Jim Molinaro transformed the South Beach Boardwalk from a burnt-out shell to a family-oriented waterfront attraction.

In the early 1990’s,crime and vandalism were rampant, and arsonists set flames to the boardwalk numerous times.

But Jim Molinaro had a vision to restore the Boardwalk into a family-friendly destination.  Under Jim’s leadership, we drew a “line in the sand”, and working with the Parks Department, the Staten Island Advance and the community, we brought the South Beach Boardwalk back to its former glory

As Borough President, Jim Molinaro provided millions of dollars in capital funding to bring improvements to the Beach and Boardwalk. Today, the 1.7 mile long Boardwalk includes:

• A New Restaurant and Catering Hall
• Freedom Circle – a tribute to our history and our veterans
• The 835- foot Ocean Breeze Fishing Pier – one of the longest in the City
• Sea Turtle Circle and the Dolphin Fountain
• New ballfields, including Bobby Thomsom Ballfield and a synthetic turf soccer field
• And a special park for our seniors, complete with checkerboards and bocce courts.

Jim is always looking for ways to improve the Boardwalk experience for visitors.  Special concert events and firework shows continue to be held every summer, and new shade gazebos and a Children’s Garden are in the works.  The Victory Diner, relocated from Richmond Road, will treat a new generation of Staten Islanders to ice cream sodas and sandwiches on the beachfront in Ocean Breeze.

Thanks to Jim Molinaro’s vision and leadership, Staten Islanders have rediscovered the South Beach Boardwalk.

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When Jim Molinaro took office in 2002, the number one issue on the minds of Staten Islanders was Overdevelopment.  Outdated zoning laws, enacted by the City in the 1960’s, led to dense housing developments with no on-street parking, steeply pitched driveways, and small backyards.

Thanks to Jim’s leadership, we completed the largest downzoning on Staten Island in 40 years.  It affected thousands of acres and almost 40,000 individual properties. 

And working with Mayor Bloomberg’s Growth Management Task Force, Jim Molinaro negotiated for new zoning text amendments that mandate more space for backyards, front yards and parking.

Since these historic reforms were enacted, new house numbers issued have declined by 65% from 2005 to 2008.  Four years ago, nearly 2,300 house numbers were issued on Staten Island. Last year – only 816 were issued.  That’s a 65% decrease. 

These zoning reforms were the most vital accomplishment on Staten Island since the closing of the Fresh Kills Landfill. Together, the downzoning and text changes have prevented up to 75,000 homes from being built on Staten Island, and have improved the quality of homes that can be built.

Jim Molinaro took a stand against overdevelopment, and working with the Mayor, our elected officials, City Agencies and the community, we’ve gotten results.

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Jim Molinaro has taken a common sense approach to improving our Borough’s parks: protect our open spaces and increase active recreation for our Borough’s children.  This is exactly the kind of balance that Jim Molinaro accomplished with the transformation of Bloomingdale Park.

Not long ago, this 138-acre area was an underutilized City-owned property. Recognizing its enormous potential, the Borough President’s Office set out to bring new ballfields and playgrounds to this growing area of our Borough.  However, efforts to bring active recreation to Bloomingdale Park were resisted by environmental activists and later by the Parks Department.

Finally, after years of court wrangling, and working with Mayor Bloomberg and the Parks Department, Jim Molinaro successfully negotiated for new ballfields, hiking trails, bocce courts and playground.  In fact, these were the first athletic fields ever built on a City park south of Richmond Avenue.

When Bloomingdale Park opened in 2004, it was an immediate success.  With the park’s facilities at capacity nearly every day, Borough President Molinaro provided funding for a new synthetic turf soccer field and handicapped accessible playground equipment, so that all children could enjoy the park’s playground.

Thanks to Jim Molinaro’s Common Sense Leadership, Bloomingdale Park has something for everyone: passive parkland with hiking trails to enjoy nature, and ballfields and playgrounds for our Borough’s children. A true win-win for Staten Island.

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For over 30 years, a 135 acre city-owned site in Charleston near the Outerbridge Crossing was a huge question mark for the South Shore of Staten Island.  Development plans were resisted by the community, including a retail plan that was unanimously rejected by Community Board 3 in 2001.

When Jim Molinaro took office in 2002, he brought all sides to the table.  With careful planning and negotiation, Jim crafted a plan that was unanimously approved by Community Board 3.

Thanks to Jim Molinaro’s leadership, we took one of New York’s City’s largest vacant properties and transformed it into a thriving retail center.  Staten Island’s first Target opened there, as well as New York City’s first Christmas Tree Shop. This approach helps keep Staten Island shoppers here within the borough, helping sustain their own local economy.

In addition to retail, Jim has also crafted a vision for the remainder of the site.  The current plans calls for a new school, a new park, an MTA bus depot, a family garden center and the Borough’s first Senior Retirement Village.  Jim will continue to work with the Mayor’s Office and City agencies to bring this common sense plan to fruition.

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Borough President Molinaro has made the Renaissance of St. George a top priority.

In 2005, a major renovation of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal was completed. Jim Molinaro restored funding for the distinctive arch, the second staircase and decorative pavers that were cut from the City budget after 9/11.

Jim Molinaro also provided funding to transform the St. George waterfront.  Not long ago, it was a barren wasteland.  Today, it is a scenic esplanade where residents and tourists can enjoy spectacular views of New York harbor and the Manhattan skyline.

Also along the St George esplanade is the internationally acclaimed 9/11 Memorial.  In 2001, Jim Molinaro made a pledge to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 to create the memorial. “Post Cards” was dedicated in 2004 and is the first major 9/11 Memorial in New York City.   And earlier this year, Borough President Molinaro announced that he had commissioned Mr. Sono, the architect of “Post Cards,” to create a new First Responders Memorial along side of the “Post Cards.”

Going forward, construction has already begun on Staten Island’s first new courthouse in 75 years. Jim Molinaro has ensured that the new courthouse will meet the needs of Staten Island and especially the St. George community, negotiating with the Office of Court Administration to increase the number of courtrooms and parking. Jim also funded a number of environmentally friendly features for the new Courthouse, such as solar panels, green roofs, and rainwater recovery systems

More importantly, Jim Molinaro saw the potential of the new courthouse to become a new downtown center in St. George.  Jim committed $6.5 million from his capital budget for a memorial green, and a more prominent area for the green market, as well as new benches and additional tree plantings.

Jim Molinaro’s Common Sense Leadership has helped transform St. George into Staten Island’s official “downtown”, a center of business, government, cultural and tourist attractions, and a great place to live.