STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Weeks after outrage erupted about five proposed multifamily homes replacing a single South Shore home, the developer of the property is no longer moving forward with the project, despite some permits already being approved by the Buildings Department.
Community leaders have voiced concerns about a roughly 10,000-square-foot corner-lot property on Uncas Avenue and Alborn Road that was being eyed for the construction of at least five homes. The site measures less than 230 feet wide, qualifying it for higher-density development under the city’s zoning laws.
Christopher Stout — a New York City developer and social media influencer with nearly 85,000 Instagram followers — is the present owner of the Uncas Avenue land.
When contacted by the Advance/SILive.com, Stout said he took into account the neighborhood outcry and has decided not to move forward with the development.
“After reviewing community feedback on the proposed townhouse project, we decided not to move forward at this time. While we stand behind the quality and integrity of our developments, we also make it a priority to invest in areas where our work is a clear fit for the neighborhood. We appreciate those who shared their perspective and look forward to continuing to bring responsible, high-quality housing to the community in the future,” Stout told the Advance/SILive.com.
It is not clear what the new fate of the property will be at this time.
Developer Christopher Stout said he will no longer move forward with plans to replace a single home with five, smaller homes on Uncas Avenue following community backlash.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
Several community leaders blamed the recently passed City of Yes housing legislation for the proposed project. This New York City zoning amendment, passed in late 2024, aims to create more housing units by loosening some zoning restrictions, including permitting more development in transit hubs and town centers.
Presently, the lot is zoned as R3X, which, as described by the Department of City Planning, only allows one- and two-family detached homes to be built on lots that must be at least 35 feet wide.
But with the passage of the City of Yes regulations, the lot can be subdivided under its current zoning for five multifamily homes.
A September permit filed to reallocate one zoning lot and one tax lot into one zoning lot and five tax lots was approved by the Buildings Department in late October.
A tax lot is a parcel of land identified for property tax purposes. A zoning lot is one or more adjacent tax lots within a block.
This made way for the property to support five homes, so long as the Department of Finance gave the thumbs up once “future new buildings have been approved & only after existing building has been demolished & demo. signed off,” according to comments made on the Buildings Department permit.
Since then, another permit for construction fencing was also approved.
The filing representative on the zoning permit is Think Design Architecture, a self-described “premium, full-service boutique architectural firm specializing in luxury residential and commercial renovations and developments.”
Developer Christopher Stout said he will no longer move forward with plans to replace a single home with five, smaller homes on Uncas Avenue following community backlash.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
Area residents expressed concern at an October Community Board 3 meeting that the additional homes would lead to overcrowding in the neighborhood.
“It would just be such a detriment to that area. It would just change the entire makeup of the community,” said one resident who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years. “We’re also afraid, very afraid of this setting a precedent for future developers to gobble up other lots and do the exact same thing.”
Madeline, a South Shore resident who asked to be identified only by her first name, was among the over 75 attendees who sat in on a recent Community Board 3 meeting where the project was discussed.
“We all left frustrated and feeling helpless. I came home and wrote to you [Advance/SILive.com] as well as [Borough President Vito] Fossella and even [mayoral] candidate [Andrew] Cuomo,” Madeline said at the time. “After 35 years in my home…my husband and I felt we would remain [in it] until our time is up. We are seriously considering getting out before the value and quality of our life is diminished.”