Tom Crimmins Realty Blog - tompkinsville

Preserving Culture in the Face of Redevelopment

New York City is known for its bustling art and culture scene. In any of the five boroughs, one can be greeted by a mish-mosh of creative expression unique to its residents.  However, this city is also known for staying chic and contemporary; So how do you maintain this balance of redevelopment and preservation of culture, especially in the ever-changing Staten Island? Nationally recognized project incubator, Design Trust has a plan. 

About Design Trust 

Since 1995, Design Trust has been working to re-purpose and revitalize New York City's public shared spaces with art. According to their website, their mission is to "bring together city agencies, community groups, and private sector experts to make a lasting impact–through design–on how New Yorkers…

1184 Views, 0 Comments

The Staten Island Railroad

Accessibility is a huge consideration when choosing a home. Although there is no place like home, you want the security of knowing you can run errands, go to work, or school with ease, even without a car. Luckily for Staten Islanders, this borough is all about easy transit. Besides the very commonly used MTA buses, there is also the SIR or Staten Island Railroad.

What is the Staten Island Railroad (SIR)?

The SIR is a rapid transit system that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, comparable the the MTA subway system. However, the SIR is an elevated train, allowing you to get a gorgeous view of Richmond County during your trip. Trains every 15 minutes during rush hour, with both local and express service available, which runs non stop from Great Kills…

1067 Views, 0 Comments

George Cromwell Center History & Contribution to the Neighborhood

George Cromwell Center located in Tompkinsville, Staten Island North Shore. 

Staten Island is currently hosting a state of the art indoor track and field facility named Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in South Beach. The original recreational center back in the day was the George Cromwell Center in Tompkinsville, Staten Island North Shore. Named after Staten Island's first Borough President who served from 1898 until 1913. He later was the primary developer of the Staten Island Dongan Hills community.

Pier 6 (which later supported the Center) was built in 1923; eleven years passed, and the federal Works Progress Administration converted the pier into the multi-use recreation center for one million dollars.

Opened in 1936, the George Cromwell…

2522 Views, 0 Comments

1817 - First motorized ferry on Staten Island

In 1817, a year after his election, Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins developed the first motorized ferry for the Richmond Turnpike Company, as a part of his created Tompkinsville. He financed the Turnpike Company himself. Tompkins first intensions was to create a highway across Staten Island. Before the motorized ferry, there were originally "two-masted sailingboats."

John De Forest was the first captain of this new motorized ferry, name the Nautilus, named after the Nautilus Hall. De Forest was the brother-in-law of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt bought the company in 1838 but sold it to his brother Jacob in the early 1860's when the American Civil War began.

2750 Views, 0 Comments

1776 - Staten Island Involvement in Revolutionary Era

George Washington landed on Staten Island and set up a look-out, at Fort Wadsworth, for the British arrival.  General Howe arrived in New York City on July 2nd, 1776.  His British troops were camped in Watering Place (Tompkinsville) to prepare for a battle against Washington.  However, British troops stalled and instead inforced Islanders to surrender their rights and sign allegiance to the King.

Howe and other American loyalist, including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, met up a few months later to discuss negotiations for peace.  The meeting took place on September 11, 1776 at the home of a British loyalist, Christopher Billopp.  The NYC Parks and Recreation states, "Lord Howe offered to end the conflict peacefully if the American colonies would…

2406 Views, 0 Comments

1815 - Tompkinsville is named after Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins

As some remember, street names on the island have been named after the Iroquois and Dutch settlements. Neighborhoods were named after predominant people.

Tompkinsville was founded in 1815 by Daniel D. Tompkins, the Governor of New York State at the time, after the Battle of Long Island. He established another ferry service to Manhattan in 1817, this became a part of the Richmond Turnpike Company. The turnpike allowed travelers to ride coach from the ferry across the Island and continue to New Jersey on another ferry. The turnpike, was originally located on Arietta Street in Tompkinsville; after World War I, it is now renamed Victory Boulevard. The Turnpike was purchased in 1838 by Cornelius Vanderbilt; the ferry was made part of NYC ferry operations in…

2803 Views, 0 Comments