Why Is Staten Island Getting a 14-Story Tower in St. George?

Staten Island, a borough defined by low-rise single-family and small multi-family homes, is about to get something unusual: a 14-story building in St. George, near the ferry. According to New York YIMBY, the city recently approved plans for 198 to 208 Richmond Terrace, a 14-story mixed-use residential building designed by ZArchitecture and developed by ZHL Group. Here is what it includes, why it matters, and the full picture on both sides.

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What is being built at 198 to 208 Richmond Terrace in St. George?

According to New York YIMBY, the city recently approved plans for a 14-story mixed-use residential building at 198 to 208 Richmond Terrace in St. George, Staten Island, near the ferry. It is designed by ZArchitecture and developed by ZHL Group. The project will include 117 rental apartments, 30 of which are set to be permanently affordable, along with roughly 10,100 square feet of ground-floor community facility space and off-street parking.

Why is a 14-story building a big deal on Staten Island?

Staten Island's housing stock is overwhelmingly low-rise, dominated by single-family and small multi-family homes, so a 14-story tower stands out sharply from its surroundings. The project is the latest step in a long-promised transformation of the St. George waterfront and the broader North Shore, an area that has seen ambitious plans come and go over the past decade. That history is part of why this approval is drawing attention.

How many affordable apartments will the St. George tower have?

Of the 117 rental apartments planned, 30 are set to be permanently affordable. Supporters point to those 30 permanently affordable units, plus the added market-rate rentals, as a meaningful contribution at a time when the city faces a serious housing shortage. The remaining units would be market-rate rentals.

What are the arguments for and against the St. George tower?

Supporters argue the city faces a serious housing shortage, that the project adds needed rental units including 30 permanently affordable ones, and that it brings activity and investment to a St. George area many feel has stalled. Critics, including many longtime residents, raise concerns about increased density, parking pressure, traffic, and the gradual loss of the low-rise character that defines much of the North Shore. Both concerns are real, which is why projects like this tend to be locally contested.

Is Staten Island being rezoned for high-rise buildings?

No. This is a single approved building, not a borough-wide rezoning. It represents 117 apartments in one project on the St. George waterfront, not a sweeping change to Staten Island's housing landscape. It is worth keeping that scope in mind, because a single tower near the ferry is very different from a wholesale change to how the rest of the borough can be developed.

What does the St. George tower mean for Staten Island homeowners and buyers?

In the near term, one 14-story building will not reshape values across the borough, but continued investment along the St. George and North Shore waterfront is worth watching if you own or are buying nearby. New rental supply, community space, and activity around the ferry can influence a neighborhood over time. If you are weighing a move in or around the North Shore, it is the kind of local trend worth factoring in, and I am happy to walk through what it could mean for a specific block or building.

Questions about how this affects your home in Staten Island or Brooklyn? Work with Joseph Ranola, or text or call (917) 905-2541. New episodes of Daily Tesla News break down the NYC real estate stories that move the market.