Infrastructure, Roadways, The Outerbridge Crossing.

I mention Global Warming because every little bit counts. 25 Acres of trees will be bull dozed and cleared off the property. I am sure this will effect the Natural Eco System, the natural drainage, small creatures that live in the woods and more. I suggested at the meeting; Build the center Taller and Buffer the shore lines with native vegetation.

Traffic was the Main concern by everyone that attended the meeting. The presenters told us Arthur Kill Rd would be widened. But no certain size was given. The President of the Tottenville Civic Association gave a passionate speech on why the mall is a bad idea, not wanted by the community at this location because of the traffic and roads. Another person mentioned; the Outerbridge was built for the horse and buggy days and already cannot handle the traffic as it is now. How in the world would another 3000 cars fit in?

Infrastructure (the system of public works of a country, state, or region; required for an activity) Tottenville just does not have it. The Outerbridge is only four lanes, The roadways are only two lanes. The access on and off are just not substantial enough. We're putting the cart before the horse here on the island. The Outerbridge Crossing needs to be expanded or rebuilt. And a highway access to the property. But, I am sure the center will be built and life will go on.

Feel Free to Leave your comment........