Concetta Pepenella Associate Broker

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

Foreclosure Rates Continue to Spike on Staten Island. This is the story NY 1 News requested for My 'Broker Opinion' here on the island. I included a link so you can read the interview.

My interview with New York 1 News click here

Michelle Park did a fine job with the final product, a real professional! But, I on the other hand choked. I had a bad case of stage fright.I spent all morning preparing for the interview equipped with the interview topic only; "The foreclosure market on Staten Island." I researched any current information I could find on the subject, talked to a couple of trust worthy mortgage banker friends, and blended it with my personal knowledge. You can read my preparation notes in my blog titled " Forget Wall Street....Lets Bail out Main Street."

When Michelle arrived to my office she set up the camera equipment and was ready. I sat facing the camera what seemed like one foot from my face. All I could think of "What duh heck! The camera is too close..... I'm just not ready for my close up." Michelle ask me the first question and my mind went totally Blank! I looked like a deer trapped in headlights. (see picture below) There I sat after 16 years in the real estate business, and I couldn't even tell her my office telephone number. "Oh No, I thought, how am I going to get out of this?" Michelle did ask another question and I couldn't remember the question nor the words I had just spoken. Some how a reply survived the interview and made the story.

The next day the interview did air on NY 1 News and it really wasn't all that bad. A few friends called and told me the interview went well and what did I think the problem is?

Okay, Katie Curic and Diane Sawyer I'm not but, it was fun and a good tale to tell my friends. I plan to practice- practice-practice in front of my little Cannon camera until this Realtor Can. In the mean time I will stick to what I know..... Selling Homes.

Short term interest rates have been lowered a half percent yesterday by the Federal Reserve aka FEDS. Long term rates will follow. Perfect time to buy is now. Lower interest rates means lower monthly payments. It will cost you less to live in a house today then had you purchased a year ago. Home prices have fallen and along with it the interest you will pay on a mortgage.

Dream House Finder <<<<Click the link to begin your new house search.

Concetta Pepenella 718-226-7100

Appleseed Realty GMAC

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........