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Destination St. George – NYC

Posted by gaytravelinformation on March 4, 2015 · Leave a Comment 

New York, NY (March 4, 2015) – Spring 2015 will mark the groundbreaking of the largest commercial waterfront development in New York City’s history and a redefinition of the city’s harbor. 

Located steps from the Staten Island Ferry, St. George will become a world-class destination offering unparalleled shopping, dining, culture, and entertainment, all concentrated in one square mile, making it the world’s most active waterfront. The Staten Island Ferry currently attracts millions of tourists annually; this initiative is expected to attract six million visitors annually and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in spending.

“Every great harbor city has an escape—a destination within a destination,” said New York Wheel and Empire Outlets Chief Marketing Officer Travis Noyes.  “The development of St. George on Staten Island will transform one of the world’s leading harbor destinations. In one visit, visitors will sail the New York Harbor and enjoy breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the New York City skyline, as well as the New York Wheel, world-class shopping, waterfront activities, great dining options, cultural institutions, and more.”

New York City welcomes more than 56 million visitors annually who enjoy all that the city has to offer including shopping, theatre, culture, sightseeing, sports, and history.  When complete, St. George will offer all of these and more.

At the center of this redevelopment is The New York Wheel.  Opening in early 2017, the Wheel will be the world’s tallest observation wheel at 630 feet high.  A free 20-minute ferry ride from downtown Manhattan, the Wheel will offer unparalleled views of New York Harbor, One World Trade Center, and Lower Manhattan.  The Wheel will welcome 30,000 visitors per day to experience its 38-minute ride.” In addition, the 25,000-square-foot playground will feature dedicated bar and dining pods, an outdoor beer garden, a 4-D experiential theatre, and a bike rental facility.  The Wheel’s six-acre green roof will be one of the largest in North America, equipped to host concerts, food festivals, and corporate gatherings. The Wheel will feature over $7 million in LED lighting, creating the most vibrant canvas in the New York skyline with a nightly harbor light show.  For more information, visit newyorkwheel.com.

Empire Outlets will be a category-defining retail destination and New York City’s first and only shopping outlet.  Developed by BFC Partners, this world-class shopping destination will be the centerpiece of New York City’s newest entertainment district on Staten Island’s waterfront. As the first and only outlet center in New York City, Empire Outlets will offer an unparalleled shopping experience for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Currently, shoppers must drive west to New Jersey or north to upstate New York to enjoy access to exclusive brand names and affordable, quality apparel retailers that are found in other leading outlet centers. Empire Outlets will capture that economic activity for the first time in the city’s history, creating thousands of jobs.  The initiative will transform an underutilized municipal parking lot into a one-million-square-foot retail complex. The multi-million dollar project will include 340,000 square feet of prime retail space with up to 125 designer-outlet retailers, a 190-room full-service hotel featuring a rooftop venue with expansive waterfront views, a 1,250-space structured parking garage, and a 40,000-square-foot food and beverage deck that will provide extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline.  For more information, visit empireoutletsnyc.com.

Visitors to St. George will be also able to experience the harbor at Lighthouse Point, the destination’s historic waterfront esplanade.  A collection of bistros and cafés, museums, and local craft shops will be built within St. George’s restored historic buildings. Lighthouse Point will also feature a 200-room hotel and 120 premier residences.

Visitors will have a variety of options to reach St. George. New York Water Taxi will offer service through its All-Day Access Pass program. This service will connect St. George with midtown Manhattan, downtown Manhattan, and Brooklyn. Multiple other ferry operators will provide service to the site from Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.  A new ferry dock will be constructed to accommodate water transportation companies. 

Staten Island’s current popular attractions include: Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, a distinguished regional arts center where history, architecture, visual and performing arts, environmental science, agriculture, and horticulture continue to provide dynamic experiences for all ages; The St. George Theatre, New York City’s second largest theatre and host of top music, comedy, family, and cultural acts and Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of the minor-league Staten Island Yankees and one of the prettiest ballparks in the United States.

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Located on Staten Island’s North Shore, St. George is the borough’s leading destination and the largest commercial waterfront development in New York City’s history.  At the centerpiece of this $1 billion initiative is the New York Wheel, the world’s largest observation wheel; Empire Outlets, New York City’s first and only premium outlet shopping destination; and Lighthouse Point, a waterfront esplanade boasting a collection of dining, cultural, and local retail experiences built within St. George’s restored historic buildings. A 20-minute, free ferry ride from Lower Manhattan, St. George is already home to a range of cultural and recreational offerings including Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, St. George Theatre, and the Staten Island Yankees. Visitors will experience a harbor cruise; breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty; world-class shopping; waterfront activities; great dining, culture, and entertainment; and much more. For more information, visitdestinationstgeorge.com, connect online at @tourstgeorge (Twitter and Instagram), or visit Facebook: facebook.com/destinationstgeorge.