Exclusive: NYC to reveal new, mixed-use vision for Empire Outlets, N.Y. Wheel on Wednesday

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The failed developments surrounding the St. George Ferry Terminal will be transformed in the coming years into a vibrant, mixed-use waterfront community that better serves borough residents.

The Advance/SILive.com has learned that the New York City Economic Development Corporation, alongside Councilmember Kamillah Hanks and Borough President Vito Fossella, will unveil their new vision for the Empire Outlets and New York Wheel sites on Wednesday.

The new vision comes following a five-month public engagement period, during which officials solicited feedback from the community on how to best transform the underutilized shopping center and defunct site of what was planned to house the New York Wheel.

“Building on the significant progress achieved through the Staten Island North Shore Action Plan over the past two years, NYCEDC and the city recognized the need for a fresh approach to Empire Outlets and the former New York Wheel site, one that puts Staten Islanders first,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “After months of meaningful engagement with the North Shore community, we are proud to unveil a new vision for a vibrant, mixed-use waterfront neighborhood, with new homes, open space, and retail just steps from the ferry.”

Throughout the process, residents repeatedly emphasized that any future plans for the sites must prioritize the wants and needs of Staten Islanders over those of tourists, who had been the primary focus of the past, failed developments.

Officials seem to have heeded their advice, with the new plans including the production of up to 2,500 new homes serving a mix of ages and incomes, more open space and retail options geared towards residents instead of tourists.

The Advance/SILive.com has obtained the NYCEDC vision report outlining the most frequents requests made by residents during the public engagement period, which included housing, expanded waterfront access, new cultural spaces, an emphasis on youth-oriented development, resident-focused retail and expanded transit infrastructure.

“Today marks a major turning point for Staten Island’s North Shore. After more than a decade of false starts at the Wheel and Empire Outlets sites, this new vision plan finally reflects what Staten Islanders have been asking for: accessible waterfront parks, cultural spaces, neighborhood-serving retail, good jobs close to home, and real homes for families,” said Hanks, a Democrat who represents the North Shore.

Given that the redevelopment of the sites will require zoning changes, there’s still a long way to go before any shovels are put in the ground.

The vision report outlines the next steps in the process, which include the release of the development and urban design framework, the start of the environmental review process and the beginning of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, or ULURP, in 2026.

In 2027, officials expect to receive ULURP approval, with plans to select developers in 2028, complete and approve designs in 2029 and break ground on the first phase of construction in 2030.

The planned redevelopment of the Empire Outlets and New York Wheel sites will complement existing efforts to enhance the area through the North Shore Action Plan — a $400 million public waterfront investment focused on revitalizing a two-mile stretch of the North Shore.

City officials expect the plan to deliver 2,400 new homes, more than 20 acres of public space and over 7,500 family-sustaining jobs, generating an estimated $3.8 billion in economic impact over the next three decades.

Milestones achieved thus far include the opening of The Residences at Lighthouse Point, resuming concessions on the Staten Island Ferry and breaking ground on the Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center, the new Stapleton Waterfront and the Tompkinsville Esplanade.

“Over the past two years, we’ve shown what happens when this community is truly prioritized—from breaking ground on new waterfront parks and delivering long-needed housing to securing a new NYC Ferry route that connects residents to the rest of the city,” said Hanks.

“As the second phase of the North Shore Action Plan, this vision represents the bold, long-overdue investment our residents deserve, with up to 2,500 new mixed-income homes and a vibrant, community-centered neighborhood on the way. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made—and even more excited for what’s ahead for Staten Island,” she added.

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