Whether or not Staten Island is the new Hoboken it is certainly the hip new place to be

There has been lots of talk these days about all the buzz around what is taking place on Staten Island's north shore.  That buzz began with the opening of BFC's The Rail at the former Stapleton Municipal Parking  lot and quickly shifted to Urby Staten Island - a $150 million project by Ironstate Development Company that has taken urban living to a whole new level.

Urby is billed as a "people shaped" community designed to make living in the city easier.

With a communal kitchen where a chef in residence gives cooking lessons and prepares meals using vegetables grown on the rooftop and in a plot of land called the urban farm, tended by a farmer in residence, Urby is like no other project Staten Island or any other borough has seen in recent years and perhaps ever.

If Downtown Staten Island was on it's way to being the hip, cool place to be - Urby solidified that moniker and is now the anchor attracting other world class eateries, coffee shops and taverns into the district.

Urby Staten Island is reporting 75% occupancy just months following its opening.  As residents move in to this well appointed, compact living space with spectacular view of the harbor, the only requests that they have are to the MTA which has been dragging its feet rehabilitating the Stapleton train station a block away - the key mass transit component that has been attracting millennials to Urby.

With so many private dollars invested into this 900 unit mixed use project that is elevating Stapleton to the mecca it once was, it would be nice to know that the MTA is willing to be a serious partner in the growth of a previously down trodden area into a neighborhood in which everyone wants to live.

B2B Expo at Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting a B2B Expo on Thursday, June 23, 2016 focusing on economic growth and vitality of Staten Island.

The B2B Expo is a collaboration between the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and KDDI/Telehouse.  It will bring together local, national and international businesses to explore the economic vitality of the Island.

Prizes include:

• NY Mets Tickets courtesy of National Grid
• An iPad mini donated by McDermott and Thomas Associates
• Legends of Rock Concert tickets courtesy of the St. George Theatre.

Breakout sessions will focus on the importance of technology in business and how to make media workk in marketing your business.

Speakers include:

• Huawei
• Fujitsu
• Schneider
• Trane
• Digital Edge
• Telehouse

College of Staten Island President, Dr. William J. Fritz - Will present The College of Staten Island super computer and how it works to benefit the students and the community

NYC Department of Small Business Services, Walter E. Maxwell will discuss MWBE certification and how it helps when applying for government contracts.

Staten Island Advance Media Group will discuss utilizing technology to market your business.

Click here for more information.

Let your voice be heard on Bay Street Corridor Re-zoning

Bay Street Corridor @ Downtown Staten Island is an important study to assess the rezoning of the Bay Street Corridor in the towns of Stapleton and Tompkinsville.

The goal of the rezoning would be to create density in the Downtown Staten Island area.

While the study is still at the beginning stages, many in the community believe the study area should be expanded to include the towns of Clifton, St. George, Snug Harbor, Mariners Harbor and Port Richmond in order to achieve a walk-able corridor emanating from the St. George Ferry terminal and continuing north to Snug Harbor and south to Urby and Fort Wadsworth beyond.

Other comments include the need for more public open space and a continuous esplanade along the waterfront connecting large projects such as the New York Wheel, Empire Outlets, Lighthouse Point and Urby.

For those who were unable to testify at the Public Scoping Session held on July 16, 206, written comments can be emailed to baystreetcorridor@planning.nyc.gov by June 29, 2016.  Visit our projects page to view supporting documents www.statenislanddowntownalliance.com/projects.

Come Celebrate with Crain's 5boros on Staten Island, June 21

Crains 5boros was designed for the urban explorer seeking entertainment and adventure in all of New York City's boroughs.  On June 21 2016 they will celebrate with an event in Staten Island at Above at the Hilton Garden Inn - Staten Island's prestigious hotel impeccably run by Lois and Richard Nicotra.

5boros will cover nightlife, shopping destinations and large scale developments across New York City.  

With so many developers and investors finally turning their attention to Staten Island this event is sure to highlight the best of Staten Island. 

Urby Staten Island, Empire Outlets, Downtown Plaza, Lighthouse Point, The New York Wheel, Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Chinese Scholars Garden, Riverside Galleria, Alice Austen House, Flagship Brewery, South Finn, Midland Beach, Conference House Park and so much more are being sought out by visitors.  

Click here to learn more about the event