From The Peopling of New York City
Photo courtesy of digitalgallery.nypl.org. The Beginning
Although plans for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge began in 1910, construction did not commence until 1959 and ended in 1964. Until this time, the Staten Island Ferry was the only means of transportation that linked Staten Island to the rest of New York City. In 1960, the borough made up less than three percent of the city’s population, a meager 222,000 residents, but its 102.5 square mile land mass possessed sixty percent of all of New York City’s undeveloped acreage. Staten Island’s lack of direct surface links with the other boroughs was a major contributor to its rural nature.
In the decades following the bridge’s construction, there was a steady increase in the Island's population. According to census information, by 1970, Staten Island's population totaled 295,000. This number rose to 352,000 by 1980, 379,000
by 1990 and in 2000 was at 443,000. Staten Island currently makes up close to six percent of the city’s total population.
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge under construction, courtesy of flickr.com
Change on the Horizon
The 1960s and 1970s alone brought a total of 130,000 new residents to the borough. However, the island was not equipped to house this many new arrivals and swift changes were in order. As a result, Staten Island experienced a building boom era and began to suburbanize quite rapidly. An estimated 2,500 housing units were built annually between 1964 and 1979, the majority being single-family dwellings. However, the city failed to enact public constraints
and further building seemed to occur freely. The lack of subdivision regulations allowed building permits to be issued on unmapped land. The government also sold city-owned land to private developers, further promoting the boom.
The decades following the completion of the Verrazano Bridge also represent a rise in Staten Island’s foreign-born population. In 1970, 9.0% of the Island's population was foreigh born. In 1980 the number reached 9.8%, in 1990, 11.8%, and 2000, 16.4%. However,this couldn’t be entirely attributed to the bridge. Staten Island’s population has always mirrored that of the rest of this city. As New York City experienced immigration changes, so did Staten Island. In the 19th century, the North Shore of the island became particularly popular due to the Staten Island Ferry, and the access this vessel provided to the rest of the city. We see a similar pattern in the 20th century with people moving toward a reliable form of transportation. Small, yet heavily populated neighborhoods began to sprout surrounding each of the stops along the Staten Island Railroad. It was during these times that communities such as New Dorp and Port Richmond immensely expanded and storefronts and churches became abundant. Shepherd also pointed out that we could make this connection to the present settlements throughout the island. Newcomers, such as Russian and Turkish communities have settled relatively close to the bridge. Therefore, in this way, the bridge has obviously affected the shape of Staten Island.
Conclusion
I have learned through various personal interviews that there is more than one opinion and perception of the Verrazano –Narrows Bridge. I spoke with native Staten Islanders, including Mrs. Santiago, who were able to remember a time before the bridge was built.
Staten Island Homes courtesy of photobucket.com
Most did not seem to mind the isolated nature of the island and its self-sufficiency. “Everything we needed was right here, there really wasn’t a major need to go anywhere else". I also spoke with a CSI student, Celina Mineo, who described her dependence on the bridge as a former resident of Brooklyn. “It really is my lifeline!” The vast changes brought about as a result to the bridge’s construction are still recognizable today. The varying responses I received from these interviews prove that although the Verrazano is only one entity, there are a many different perceptions and uses of this bridge. Many people rely on it as a vital means of transportation and it plays a specific role in the lives of the islanders.
Sources
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- Mineo, Celina. Personal Interview. 3 April 2010.
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- Santiago, Doreen. Personal Interview. 20 March 2010. Web. 22 March 2010.
- Shepherd, Barnett. Personal Interview. 1 April 2010.
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