Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro announces his support for the City’s proposed courthouse site in St. George
Meets with Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler; discusses increased parking, creation of plaza
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today announced that he “supports 110%” the City’s declared location for a new courthouse on the municipal parking lot property at Hyatt Street and Central Avenue.
Borough President Molinaro met today with Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler, Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt, and Deputy Criminal Justice Coordinator Scott Sigal to outline his recommendation for more parking at the planned site and the construction of a plaza on Hyatt Street that would become a focal point of the St. George renaissance. The Borough President described several factors that support the need for more parking, including the closure of an existing 100-car lot at Wall Street and Stuyvesant Place.
“I am grateful to Mayor Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor Skyler for listening to my ideas and suggestions,” Molinaro said. “I fully agree with their plan to locate the courthouse at the Hyatt Street site. Deputy Mayor Skyler stated that he will take a close look at my plan and work with my staff to explore the creation of an open public plaza, the enhancement of green spaces, and additional parking as part of the courthouse project.”
“This exciting venture would not be possible without the open-mindedness and fairness of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his Deputy, Ed Skyler. Once again, Mayor Bloomberg has put the interests of the people first, and I am very appreciative,” Molinaro said.
Deputy Mayor Skyler said, “We had a very productive meeting with the Borough President and his staff to discuss this important project and are pleased that he supports the St. George site for the new courthouse. The suggestions that Borough President Molinaro presented deserve full and serious consideration from the various City agencies which are involved in the courthouse project. We will meet with the Borough President again later in the spring after we have had a chance to analyze the proposals.”
“Clearly, we have a unique opportunity to plan wisely for the long-term future of St. George,” Molinaro said. “This is Staten Island’s gateway, the face we show to the world. I feel confident that the court project as I view it could be a catalyst for positive economic development and quality of life improvements. The parking and streetscape enhancements I am suggesting would only aid in that endeavor,” Molinaro concluded.
May 7, 2007