STATEN ISLAND, NY — The new vision for the Empire Outlets and New York Wheel sites is the next step in the broader plan to revitalize the North Shore, officials and community members said as they gathered at the site in St. George on Wednesday.
This event followed the earlier announcement that the defunct space 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 project, which was brought forth by the New York City Economic Development Corporation along with Councilmember Kamillah Hanks, who represents the North Shore, and Borough President Vito Fossella, is a part of the Staten Island North Shore Action Plan, a $400 million public investment focused on a two-mile stretch of the North Shore.
The redevelopment will create 7,500 jobs and transform the defunct Empire Outlets and NY Wheel sites into a mixed-use community with 20 acres of public space.Advance/SILive | Nicolette Cavallaro
City officials expect the new 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. Officials couldn’t specify whether the new homes would be rentals or for sale, or provide more details about the future development.
“For many years, this community has watched as other parts of the city received the investments and attention needed to grow,” said Adolfo Carrion Jr., deputy mayor for housing and economic development. “The North Shore has always had the potential, but it did not always have the partnership or the momentum. That changes today.”
The new vision follows a five-month public engagement period, during which officials solicited feedback from the community on how to best transform the underutilized shopping center and New York Wheel lot.
Officials said the new project will focus on what the community values and needs, such as more housing, cultural spaces, activities and stores.
The redevelopment will create 7,500 jobs and transform the defunct Empire Outlets and NY Wheel sites into a mixed-use community with 20 acres of public space.Advance/SILive | Nicolette Cavallaro
“Homes, shops and services that make sense for people who live here, not just people who would visit here,” stated NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “It’s time for a new vision for Staten Island, one that builds the homes, creates additional access to the waterfront, good jobs and essential services close to where they live.”
At the event, Kimball also highlighted key milestones, including the Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center, a 20-acre promenade and the completion of the Residences at Lighthouse Point, which added 115 homes and 60,000 square feet of commercial space.
The redevelopment will create 7,500 jobs and transform the defunct Empire Outlets and NY Wheel sites into a mixed-use community with 20 acres of public space.Advance/SILive | Nicolette Cavallaro
According to Carrion Jr., the redevelopment is part of a broader commitment from the Adams administration to activate New York City’s waterfronts and create opportunities across all boroughs.
Fossella echoed this sentiment, calling the North Shore project a chance to honor both Staten Island’s history and future.
“This was a mecca. It was a beacon for people to enjoy the waterfront,” Fossella said. “Somehow people lost sight of that and lost their way. But not anymore. Now we’re going to get what the people of Staten Island truly want, and we’re going to create a nice ecosystem here to revitalize the waterfront so that people can appreciate it, so young people can stay here, so young families can grow and make it better.”
The redevelopment will create 7,500 jobs and transform the defunct Empire Outlets and NY Wheel sites into a mixed-use community with 20 acres of public space.Advance/SILive | Nicolette Cavallaro
The redevelopment of the St. George sites will require zoning changes, and will take some time before any physical progress is made.
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.
The redevelopment will create 7,500 jobs and transform the defunct Empire Outlets and NY Wheel sites into a mixed-use community with 20 acres of public space.Advance/SILive | Nicolette Cavallaro
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.
While this might take a while, for community leaders such as Councilmember Hanks, who has been a strong influence in the effort to revitalize the waterfront, this announcement was a pivotal moment.
“This is a new chapter, one shaped by community voices and strengthened by real investment and driven by a shared determination to finally move this waterfront forward,” she shared.
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