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-   -   NEW YORK | (Staten Island) New York Wheel | 625 FT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200152)

NYguy Jun 26, 2012 9:32 PM
NEW YORK | (Staten Island) New York Wheel | 625 FT
 
EDIT *** Renderings released September 27, 2012


With the announcement, the City released these renderings of the NY Wheel and the outlet center...


nycmayorsoffice

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/8...a0d95eb4_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/8...7b009ebc_h.jpg



There will also be a rooftop park at the New York Wheel...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8311/8...64d0fb6f_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8311/8...447fb394_h.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/8...a7f9f875_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/8...1af3df30_h.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/8...8a744de7_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/8...85d6c3e0_h.jpg


The outlet center will have rooftop park space as well...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/8...2d5ef3d3_b.jpg



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/8...b9c65017_h.jpg



_______________________________________________________________________________





http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...434946074.html

Ferris Wheel Eyed for Ferry Terminal

By ELIOT BROWN
June 25, 2012

Quote:
Tourists taking in the sites of New York Harbor on the Staten Island ferry may get a new reason to board the boat. The Bloomberg administration is in advanced talks with an investment group seeking to build a giant Ferris wheel akin to the London Eye near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, according to multiple people briefed on the details of the proposal.

The plan for the structure would make it the tallest "observation wheel" in the world, lifting visitors roughly 600 feet, the people said. By comparison, the London Eye, the popular 12-year-old tourist attraction on the South Bank near Parliament, is 443 feet tall, while Deno's Wonder Wheel at Coney Island stands 150 feet high.

Each year, the London site attracts about 3.5 million visitors who sit in large, glass-enclosed pods that offer panoramic views of London. The investor group, Plaza Capital Group Management, responded to an August 2011 request for bids from New York City's Economic Development Corp. to develop two parking lots next to the terminal and on both sides of the Staten Island Yankees stadium. Plaza plans to develop the site furthest from the ferry terminal to the northwest, the people briefed on the proposal said. Still, no deal has been reached, and a spokesman for the EDC, Benjamin Branham, said that the agency is "in negotiations with multiple respondents" for the two sites. Any development would need approval from the City Council.

While further details about the proposal weren't available, Plaza appears to be trying to tap into the stream of tourists who ride the ferry from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island every day for a free harbor ride that offers views of the Statue of Liberty and the Lower Manhattan skyline. But once they land, they find little reason to stay.

NYguy Jun 26, 2012 9:41 PM
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf...ficials_o.html

Staten Island officials on board for the Ferris wheel ride

June 26, 2012
By Jillian Jorgensen

Quote:
The plan for a giant Ferris wheel on city-owned property on the North Shore would require City Council approval -- and at least two of the borough's councilmembers are enthusiastic about the project. "My initial reaction is that this project is unique and quirky enough to actually get people off the ferry and to Staten Island," Councilman James Oddo (R-Mid-Island) said.

For years, Oddo said, people have been asking how to get the 2 million tourists who ride the ferry annually to spend some time in the borough, instead of just turning right back for Manhattan.

"I guess the word is funny, that after all the thinking and all the 'how do we do it?', a Ferris wheel is the answer," Oddo said. He said in addition to luring tourists -- especially those from Europe, who typically spend a good deal of money during their trips to the Big Apple -- the wheel could become Staten Island's answer to the Cyclone in Coney Island. "I think it's got a chance to really become iconic," Oddo said.

http://www.silive.com/northshore/ind...est_ferri.html

Quote:
The two sites are currently used as parking lots for the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, and the St. George Ferry Terminal. But baseball lovers and ferry commuters, fear not: The RFEI calls for all publicly available parking to be replaced during the development, and for new parking to be added, if necessary.

The parcel where the Ferris wheel is being considered is located between the Postcards Memorial and Jersey Street. The other parcel put out for an RFEI, is closer to the ferry terminal, located between it and the ballpark. For that site, upscale shopping outlets have been proposed by another company, and would be built on a platform above a parking lot, according to the source. The towering wheel proposed for the waterfront would be designed in the same vein as giants like the London Eye, 443 feet tall, and the Singapore Flyer, which is the tallest at 541 feet. Both are very popular tourist attractions.

The London Eye (or the EDF Energy London Eye, as it’s currently named for a corporate sponsor) is located on the banks of the Thames River, and boasts 32 air-conditioned passenger capsules, each of which can carry 25 people. A trip around the wheel takes about 30 minutes, and the wheel doesn’t stop — riders step into the gondolas as they move, like a ski lift. Capsules are available to rent for private parties — including a wedding package that allows the bride, groom and 19 guests to take two consecutive rides and pop a bottle of champagne on the way down. Standard adult tickets are 15 pounds sterling (around $23). If you want to skip the lines — and aren’t sure what day you want to visit — a priority boarding flexible ticket costs 31.50 pounds (approximately $49). Those who want a longer ride and a drink can opt for the 40 Pound Vinopolis Wine Tasting Experience ($62) — an hourlong ride that features five wine tastings.

The Singapore Flyer takes the gourmet Ferris wheel experience even further, offering full butler sky dining for $299 a couple — that pays for two rotations, or about an hourlong ride; and four courses of food with dessert, coffee and tea served in the capsule. The current menu offers a chicken, fish, lamb and vegetarian option for the main courses, and an Oreo cheesecake for dessert. Wine pairings cost extra.

Both of those wheels attract millions of tourists annually — the London Eye carries 3.5 million visitors a year. The wheel here could have a built-in audience: The Staten Island Ferry carries 2 million tourists annually, most of whom get back on the boat without spending any time in the borough.

NYC GUY Jun 26, 2012 11:32 PM
This actually sounds pretty cool. :tup:

jd3189 Jun 27, 2012 12:27 AM
I was thinking more of a lighthouse for Staten Island as its signature landmark with a Ferris Wheel in Coney Island to be one of Brooklyn's symbols. But this is good too. They should make this the tallest ferris wheel in the world to bring back the title to the country this invention originated from.

NYC2ATX Jun 27, 2012 4:41 AM
I saw the article for this on silive last night and I basically was all :eek::psycho:

The reason I love this idea...aside from every reason why I'd love for my home borough to steal some of the spotlight off the other four boroughs...is that few people realize the dynamic setting of St. George (the neighborhood around the ferry terminal). The view is quite amazing from the ground...let alone from 600 feet in the air...and it's very sweeping. You can see all the way from Bayonne to Coney Island, absolutely everything fronting New York Harbor, and there is a great promenade that invites strolling and taking in the view. It's greatest lack is substantial retail and restaurants that people can recreate within after they stroll the neighborhood.

In addition, St. George is on very hilly terrain, pecked all over with beautiful old mansions and San Franciscan streetscapes (two of Staten Island's three historic districts are within 20 minutes of the terminal). This from the air would also be an unprecedented view. It is the sort of setting that would frame the wheel itself beautifully, and provide stunning views 360 degrees around.

My fingers are crossed. :rolleyes:

NYC GUY Jun 27, 2012 3:57 PM
This may be off topic a bit but why does it look like one part of the area has been under construction for a while?

NYguy Jun 27, 2012 10:30 PM
I hope they build it for the views alone...:tup:



czelticgirl

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/236/52...90ef7113_b.jpg



NYC Comets

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1383/6...cb831f67_b.jpg



InSapphoWeTrust

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7...66afb689_h.jpg

Dac150 Jun 27, 2012 11:38 PM
Very cool idea - great for Staten Island!

Bronxwood Jun 29, 2012 2:31 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by StatenIslander237 (Post 5748042)
In addition, St. George is on very hilly terrain, pecked all over with beautiful old mansions and San Franciscan streetscapes (two of Staten Island's three historic districts are within 20 minutes of the terminal). This from the air would also be an unprecedented view. It is the sort of setting that would frame the wheel itself beautifully, and provide stunning views 360 degrees around.

My fingers are crossed. :rolleyes:
The ferris wheel idea is a great one but I seriously think you're pushing it. Pecked all over with beautiful old mansions? San Franciscan streetscapes? I just don't see it. Most of what I saw last time I was in St. George was run down, crappy looking buildings with hardly any architectural significance. Theres room for development, that's the good part. This can be the start of something good for "downtown".

NYguy Jun 29, 2012 4:17 AM
The proposed site for this project would be the lot west of the stadium (north lot)...


http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-conten..._2_0523111.jpg
http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/08/1...rant-downtown/



The landscape in general does change in Staten Island....

Betty Blade

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/156/43...2d9c5586_o.jpg



http://farm1.staticflickr.com/180/43...9c89a11e_o.jpg



http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5242/5...91a1b507_b.jpg
Louis de Feo


But I'm sure the views over the harbor would be great.

NYC2ATX Jun 29, 2012 5:59 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronxwood (Post 5750578)
The ferris wheel idea is a great one but I seriously think you're pushing it. Pecked all over with beautiful old mansions? San Franciscan streetscapes? I just don't see it. Most of what I saw last time I was in St. George was run down, crappy looking buildings with hardly any architectural significance. Theres room for development, that's the good part. This can be the start of something good for "downtown".
The core of St. George is very banal and governmental, this I grant you. It's the neighborhoods just beyond that I'm talking about...Stapleton Heights, Van Duzer Street and St. Pauls Avenue, Fort Hill, Westervelt Avenue and New Brighton, Henderson Avenue...I've been all over this island so many times, I promise they're there, just hidden. Gives a new meaning to the term "hidden gems" ...the problem with many of those areas now is that they are still somewhat poverty stricken, like Brownstone Brooklyn before it was discovered by the hipsters and yuppies.

What is great about the whole of greater Downtown SI, as you said, is that this exceptional old housing stock surrounds the somewhat barren core, which is ripe for development (and was recently rezoned for taller, thin residential and mixed-used towers by the way). There's an opportunity for a great and unique mix of land uses and cityscapes that will create a district unlike any other in New York. Maybe it sounds like I'm overselling it, but needless to say, I've been waiting to SI to get its moment in the spotlight for a while.

NYguy Jul 1, 2012 8:59 PM
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf...sland_fer.html

Bloomberg on Staten Island Ferris wheel: 'This would be great'


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/144444524/original.jpg

June 29, 2012
By Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Staten Island Advance


Quote:
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is along for the ride. On his radio show today, Bloomberg climbed on board with plans to build the world's biggest Ferris wheel on the North Shore of Staten Island. "This would be great," Bloomberg said during his weekly WOR Radio program with host John Gambling. "It sounds like a good idea." Said Bloomberg, "Hopefully, it gets done."

The city Economic Development Corp. is in negotiations to build the 600-foot Ferris wheel, which will look to replicate the success of the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer as top world-class tourist attractions. Island and city officials for years have struggled with finding a way to draw some of the two million annual visitors off the Staten Island Ferry and keep them spending time and money in the borough.

The Ferris wheel, which would rise just north of the Richmond Country Bank Ballpark and which for now is known as The New York Wheel, could be the answer.

"It's going to be done with private money," Bloomberg said on the radio. "There's land there for it. The one in London is phenomenally successful." Bloomberg has long touted the charms of the free ferry and the St. George waterfront. "(The) price is right and at night it's very romantic and that sort of thing," Bloomberg said. "There is a small minor league baseball stadium there ... and that's nice."


http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/144444525/original.jpg



http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/144444929/large.jpg



http://www.pbase.com/nyguy/image/144444929/original.jpg

NYguy Jul 1, 2012 9:32 PM
A little more info on the proposal...

http://www.silive.com/northshore/ind..._proposed.html

Mammoth Ferris wheel proposed for Staten Island sets pulses racing

June 27, 2012
By Jillian Jorgensen/Staten Island Advance Staten Island Advance


Quote:
Plans for the New York Wheel show a stunning spectacle on the edge of Staten Island — and several borough elected officials say they’re on board for the ride. That’s an hour-and-twenty-minute ride, for a full rotation on the Ferris wheel at least.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation, which owns the parcel just to the north of the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, is “very close” to a deal with investors interested in building the massive wheel, said Borough President James Molinaro, who expects an agreement in principle next month. From there, he said, he hopes zoning issues, City Council and agency approval can be ironed out by November 2013.

“They could actually start construction in 2014, and hopefully by Valentine’s Day on 2015 everybody could [go] up and propose to their sweethearts,” Molinaro said.

Molinaro said the wheel, not far from the Postcards Memorial and titled The New York Wheel in planning documents obtained by the Advance, would be between 600 and 635 feet — bigger than the record-holding, 541-foot Singapore Flyer. Riders would be inside glass capsules that could hold 35 people, and the wheel would rotate so slowly it won’t stop — people will step on as it passes through a building beneath the wheel.

It would be modeled on other giant observation wheels like the London Eye, which draws 3.5 million people annually. “They have cocktail parties on it. They have weddings on it,” Molinaro said. But the Ferris wheel on Staten Island would have one thing Singapore and London don’t — a built-in audience being shipped in daily. “I have 2 million tourists that come and ride the Staten Island Ferry every year. Just a little push and they’re here,” the borough president said.

Molinaro said he has yet to hear any opposition to the project — and rebuffed concerns about the wheel’s effect on householders’ harbor views. “It’s a wheel; it’s a hollow wheel,” he noted.

The planning documents list Plaza Capital Management, LLC as investors; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as project architect, Distributed Sun, LLC, as an alternative energy provider, and says the Cornell University Atkinson Center for Sustainability is in discussions to be an alternative energy exhibitor.

Conceptual drawings show a retail terminal and exhibition hall behind the wheel, and next to it, a parking garage with 720 parking spaces and space for as many as 40 buses. A second EDC parcel, to the south of the ballpark, is slated to be turned into upscale retail shops, called St. George Station in the plans. The waterfront retail development would sit on a three-level car garage for another 1,550 cars. Molinaro said that between the outlets and the wheel, he expects a hotel to crop up in the area. That would allow folks to spend more time in the borough. “We spent 50 years being the borough with the largest dump in the world — it’s only fair that we have the largest Ferris wheel,” Molinaro said.

sbarn Jul 2, 2012 2:33 AM
I like the idea of this generally, but it seems like a bit of an odd place for an observation wheel. It seems like this would give you glorious views of the New Jersey Container Port. I think Governor's Island or Roosevelt Island would give more dramatic views of the city... but that's just my opinion. And yes, I've been to Staten Island many times, including games at the Staten Island Yankees ballpark (which is pretty cool).

Roadcruiser1 Jul 2, 2012 3:15 AM
If this was built it would be the tallest structure in Staten Island and the tallest Ferris Wheel in the world.

NYguy Jul 2, 2012 12:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbarn (Post 5753369)
It seems like this would give you glorious views of the New Jersey Container Port.
The port is largely on the other side of Newark bay, but yes, that should also be viewable in all its glory. It's unfortunate that you won't be able to see as much on the New York harbor side, but as much of the harbor - working and otherwise - should be there for the viewing. Too often people think of New York as all skyscraper canyons, and that's not the case at all. The harbor is what made the City, and I'm glad the City has turned is vision to the waterfronts, all around town.


Quote:
I think Governor's Island or Roosevelt Island would give more dramatic views of the city...
If you mean views of Manhattan, then yeah, the closer the better. But again, Manhattan is just a slice of the Big Apple. There are multiple observation decks for people who just want to look at the skyscrapers. The City has two entirely different visions for both Roosevelt and Governors Islands though, and neither involve creating tourists destinations.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1 (Post 5753387)
If this was built it would be the tallest structure in Staten Island and the tallest Ferris Wheel in the world.

No doubt someone will come along to build a larger one, but this would be pretty large as it is. It will be as large and visible as the towers of the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge, a distinct SI landmark, another "gateway" of the harbor.

A look at some other "wheels" around the world...
http://kineticcarnival.blogspot.com/...posed-for.html

Roadcruiser1 Jul 2, 2012 6:14 PM
That picture of the amount of land available for development shows that it is a good idea to build a giant amusement park to go with the Ferris Wheel and the Stadium. It would also be a good idea to expand the terminal a bit with a mall, and to build a skyscraper on top of it to encourage tourists to visit Staten Island and more.

Hudson11 Jul 2, 2012 6:53 PM
here is the approximate view when towards the harbor from the top of the wheel (it's google earth, of course it won't be the same)

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8203/nywheel.png


here's whats there now

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/7268/nyw2.png

NYguy Jul 2, 2012 11:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1 (Post 5753863)
That picture of the amount of land available for development shows that it is a good idea to build a giant amusement park to go with the Ferris Wheel and the Stadium. It would also be a good idea to expand the terminal a bit with a mall, and to build a skyscraper on top of it to encourage tourists to visit Staten Island and more.
It's not as large as it seems. It's basically a parking lot. But yeah, there are plans for more retail.

Quote:
Conceptual drawings show a retail terminal and exhibition hall behind the wheel, and next to it, a parking garage with 720 parking spaces and space for as many as 40 buses. 

A second EDC parcel, to the south of the ballpark, is slated to be turned into upscale retail shops, called St. George Station in the plans. The waterfront retail development would sit on a three-level car garage for another 1,550 cars.

Meanwhile, Seattle's Great Wheel is making a debut...


http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...86100O20120702

Seattle's new landmark Great Wheel opening on waterfront


http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources...=ALNE8610PA000



http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources...=ALNE8610PA100


By Laura L. Myers
Jul 2, 2012


Quote:
The towering, white "Great Wheel" features 42 enclosed gondolas with space for up to 252 passengers total. The 175-foot-tall (53-metre-tall) wheel cost $20 million and was constructed as part of a private-sector initiative to revitalize Seattle's waterfront. While the 212-foot-high (66-metre-high) Texas Star is taller, it only operates during the annual State Fair of Texas in Dallas.

Seattle's new wheel "is like a baby London Eye," said 32-year-old co-owner Kyle Griffith, referring to London's famed 443-foot-high (135-meter-high) wheel along the Thames River. The London Eye is Europe's tallest Ferris wheel. The tallest in the world, Singapore's 541-foot (165-metre) Singapore Flyer, is more than twice as high as Seattle's newest attraction.

The Great Wheel was designed to draw visitors to the Pacific Northwest city's gritty waterfront, often framed by fog and drizzle, amid worries that a traffic-clogging construction project underway nearby would keep tourists away.

Globally, high-tech wheel rides are undergoing a resurgence after being out of vogue for 30 years, analyst Dennis Speigel, president of Ohio-based International Theme Park Services Inc, told Reuters. "Wheels are now the 'icon du jour,'" Speigel said. On Staten Island, New York, plans are in the works for a 600-foot-tall (183-metre-tall) "observation wheel" to become the world's tallest.

Two new wheels also are under discussion in Las Vegas, Speigel said. Developers broke ground on one, a 500-foot-tall (152-metre-tall) wheel in March 2011 across from the Mandalay Bay resort and casino. Another opened in South Carolina's Myrtle Beach last year. "Overseas, they're all getting taller and taller. In the next 10 years we'll see a 1,000-foot-high (300-metre-high) wheel," Speigel said.

Roadcruiser1 Jul 3, 2012 1:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYguy (Post 5754118)
It's not as large as it seems. It's basically a parking lot. But yeah, there are plans for more retail.
I should have looked at it on street view. It is too small, but they are good sites for skyscrapers it seems. If the Ferris Wheel takes only a small portion of land then it is possible to build at least three skyscrapers. One on the north site, one on the south site, and one on the Terminal building. It's also possible to build another skyscraper on an empty parcel of land next to Staten Island's Sheriff Office, and on one next to the St. George School. I see a lot of potential development here.

NYguy Jul 3, 2012 11:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1 (Post 5754245)
If the Ferris Wheel takes only a small portion of land then it is possible to build at least three skyscrapers. One on the north site, one on the south site, and one on the Terminal building.
It's also possible to build another skyscraper on an empty parcel of land next to Staten Island's Sheriff Office, and on one next to the St. George School. I see a lot of potential
development here.
They could have put a couple of highrises there, but its City land, and the City is looking more for something that would be a draw,
not just another highrise development that could be anywhere.


Here's another look at the sites...

http://workingharbor.wordpress.com/t...capital-group/

http://www.nycedc.com/sites/default/...s_2_052311.jpg

aquablue Jul 5, 2012 4:49 PM
Another wheel, yawn.:rolleyes:

I think this is getting a bit hackneyed now all around the world.

What they should have done was: create an observation tower with pods going up and down slowly. It would have looked more iconic on the skyline too, and could have been taller. How about a spiral tower with pods going up and down:banana:

Roadcruiser1 Jul 5, 2012 6:54 PM
^ That won't really look good, and it won't really be that much of a difference for Staten Islanders.

I rather see several skyscrapers along with the Ferris Wheel that would have observation decks, stores, restaurants, and malls to attract people to Staten Island. They should also have hotel space, residential space, and office space to encourage a lot more visitors as well. That way tourists would be willing to spend a few days there, and people would be willing to live and work there as well.

uakoops Jul 5, 2012 9:06 PM
Wouldn't building a bunch of skyscrapers around the wheel block the view?

aquablue Jul 5, 2012 10:08 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1 (Post 5757058)
^ That won't really look good, and it won't really be that much of a difference for Staten Islanders.

I rather see several skyscrapers along with the Ferris Wheel that would have observation decks, stores, restaurants, and malls to attract people to Staten Island. They should also have hotel space, residential space, and office space to encourage a lot more visitors as well. That way tourists would be willing to spend a few days there, and people would be willing to live and work there as well.
Maybe it won't look good to you, but I'd take a fantastic innovative spiral monumental tower with automated pods rather than another copy-cat gesture. The wheel is done and dusted, let's move on folks. Let's show some originality, something that says NYC of the future.

This is just a copy of London's famous EYE, and it will never surpass or become an icon like that one did. For one, it is too far from the city core, the view of the skyline will be very wide-angle and distant unless zoomed with a telephoto lens. Secondly, even if it is bigger, it will never have the cachet of the original and probably won't have the same design.

I really feel that somebody got very lazy here. There are plenty of different ways to create an observational structure than this. I also don't see the visual appeal of a wheel with ugly spokes, a spiral tower with pods would look so much more elegant rather than this travesty of an amusement park attraction.

jd3189 Jul 5, 2012 11:13 PM
:previous: I was thinking of a observation lighthouse tower that would as tall as Manhattan regulars, thus being the tallest lighthouse in the world. I guess the Ferris wheel isn't that much of a original idea but it can still be built if it is preferred.

Roadcruiser1 Jul 6, 2012 3:46 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by uakoops (Post 5757208)
Wouldn't building a bunch of skyscrapers around the wheel block the view?
Not really. The Manhattan skyline won't be blocked, neither would the views of Staten Island, New Jersey, and a large chunk of Brooklyn. It won't be that much of a concern.

Roadcruiser1 Jul 6, 2012 3:50 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jd3189 (Post 5757334)
:previous: I was thinking of a observation lighthouse tower that would as tall as Manhattan regulars, thus being the tallest lighthouse in the world. I guess the Ferris wheel isn't that much of a original idea but it can still be built if it is preferred.
That would be awesome. Staten Island's symbol is of a lighthouse, and it could be built on top of St. George's Ferry Terminal. There could be normal office floors, residential floors, and hotel floors before reaching the top which would be the observation deck and restaurants. Maybe it can even reach 1,000+ feet. That would draw people to Staten Island. It could also direct people to the nearby Lighthouse Museum.

Maybe it can be designed after the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-_Thiersch.gif

NYguy Jul 8, 2012 12:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by aquablue (Post 5756928)
Another wheel, yawn.:rolleyes:
I think this is getting a bit hackneyed now all around the world.
Good thing then, that this one is proposed for New York, and not "all around the world".


Quote:
Originally Posted by aquablue (Post 5757273)
The wheel is done and dusted, let's move on folks.
That's like saying skyscrapers are done and dusted.


Quote:
This is just a copy of London's famous EYE, and it will never surpass or become an icon like that one did.
A ridiculous statement. The tourist coming off the ferry alone would make this one a huge success. It will become a huge icon of the harbor.

Duck From NY Jul 8, 2012 11:23 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYguy (Post 5759259)
The tourist coming off the ferry alone would make this one a huge success. It will become a huge icon of the harbor.
-
This will be great for Staten Island, and great for the skyline, but I'm not sure of it's ability to draw people. About 2 million tourists ride the ferry every year. Let's say 1 million of them ride the wheel? That's still more than three times less than the London Eye draws.

Does it need to draw a similar amount to be a success?

Has the London Eye drawn a profit?

...

As a Staten Islander, I hope this gets built regardless.

Roadcruiser1 Jul 8, 2012 9:54 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck From NY (Post 5759466)
-
This will be great for Staten Island, and great for the skyline, but I'm not sure of it's ability to draw people. About 2 million tourists ride the ferry every year. Let's say 1 million of them ride the wheel? That's still more than three times less than the London Eye draws.

Does it need to draw a similar amount to be a success?

Has the London Eye drawn a profit?

...

As a Staten Islander, I hope this gets built regardless.
No it doesn't. As long as the price is good enough and it is attractive enough then it would make a profit. The London Eye and the Singapore Flyer is extremely successful. Even though the Wonder Wheel might not be an observation wheel it is extremely successful too.

jd3189 Jul 9, 2012 12:53 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck From NY (Post 5759466)
-
This will be great for Staten Island, and great for the skyline, but I'm not sure of it's ability to draw people. About 2 million tourists ride the ferry every year. Let's say 1 million of them ride the wheel? That's still more than three times less than the London Eye draws.

Does it need to draw a similar amount to be a success?

Has the London Eye drawn a profit?

...

As a Staten Islander, I hope this gets built regardless.
You never know, the Wheel itself could increase the ferry's ridership alone.

NYguy Jul 10, 2012 9:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck From NY (Post 5759466)
-
This will be great for Staten Island, and great for the skyline, but I'm not sure of it's ability to draw people. About 2 million tourists ride the ferry every year. Let's say 1 million of them ride the wheel? That's still more than three times less than the London Eye draws.
That's assuming that only tourists who ride the ferry will want to visit the observation wheel. The tourists who ride the ferry are but a fraction of the City's overall tourist. Also, you have to take into account the locals who will visit from the metro region (both NY and NJ). The question I have is whether too many people would visit, how long would the wait be, etc.

Duck From NY Jul 16, 2012 2:34 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYguy (Post 5761617)
That's assuming that only tourists who ride the ferry will want to visit the observation wheel. The tourists who ride the ferry are but a fraction of the City's overall tourist. Also, you have to take into account the locals who will visit from the metro region (both NY and NJ). The question I have is whether too many people would visit, how long would the wait be, etc.
From what I understand, New Yorkers rarely go to the Statue of Libery, Ellis Island, ESB, etc. Not so sure if that's true, but that's the general feeling I get from my NY experience. You may turn out to be right, but I would be surprised if we get more than 1.5 million after it's first year.

If they want to draw people from the region, I hope they build a parking lot next to it, since public transportation on to the Island is limited to express buses and the ferry.

NYC GUY Jul 17, 2012 9:52 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck From NY (Post 5766302)
From what I understand, New Yorkers rarely go to the Statue of Libery, Ellis Island, ESB, etc. Not so sure if that's true, but that's the general feeling I get from my NY experience. You may turn out to be right, but I would be surprised if we get more than 1.5 million after it's first year.

If they want to draw people from the region, I hope they build a parking lot next to it, since public transportation on to the Island is limited to express buses and the ferry.
I've rarely gone to the SOL and Ellis Island since I've lived here but they are good for getting pics.

mrnyc Jul 24, 2012 8:49 AM
i just walked thru there the other day. yeah its too small a patch for much else.

a big ferris wheel is very trendy, but still a nice idea. i even think the placement is just fine. its just not going to get london eye business being over there in staten island. otoh no doubt less crowds would be just fine for wheel riders.

NYguy Aug 13, 2012 12:22 AM
I think it will do just fine, and surprise a lot of doubters.


http://www.silive.com/opinion/editor...ould_turn.html

The New York Wheel would turn Staten Island into a world-class destination

July 20, 2012

Quote:
If we build it, they will come. The 600-foot-tall New York Wheel, with magnificent views from on high, could turn Staten Island into a world-class tourist destination, which is why many Staten Islanders support the concept. The revolving observation platform being proposed for the waterfront near the Staten Island Ferry is to be a towering spectacle like nothing else in America. It goes above and beyond ordinary Ferris wheels. It would be no mere carnival ride, as some mistakenly envision it.

Featuring glass-enclosed capsules that can hold up to 35 people, the giant New York Wheel is intended to be a harborside showcase - not an amusement park attraction.

What’s being proposed by private developers would be a “fabulous magnet” for people to come to Staten Island, according to Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University’s Graduate School of Public Service. He said: “It’s going to be one of the city’s great tourist attractions because it will combine the ferry ride with an activity, and since the ferry to Staten Island is much more accessible than the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, it’s going to supersede the Statue of Liberty as a magnet for visitors.” Known worldwide as one of New York’s top 10 attractions, the Staten Island Ferry carries about 2 million tourists every year. They plan ahead for the scenic round-trip voyage back and forth across the harbor, but rarely leave the St. George Ferry Terminal itself to see anything anywhere on the Island.

This guaranteed year-round stream of visitors is why investors found it was economically viable to propose to the city Economic Development Corp. to build an observation wheel like the 443-foot London Eye or the 541-foot Singapore Flyer. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has endorsed the concept. So has Borough President James Molinaro, who has said agreement in principle could come this month to build the Wheel on city-owned land near the Richmond County Bank Ballpark. He says it could be up and running by early 2015.

The sooner the better, we say.

Duck From NY Aug 16, 2012 8:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYguy (Post 5796434)
I think it will do just fine, and surprise a lot of doubters.
Staten Island has always had trouble getting tourists to stay on the island for any amount of time. A few years ago they made bus tours using old trolly-looking vehicles to ferry tourists around Staten Island to locations like the Conference House and Snug Harbor. I haven't seen any of these vehicles around for almost two years, so I imagine the program ended. I personally can't imagine why a knowledgeable traveler would want to spend time on Staten Island at places like those I mentioned above when Manhattan has so much more to offer.

If we do end up trying to attract more tourists by building this wheel, they should focus on adding some other attractions in the St.George area. Any where else on the island would be silly, as even a typical tourist would be hard to convince to spend three hours traversing around what essentially is a suburb of the other four boroughs.

I'm not saying this project will fail if built, these are just things to consider. I'm sure we can all agree that it would be quite sad if it was built and 3/4 of the modules were empty during peak hours.

NYguy Aug 22, 2012 11:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck From NY (Post 5800881)
If we do end up trying to attract more tourists by building this wheel, they should focus on adding some other attractions in the St.George area. Any where else on the island would be silly, as even a typical tourist would be hard to convince to spend three hours traversing around what essentially is a suburb of the other four boroughs.

I'm not saying this project will fail if built, these are just things to consider. I'm sure we can all agree that it would be quite sad if it was built and 3/4 of the modules were empty during peak hours.

The thing about that wheel is that it is a destination, not just a ride. It in of itself would be enough. We talk in terms of tourists making the trip, but some forget that it's a metro of some 20 million people to draw from as well. Beyond that though, tourists making the journey on the ferry and the trip to the wheel won't really have much time for a lot of other things to do in Staten Island anyway. It's a big city. So much to do, and so little time. Maybe some locals could make a day trip of it...



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...LEFTTopStories

Staten Island Outlet Mall Is Proposed


http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/i...0821175106.jpg


By LAURA KUSISTO and ELIOT BROWN
August 21, 2012

Quote:
New Yorkers and tourists endure traffic jams on crowded buses to travel to outlet malls for discounted jeans and handbags, but the city and a developer are betting they would prefer a 25-minute ferry ride to Staten Island. The Bloomberg administration is in advanced talks with Don Capoccia, of BFC Partners, to build a roughly half-a-million-square-foot outlet mall near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, according to two people briefed on the proposal. The mall would be near another big idea for Staten Island: Officials are also in advanced talks with investor group Plaza Capital Group Management, which would build the tallest "observation wheel" in the world, lifting visitors roughly 600 feet, according to people familiar with the proposal.

The mall and the observation wheel would replace parking lots on either side of Richmond County Bank Ballpark, the stadium of the minor league Staten Island Yankees. "It would be a draw for Staten Islanders and a draw for tourists to come downtown more than they already do," said state Sen. Diane Savino, a Democrat who represents the area.

Officials are hoping to reach an agreement with developers on the observation wheel and mall sites simultaneously, according to multiple people familiar with the process. No deal on either proposal has been reached. "We're thrilled with the excitement these sites have generated as we continue discussions with multiple developers in the hope of unlocking significant economic development potential for Staten Island's North Shore," said Benjamin Branham, a spokesman for the city's Economic Development Corp.

The Center for an Urban Future, a nonprofit research organization, estimated in a 2007 report about Staten Island that more than two million tourists a year take the ferry, with few ever leaving to explore the island. Outlet malls, which sell discounted goods by popular brands, have boomed across the country in the past decade, even as traditional enclosed suburban malls have declined in popularity. The New York area has relatively few, though, in part because of the dominance of Woodbury Common Premium Outlets—a huge and popular complex about 50 miles north of Manhattan. New York shoppers take hourlong bus rides there or travel to outlet malls on Long Island and New Jersey.

The Staten Island project has the potential to be the first outlet mall in New York City. Another proposal for an outlet mall in the Bronx is also reportedly under consideration.

Duck From NY Aug 23, 2012 1:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYguy (Post 5807433)
The thing about that wheel is that it is a destination, not just a ride. It in of itself would be enough. We talk in terms of tourists making the trip, but some forget that it's a metro of some 20 million people to draw from as well. Beyond that though, tourists making the journey on the ferry and the trip to the wheel won't really have much time for a lot of other things to do in Staten Island anyway. It's a big city. So much to do, and so little time. Maybe some locals could make a day trip of it...
It's a destination, and not a ride, for sure. I'm just emphasizing that if they're going to try to use other methods (like the proposed shopping destination) along with the wheel to attract people to the island, they should try to concentrate that flow of people to and not far from St.George.

I'm sure plenty of people from the Metro will come to the wheel within the first year or two, but like other tourist destinations in the city, I doubt it will generate a lot of interest from local people once it's been established.

I really hope this succeeds, I'd love to see this thing from my backyard, from Todt Hill, etc.

NYguy Aug 23, 2012 3:06 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duck From NY (Post 5807573)
It's a destination, and not a ride, for sure. I'm just emphasizing that if they're going to try to use other methods (like the proposed shopping destination) along with the wheel to attract people to the island, they should try to concentrate that flow of people to and not far from St.George.
Well, you are partially getting it. One thing, people already come, they just don't stay because there's nothing to do. There's already a captive market so to speak that Staten Island doesn't benefit from, and it's already popular among tourist, and that's the ferry itself. Now there will be a reason for tourist to "get off the boat" so to speak.


Quote:
I'm sure plenty of people from the Metro will come to the wheel within the first year or two, but like other tourist destinations in the city, I doubt it will generate a lot of interest from local people once it's been established.
Well, I disagree with you there. It will attract locals in the beginning, but that will only grow. New Yorkers or people from the area won't rush over just because its the "new thing to do". It's not a temporary attraction, it will be permanent one, and visitation will only increase in time. As a matter of fact, as is always the case, it will be an easier place to visit in the beginning because there will be less people.

Now, in addition to the regular riders and tourists on the ferry will be more tourists and new shoppers. I don't see how Staten Island can lose here, and I don't see your concerns.

NYguy Aug 23, 2012 3:58 PM
Brief video...
http://mashable.com/2012/08/19/world...-for-new-york/

MolsonExport Aug 23, 2012 4:19 PM
Wow. 600ft. That is one hell of a big wheel. If only it were a bit closer to the lower manhattan skyline.

eleven=11 Aug 23, 2012 5:29 PM
is this wheel in new york just a rumor?

how will it compare to the wheels in vegas?
they are building 2 wheels

Roadcruiser1 Aug 23, 2012 8:25 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by eleven=11 (Post 5808279)
is this wheel in new york just a rumor?

how will it compare to the wheels in vegas?
they are building 2 wheels
No they aren't. Las Vegas is only building one wheel which would be 500 feet tall. The Staten Island Wheel would be 600 feet tall, and it's proposed so it isn't a rumor.

NYguy Aug 23, 2012 11:03 PM
^ Supposedly they were building two in Vegas, with one already under construction. Neither would be larger than this one though.



http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...-ferris-wheel/

Staten Island Gets Lift With Talk of a Mall and a Ferris Wheel


http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...s2-blog480.jpg


By VIVIAN YEE
August 23, 2012

Quote:
They come by the thousands, crowding onto the Staten Island Ferry with their cameras, eager for the ferry’s perfect views of New York Harbor, where the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan gleam. But once on Staten Island, few make it out of the terminal, where a deck attached to the terminal offers a sweeping view of a parking lot caked with goose droppings, the small ballpark of the minor-league Staten Island Yankees and beyond, another parking lot.

All summer, however, the borough has been buzzing with reports that, if true, could finally propel Staten Island into the big leagues: the city is in talks with developers to build a half-million-square-foot outlet mall on one of the parking lots and a 600-foot-high observation wheel similar to the London Eye on the other. That would give Staten Island, New York’s most overlooked borough, an improbable distinction: the world’s tallest Ferris wheel. (Currently the tallest, at 541 feet, is in Singapore, though the London Eye, which is 443-feet tall, is probably the most famous.)

Neither Mr. Molinaro nor the city’s Economic Development Corporation would confirm that the observation wheel and outlet mall projects had pulled ahead of other proposals for the site, which New York City has been trying to develop for several years. But a person familiar with the development project said that the city was in advanced discussions with a developer, Plaza Capital Group Management, to build the wheel. The project would be called the New York Wheel and would offer dining and event spaces, the person said.

Last August, the city put out a request for ideas to develop the two parking lots, which total more than 14 acres, a spokesman for the Economic Development Corporation said. Mr. Molinaro, the borough president, said he expected the city to announce a deal on the sites by the end of September.

CCs77 Sep 4, 2012 8:36 PM
http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories..._08_31_bk.html

Coney Island wants massive observation wheel

Quote:
A massive observation wheel slated for Staten Island should be built in Coney Island, claim People’s Playground boosters who say the amusement district should be home to anything remotely amusing in the city.
Quote:
“Coney Island is America’s original amusement park and playground, and a natural location for the world’s tallest observation wheel,” said Borough President Markowitz, claiming that Coney’s existing attractions would draw far bigger crowds than Staten Island could ever provide.
I am just posting it, not that I agree with it. I think that Staten Island is a better place for it.
Although as some commentators of that article said, for the wheel as a tourist attraction itself, it would be better placed either in NJ across the river or in Brooklyn Bridge Park. In the last case, it would bring astonishing views of the New York Skyline, The Brooklyn Downtown and Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Also the Wheel itself would offer an iconic view from Manhattan. That's for the views and the potential as a major tourist atraction, I also understand that one of the goals is to help develop Staten Island and draw tourist out of the typical places.

jd3189 Sep 4, 2012 9:24 PM
:previous: They can build Ferris wheels everywhere, I don't really care.

Duck From NY Sep 5, 2012 2:21 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by CCs77 (Post 5819954)
Although as some commentators of that article said, for the wheel as a tourist attraction itself, it would be better placed either in NJ across the river or in Brooklyn Bridge Park. In the last case, it would bring astonishing views of the New York Skyline, The Brooklyn Downtown and Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Also the Wheel itself would offer an iconic view from Manhattan. That's for the views and the potential as a major tourist atraction, I also understand that one of the goals is to help develop Staten Island and draw tourist out of the typical places.
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I think the best ground views of the city are from Weehawken or Green Point. But being so close to the skyline, you won't be able to see very far in the direction of all the tall buildings when you're on top of the Wheel. Meanwhile, from Staten Island there is enough distance from the city that the closer buildings don't block the further buildings. You'd also be able to see very far in most of the 360 degrees, which wouldn't be possible from the "Gold Coast" of NJ or BK+QNS.

I think Staten Island would be the perfect place for panoramas from 600 feet. This Wheel would be a great boon for the Island, and I would love to look out my window and see it every morning. Like I've said before, though, I think the investors may lose money on it.

NYguy Sep 5, 2012 3:20 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by CCs77 (Post 5819954)
I am just posting it, not that I agree with it. I think that Staten Island is a better place for it.
I read an article on that in the Brooklyn Paper, where it was correctly pointed out that those are two different worlds. Having a Wonder Wheel in Coney Island is something completely different from this observation wheel, two different audiences. Amusement park crowds want a quick thrill. This will not be that.



http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf...ten_islan.html

Transformation of Staten Island waterfront could be coming soon

http://media.silive.com/latest_news/...6796-large.jpg

August 24, 2012
By Deborah Young

Quote:
The plan for what would be New York City's first outlet mall is one of three visions submitted by different developers to the city, outlining how they would transform the 6.7-acre swath of land into bustling commercial centers, according to the borough president. The site, like the parcel of land where the proposed wheel would be constructed, is emblematic of the area's untapped potential -- with jaw-dropping views and an estimated 2 million visitors every year, who these days just graze by after hopping off the ferry, before simply turning around and hopping back on.

"There are serious, serious negotiations going on as we speak," said Borough President James P. Molinaro. Although a report in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal focused exclusively on the outlet mall, he said two other proposals for more traditional shopping and business complexes are also on the table. "I know some of the details and the stumbling blocks. Whatever is going to happen is going to have to happen soon."

And as for the chances of actually seeing a 600-plus-foot-high observation wheel, outfitted with plush, temperature-controlled passenger capsules, where people can slowly take a spin and soak in the stunning skyline: It is no longer pie in the sky. "They are a lot closer than they were a month ago," said Molinaro of the negotiations between the city Economic Development Corporation and Plaza Capital Management, LLC and other investors to build the wheel.

"An announcement" could be made by early fall, the borough president said: "The clock is running. You can put money in the bank that those two sites are going to be developed and before 2014; they'll have everything ready to go."


http://www.silive.com/northshore/ind...uhgedabou.html

Surrender The Wheel? Fuhgedaboudit, says Staten Island's beep

http://media.silive.com/northshore/p...7800-large.jpg

September 04, 2012
By Judy L. Randall

Quote:
Hey, Brooklyn: Hands off The Wheel!

So said Borough President James Molinaro last week, amid remarks by his Brooklyn counterpart and grousing by the founder of Coney Island USA, who believe the proposed London Eye-style observation wheel Molinaro wants on Staten Island’s North Shore waterfront should be built in Brooklyn instead.

“It’s going to happen here, no place else,” Molinaro told the Advance. “It’s going to go here, right here. And it’s going to be a game-changer for Staten Island. We will be the island of whatever they will call the gadget — the Island of the Wheel, the Island of the Circle.”

He also lambasted critics for reducing the 600-foot-high observation wheel to a mere boardwalk amusement. “This is no Ferris wheel,” said Molinaro. “There are 45,000 Ferris wheels in the world. This is not one.”


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