STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Construction has officially begun on a key phase of the North Shore waterfront redevelopment, as the New York Economic Development Corporation launches structural work at the former New York Wheel site in St. George.
The project marks a significant milestone in the long-awaited St. George portion of the North Shore Esplanade, with crews focusing on bulkhead repair and shoreline restoration — essential groundwork before the public space can be fully designed and constructed.
“This is one critical piece of a larger story,” said Judah Asimov, vice president of neighborhood strategies for the EDC. “We now have about eight acres under construction, but this is the centerpiece of that plan.”
The initial phase centers on repairing the waterfront’s bulkhead, which has suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy and years of erosion. According to project officials, restoring the shoreline is a prerequisite to building the esplanade’s public amenities, including green spaces, walking paths and recreational areas.
“The bulkhead repairs are necessary due to damage from Superstorm Sandy as well as years of erosion,” Asimov said. “Step one is restoring the bulkhead and step two is restoring the esplanade; building it back, the greenery, the paths, seating, picnic areas.”
He added that the emergency repair phase is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with design plans for the esplanade anticipated within the coming weeks. Full construction of the park space could take roughly an additional year after designs are finalized.
The project site, located near the 9/11 Postcards Memorial, has remained largely inaccessible to the public for more than a decade after being closed in 2014 for the now-defunct New York Wheel project.
The esplanade is one component of the city’s broader North Shore Action Plan, a $400 million public investment initiative aimed at revitalizing a two-mile stretch of Staten Island’s waterfront.
Local officials say the plan is expected to deliver 2,400 new housing units, more than 20 acres of public space and over 7,500 jobs, generating an estimated $3.8 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years.
“For more than a decade, the public has not had access to the waterfront,” said Councilmember Kamillah Hanks. “This used to be active space. You were able to bike; you were able to walk. Seeing this progression here means we are that much closer to restoring accessibility to the public.”
Hanks emphasized the importance of community input in shaping the redevelopment, noting that a five-month public engagement process helped guide the vision for the site.
“It’s had many lives,” she said. “But the only life that matters is the one that we give back to the public. The waterfront is the prize here, that is the project.”
Officials said the improvements will ultimately reopen the waterfront to residents while ensuring long-term resilience against future climate impacts.
“This critical work will allow the City to reopen public access to this stretch of the esplanade and ensure the space remains resilient for future generations of Staten Islanders,” the EDC said in a statement.
Originally reported by Jessica Jones-Gorman in SiLive.
