New York City Neighborhood Guide - Staten Island
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Staten Island, despite its beautiful woodlands and coveted seaside real estate, is NYC's forgotten borough. Though some areas aren't as pretty or friendly as others, many of the nicer neighborhoods offer fabulous Victorian and Colonial homes, or striking views of the city and sea. In the center of Staten Island is the famous Greenbelt, a stunning parkland covering 1,788 acres that has over 30 miles of trails, a golf course and even an old fashioned carousel. The park also hosts special events throughout the year like art shows and hikes. Staten Island is basically an entirely residential borough with over 40 neighborhoods, though many of them aren't well known. Some of Staten Islands more popular areas are highlighted below.
Staten Island Neighborhoods
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Egbertville
Main Drag: Lighthouse Avenue.
Lowdown: Almost entirely residential and barely bigger than a megastore, Egbertville is a quaint little neighborhood on the tip of Lighthouse Hill in Staten Island. Since it's more a place for single-family-home buyers and not much of a zone for the ubiquitous New York renters, Egbertville isn't known as a place to live the wild life, but as a place to see some incredible sights. LaTourette Park (part of the Staten Islands famous Greenbelt) is a stunning land of gorgeous forests with incredible trails that are most easily accessible from Egbertville. Also, the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, designed to resemble a Tibetan monastery, is an amazing destination where one can find both antique works and absolute tranquility. Historic Richmond Town, a living museum of New York's heritage, is also commonly associated with Egbertville.
Get Here: The Staten Island Railroad's New Dorp stop is the closest train station, a 20-minute walk from Egbertville. There's also the 74 bus that runs from the Ferry terminal to Lighthouse Avenue, which is about a 45-minute ride. |
Livingston
Main Drag: Richmond Terrace and Henderson Avenue (biggest roads running through, but they aren't commercial).
Lowdown: Livingston still looks like it did in the mid-nineteenth century; with wide streets, giant elms and big colonial homes, visiting is like taking a trip back in time. A village-sized nook on Staten Island's north shore, the population of Livingston is around 3,000, made up mostly of stable middle-class families who pride themselves on their underdeveloped little town. The history here is rich, too, with ports of ancient mariners and the homes of underground railroaders.
Coool Spots: Snug Harbor, Noble Maritime Collection, the Staten Island Botanical Garden.
Get Here: Take the 1/9 train to South Ferry or the 4/5/6 to Bowling Green. |
St. George
Main Drags: Bay Street and Richmond Terrace.
Lowdown: Bounded by two glittering waterfronts and home to the ferry terminal, St. George is one of the most unique neighborhoods in Staten Island. The population is everything from Caribbean to African American to Italian, blending New York roots with island flair and killer sunsets. A beautiful, hilly neighborhood at the tip of Staten Island, St. George is the place to find lovingly restored Victorian and Colonial homes, green parks, and pretty, affordable housing. There are also several good public and private schools in St. George, so it's become increasingly popular among younger families.
Cool Stuff: Catch a Staten Island Yankees baseball game, the Class A Minor League affiliate of the Bronx Bombers.
Get Here: For the experience Staten Islanders live and die by, take the free Staten Island Ferry to St. George. Train-lovers can take the N/R train to Whitehall Street/South Ferry or the 4/5 train to Bowling Green. |
—Staten Island Neighborhood reviews by Jennifer Jespersen
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