New agreement will allow NYPD to utilize former N.Y. Wheel garage, freeing up street parking in St. George

New York’s Staten Island — Parking near St. George has always been difficult, but it may soon be easier owing to a recent North Shore agreement.

Borough President Vito Fossella announced a new deal Thursday that will free up street parking in the area by permitting cops from the NYPD’s 120th Precinct to park at a nearby lot.

As per the deal, police officers will have parking spaces in the city-owned New York Wheel parking garage at 155 Richmond Terrace, which is owned by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

“I hope to make it easier for people who live in or are visiting the area by securing guaranteed parking for the precinct,” Fossella said.

It was always basic sense to us. During the news conference held at Borough Hall, Fossella stated that the garage is empty and located directly across the street from the police precinct. Because they won’t have to scurry about every day trying to find a spot, it will also be more convenient for the employees. As you might imagine, it also makes such [street] areas available to the locals and tourists in St. George.

This October 2018 file photo shows the old New York Wheel parking structure with unfinished ramps and stairways. (Bill Lyons/Staten Island Advance)Advance of Staten Island

100 spaces in the empty garage will be reserved exclusively for police use under the deal, which Fossella said had been in the works for almost two years.

Additionally, Fossella stated that while he is committed to taking things one step at a time for the time being, he would like to expand the number of slots in the future.

The 120th Precinct’s commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Eric Waldhelm, commended the action as an early Christmas gift for the station house and stated that it greatly improves the quality of life for everyone who lives and works in the vicinity by clearing the street parking.

The St. George Civic Association’s president, Eileen Harrington, hailed the action as a significant improvement for local pedestrian safety, particularly given the bike lane in front of the precinct. Harrington added that the action will have a significant impact on the neighborhood’s congestion.

The EDC attempted to keep the $60 million garage, which has 950 parking spaces spread across 325,000 square feet, open following the cancellation of the New York Wheel project in October 2018.

As previously reported by The Advance/SILive.com, the developers of the New York Wheel had to pay $250 million for the parking garage and terminal structure.

For a limited period, homeowners could pay for private parking in the structure, and a monthly pass cost $209.

But since the pandemic, it has remained empty.

Then-Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) stated that she intended to push for the 120th Precinct headquarters to relocate in order to relieve traffic in the region when the Empire Outlets were scheduled to open in 2019.

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