New renderings have been posted to the website of The Staten Island Wheel, which has been approved by city planning and will soon begin construction. The development is being built by ‘New York Wheel LLC,’ and includes an adjacent outlet center that SHoP is designing, while Starneth, B.V. — the builder of the London Eye — is heading the work for the ferris wheel.
New York Wheel, image by Starneth B.V
Per the official website, the wheel will “accommodate up to 1,440 people per ride, welcoming as many as 30,000 visitors per day and an anticipated 4+ million visitors per year,” which will provide a significant boost to the local economy in St. George, especially when combined with the impact of the adjoining retail.
While taking the Staten Island ferry has long been a tourist-y thing to do, the construction of the wheel and the neighboring outlet center will give visitors a reason to actually get off the boat; it will stand 630 feet tall, and the views over New York Harbor will be the best outside of those offered in Manhattan. Most importantly, the experience will be unique to St. George, as no comparable projects currently exist in North America.
New York Wheel, image by Starneth B.V
Besides the wheel, the Terminal will add 340,000 square feet of retail with up to 125 designer outlets, though the building’s design will offer significantly more than a simple shopping experience; the project’s roof will be landscaped, turning it into an extension of the waterfront park. Ensuring that the Wheel and its surrounds are pedestrian-friendly is the most crucial aspect of the development, and will hopefully revitalize adjacent sections of St. George, as well.
New York Wheel, image by Starneth B.V
Both the ferris wheel and the retail will be beneficial, but surprisingly, the park atop ‘The Terminal’ looks to be the development’s most impressive aspect, as it turns space that would otherwise be dead into a landscaped, attractive, and environmentally-friendly park; the entire project is aiming for LEED Platinum certification.
The New York Wheel and the neighboring outlets are expected to open in 2016, and construction is imminent.
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