Melohn Properties has withdrawn plans for its Riverside Galleria project in the face of opposition from elected officials.
The Staten Island shopping center would have spanned 475,000 square feet and included a waterfront promenade, a movie theater and restaurants with outdoor dining, according to the Staten Island Advance. Borough President James Oddo and Council Member Joseph Borelli pulled their support for the idea last year largely because of the traffic plan, and Melohn withdrew its application following this.
STUDIO V Architecture is designing the project, and company founder Jay Valgora told the Advance the company is looking into other commercial uses for the site that take feedback from elected officials and community members into account.
“We are looking at a variety of commercial uses that are very standard for that area and allowable under the existing zoning,” he said. “…The site is very large, very prominent, has excellent frontage, and is quite beautiful the way it sits on the water, but we are looking at completely different solutions.”
This is at least the second major Staten Island project to be canceled in the last few months, as plans for the beleaguered New York Wheel were officially scrapped in October. [SI Advance] – Eddie Small