Staten Island’s North Shore Action Plan advances with opening of Lighthouse Point complex

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Local leaders celebrated a significant milestone in Staten Island’s North Shore revitalization efforts on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the official opening of The Residences at Lighthouse Point — a new mixed-income housing complex located on the St. George waterfront.

“Opening the doors to the spectacular 115-unit mixed-use housing complex at Lighthouse Point makes it abundantly clear: the future of Staten Island’s North Shore is not just underway, it is already here,” said Andrew Kimball, president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which helped develop the 13-story building in partnership with Lubert-Adler, New York State, Empire State Development and Triangle Equities.

Kimball noted that Lighthouse Point’s completion marks a key advancement in Staten Island’s North Shore Action Plan — a $400 million public waterfront investment focused on revitalizing a two-mile stretch of the North Shore.

“Just a year-and-a-half ago, we sat beside Mayor Adams, Council Member Hanks and BP Fossella to launch the North Shore Action Plan…a bold vision to complete a continuous waterfront esplanade: Two miles, 20 acres from Stapleton through the North Shore,” Kimball said. “A new neighborhood with good jobs, housing for families of all incomes, an enormous economic impact for the borough and today we are delivering on that vision.”

“New York is a five-borough city, and we are a five-borough administration,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a press release about the opening of Lighthouse Point. “We have put Staten Island front and center from day one of our administration. With today’s opening, we are continuing to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for the North Shore and giving Staten Islanders the housing, commercial space, and parking space they deserve.”

The development transformed the historic U.S. Lighthouse Service General Depot — a federally registered National Historic Site that once served as the center of lighthouse operations for the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The project preserves four historic buildings, underground vaults, and a historic wall while adapting the site for modern use.

“For more than a century, this historic site served as a beacon for ships navigating into New York Harbor, and today Lighthouse Point becomes a beacon for Staten Island’s economic future,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a press release. “This development exemplifies our commitment to creating housing opportunities that work for all New Yorkers — from market-rate homes to affordable units for working families — while honoring our state’s rich maritime heritage. When we invest in transit-accessible, mixed-use developments like this, we’re building the foundation for thriving, inclusive communities.”

This first phase brings 115 new residential units to the borough, all featuring modern finishes, including high ceilings, in-unit laundry, kitchens with stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops, and contemporary bathrooms with premium fixtures. Thirty units are reserved for affordable housing for residents earning between 40 and 130% of the area median income. These affordable units will be available through NYC Housing Connect later this year, while market-rate units are already being leased.

Beyond housing, Lighthouse Point includes 60,000 square feet of commercial space that will host the College of Staten Island Tech Incubator, the Learning Experience early childhood education center, and Club Pilates. The development also provides 274 parking spots and features premium amenities, including a waterfront terrace, fitness center, and rooftop lounge with harbor views.

“Triangle Equities has had a history of undertaking ambitious, challenging projects that spur community and economic development across the greater New York City area,” Lester Petracca, president and CEO of Triangle Equities said during the ribbon cutting event. “Despite the challenges we faced in this project’s development, our teams’ dedication along with the relentless support of our project partners persisted, allowing us to deliver this truly special development…”

Petracca was speaking of several construction delays and close to 15 years of community doubt: Paused first by a general contractor’s bankruptcy in 2019 and then embroiled in a number of legal battles, the development was deemed doomed by local residents — its empty shell looming over the waterfront, untouched and vacant for more than a decade. But construction movement began again in October of 2023, not long after plans were announced for the North Shore Action Plan.

“You know government is working when there’s ribbon cuttings,” Council Member Kamillah Hanks said at the ceremony. “That wasn’t happening on the North Shore and it would not have happened without teamwork….This is what happens when you lean into development, when you lean into issues and help shape the projects. We pushed through the red tape and delivered. This is a huge win for Staten Island.”

Eileen Harrington, president of the St. George Civic Association, agreed.

“We have watched this building grow and waited eagerly for this day,” she said. “We are looking forward to welcoming our new neighbors being a part of our community by getting involved in our many volunteer events, shopping at our local stores, our greenmarket, visiting our legendary St. George theater and dining at our amazing restaurants.”

Michael Cusick, president of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, said the launch is an important milestone for the borough.

“As a Staten Islander, I am excited to see the activity starting again here on the North Shore. As president of the SIEDC, I’m excited to see some real development happening. This is the start of something great here on the North Shore.”

Kimball closed the ceremony by detailing the EDC’s progress on other North Shore initiatives, including the launch of construction on the Tompkinsville Esplanade, breaking ground on the Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center, securing federal funding to renovate Pier 1, and starting work on public open space on the New Stapleton Waterfront.