Terminal project leads to Staten Island surge.

When renovations to St. George Station were being considered a few years ago, Staten Island officials envisioned the project as more than a way to improve the ferry terminal's functionality.

Borough President Guy Molinari and other Staten Island officials viewed it as an opportunity to redesign the station, for the dual purpose of improving transportation services and enhancing the station's presence as a gateway to Staten Island.

"The borough president felt strongly that the terminal had to do more than serve as a funnel for commuters, it had to serve a larger function," said Frank Chaney, Director of Land Use for the Borough of Staten Island.

Today, the terminal restoration is one of three multi-million dollar projects on the island's North Shore aimed at revitalizing the waterfront and turning Staten Island into a tourist destination. The new terminal will have signs directing visitors to the new ballpark for the Staten Island Yankees and the new National Lighthouse Center and Museum, both of which will be located within walking distance of the terminal.

Additional improvements will be made to enhance the area surrounding the ballpark and the renovated ferry terminal. These improvements include construction of an esplanade, landscaped waterfront plazas, new pedestrian and bike paths, new roads and commuter parking lots, and improvements to the Staten Island rapid transit system and the shoreline.

Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has strongly supported the project, which is being done by the borough, the city's Economic Development Corporation, and state Department of Transportation.

"For the past several years the St. George Ferry Terminal -- the gateway to Staten Island -- has been an unattractive place for thousands of commuters and millions of tourists," Giuliani said, in announcing the project. "The terminal will be transformed into a state-of-the-art transportation and retail that all New Yorkers can be proud of."

The $81 million ferry terminal renovation project will offer enhanced transportation service and create an additional 12,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. It is being designed by the New York office of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Architects & Planners and Daniel Frankfurt.

The state is doing some preliminary work for the project, but the bulk of the renovation work is expected to begin early next year and be completed in 2003. It is the largest single revitalization project ever undertaken on Staten Island, officials said.

Among planned improvements are a pedestrian walkway connecting Richmond Terrace and terminal entry; new elevators, escalators, and stairs connecting all levels of terminals; improved traffic circulation systems separating pedestrians, busses, and livery vehicles; additional entry into terminal for passengers; new passenger drop off; and increased parking for commuters and tourists.

Staten Island began considering waterfront redevelopment plans in 1997 when the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences was looking for a site to build a new facility. The borough conducted planning and marketing surveys to determine the borough's tourism potential. According to the study, one million tourists ride the ferry annually to view the Statue of Liberty or the New York Harbor. Another 60,000 commute daily via the ferry, according to the study.

"We felt this was an opportunity to tap that market," he said.

In June, work started on a new 6,500-seat ballpark that will be the permanent home of the Staten Island Yankees. The team has been playing at the College of Staten Island since 1999 but, beginning June 2001, will play 40 home games at the new stadium named the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

The annual game and event schedule is projected to create approximately 200 jobs. The annual recurring economic impact from stadium operations is estimated at $16.1 million, with the city expected to receive approximately $2.5 million in annual taxes and fees, officials said.

The Economic Development Corporation recently issued requests for proposals for a 2,600-square-foot restaurant that will be part of the new National Lighthouse Center and Museum. The restaurant will seat between 150 and 200 people and will be located in a one-story historic brick and steel pavilion-style building which formerly housed the Lighthouse Depot machine shop.

"This is an excellent time to pursue business opportunities in Staten Island," said EDC President Michael Carey. "Although the St. George area has long been a hub for Staten Island activity, the museum and other high-profile waterfront projects in the offing will transform the area into a major tourist destination."

Ferry passengers will be able to enter the museum center from the recently constructed lighthouse stair tower at the terminal, which leads to an esplanade and plaza that connects to the Bay Street Landing Esplanade. The planned esplanade is part of a long-range plan to create a public boardwalk along the North Shore waterfront from the Gateways National Recreation Area (Fort Wadsworth) at the mouth of the harbor to Snug Harbor Cultural Center on the Kill Van Kull.

Chaney said long-range plans for Staten Island call for linking redevelopment efforts in St. George south to neighborhoods like Stapleton and west to neighborhoods like Howland Hook.

Chaney anticipates that redevelopment efforts to the south of St. George will be easier to accomplish than those to the west, which will require zoning changes and public investment to stimulate economic development. In the past Staten Island's waterfront areas had been used for industrial uses, but in recent years, they have been largely abandoned, he said.

"By focusing efforts you get something going and you can radiate redevelopment efforts from there," he said.