New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Majority Whip Kamillah Hanks unveiled NorthShoreNYC, a planning vision to spur new housing and economic development along the Staten Island North Shore waterfront from St. George to Stapleton, at a press conference on September 25.

The initiative identifies city-owned land, underutilized properties and vacant sites that the Council says could pave the way for mixed-use housing, public improvements and job creation. It also lays out how current zoning rules, a historical lack of coordinated planning and what the Council calls inadequate public investment have kept the waterfront area from becoming a walkable district with housing, entertainment and public space on par with other boroughs and neighboring cities.

Menin and Hanks also announced more than $38 million in capital and expense discretionary funding tied to the North Shore, directed at public improvement projects, arts and cultural institutions, healthcare services and youth programs.