Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-11-20
STATEN ISLAND
POSSIBILITIES
Opportunities Exist for the
Home Builder.

differs from all or the
rther four counties which go to make
az New York city. Staten Island has
abundant advantages, both from an
industrial and a residential stand
point, but its future Is largely con-
tingent upon rapid transit. Having
approximately thirty-six miles of
water frontage, the major portion of
which is adaptable to vessels of con-
siderable d%raught, there is a large
amount of available space which
could be converted into terminals for
the handling of c~onsignments of
freight, both from the seaboard and
from foreign ports. The stumbling
block at present is the difficulty of
handling the freight after landing.
In some sections, notably near st.
George, the conditions are better,
but this portion of the water front
is limited.
Along the north shore, facing the
Kill Won Kull, between New Brigh-
ton and Port Richmond, are a num-
Der of industrial concerns on the
water front, and most of their pro-
ducts are shipped either by boat or
by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad,
which crosses the Staten Island
sound south of Elizabethport. N. j.
Most of the property facing the
Staten Island sound Is low and
marshy, and but little has been done
to develop the section. The district
Is practically isolated, though 1t Is
dotted here and there with a few
hamlets. South Of Rossville, facing
the sound, or, as 1t Is also known,
the Arthur Kill, and extending to
Tottenville, the land lies much high
er, and most of the holdings extend
for a considerable distance inland.
T%ottenville, the extreme end of the
island, is the terminal of the Staten
Island Rapid Transit railroad, and
connections can be made by NEAR of
ferry to Perth Amboy, N. j.
Several development companies
have acquired tracts of land at Tot
tenville and building sites nave been
laid out. The same condition exists
at Prince Bay and other places on
the south shore.
AS is natural, the principal build
ing activity on Staten Island branch
es from st. George, at the northeast
end of the island. The section is the
most easy of access, and consequently
property is held at higher prices.
The apartment house has really not
invaded Staten Island, though a few
years ago a couple Of structures OF
this type were built. On the site of
the one time Castleton Hotel, which
was destroyed by fire, the Castleton
apartment house was erected, n
the suites were 50 arranged that all
the rooms nave outside exposure.
The rentals have been we'll maintain
ed and the building Is fully tenanted
Tl~-~ to ~ hoo yttifyJ1 nlf-
look over the bay as far north as
Manhattan from the structure, which
stands upon a high hill.
The hill section, which forms the
backbone OF the island, contains the
uandsomest residences in the Dor
ough. Many Of the high promonto-
ries have beer improved with costly
residences, and in some instances
hillside tracts have been acquired by
syndicates and so restricted that the
future of the section Is assured.
One Of the drawbacks that Staten
Island has to contend with is the
ferry service, which Is under munich
pal Jurisdiction. The line between
the Battery, Manhattan. and st.
George has boats which are operated
on short Roadway, but the line be-
tween the Battery and Stapleton has
a boat once every hour and a half,
which does not meet the require
ments Residents Of Stapleton were
jubilant when the announcement was
made two years ago that the Staple
ton line was to be opened, but the
results obtained have been unsatls-
factory. Many place their hopes up
on the projected subway line to
Brooklyn, but this at best is several
years off.
Real estate activity during the last
few months has been spasmod1c,
though a decided improvement over
a year ago is shown. There is a bet
ter demand for dwelling sites, as
we'll as for completed residences, and
the renting demand is in many sec
lions in excess of the supply. There
have been a number OF bungalows
erected at and neal Garretson's and
several new ones are projected at
New Dorp.
Yearly the money market is be-
coming easier on Staten Island. For
merly there was considerable diff
Guilty experienced in obtaining build
ing and permanent loans, but the
zone in W1ch titles will be insured
by the title companies Is being ex-
tended and the loaning institutions
are more willing to place money on
" - cN