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One of the things I love about Staten Island is that there are so many small communities- each one with a unique history and heritage- each one with its own set of characteristics. On my website, I provide my readers with plenty of information about the different North Shore neighborhoods, giving potential home buyers (and all Staten Islanders) a glimpse of the unique history and charm of these neighborhoods and what to look forward to if buying a home there.
But in my recent experience, I find that my clients have more specific needs. For example, many of my clients look specifically for Staten Island homes near the Verrazano Bridge. In order to provide information, spark interest and meet their needs, over the next few months I will be dedicating one blog per month to showcase specific neighborhoods that are within a close vicinity to the Verrazano Bridge.
Staten Island Neighborhoods Near The Verrazano Bridge: Grasmere
In my opinion, these neighborhoods provide many of the “wish list items” that many of my clients are looking for in a new home- prime location, many transportation options, easy commute to Manhattan and Brooklyn, variety when it comes to the type and style of home, quick access to entertainment and shopping, and many neighborhood attractions suitable for any type of family or lifestyle.
Looking for a Staten Island home near the Verrazano Bridge? Below you will find a description of Grasmere- a neighborhood frequently sought after due to its prime location near public transit and close access to the Verrazano Bridge. Read on to find out more about this charming neighborhood.
Location
Grasmere is bounded to the north by the Staten Island Expressway, to the east by Hylan Boulevard, the south by Hylan Boulevard and Old Town Road, and to the west by Targee Street and the neighborhood of Emerson Hill.
History
Grasmere was named by Roderick Cameron, a mid-19th-century developer who named the area after an English Lake District village. In the 1880’s, Mr. Cameron sold land to Philip Brady, who harvested ice from the pond that is now called Brady’s Pond. Grasmere has always been considered one of the most prominent communities on Staten Island, with the area around Brady’s Pond being particularly prestigious. Although intersected by many major roads (Staten Island Expressway, Hylan Boulevard), Grasmere has maintained a quiet and more suburban character.
Transportation
Grasmere is located near major roadways and has many public transportation options, making for both a convenient commute and easy access to points of interest. Grasmere is a stop on the Staten Island Railway, which runs from St. George to Tottenville along the east side of the borough. The Grasmere stop is approximately 10-minutes from St. George, the stop that ends in the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Well served by buses , Grasmere residents have easy access to the No. 78 that runs to St. George, the No. 79 that runs to Brooklyn via the Verrazano Bridge, and the No. 20 express to Manhattan.
The Staten Island Expressway that borders Grasmere to the north is a quick commute to the Verrazano Bridge.
For getting around locally, Hylan Boulevard (which borders Grasmere to the south and east), provides Grasmere residents quick access to shopping, entertainment, retail and other needs, including several bakeries, restaurants, grocery stores and markets. Also nearby are the sidewalk cafés and attractions of the Rosebank and South Beach neighborhoods.
Types of Homes
Grasmere offers many different types of homes at varying price ranges. Here you can find anything from a two-bedroom condominium to a modest ranch or a gated home with unique architectural style. Stonegate at Grasmere is the neighborhood’s largest condominium development that offers two, three and four-bedroom townhouses. Whereas just a few blocks away, you can find humble single-family homes to even more luxurious homes among the quiet, winding and connecting streets.
Neighborhood attractions
The most common area attraction, located in the neighborhood’s northeast corner, is Brady’s Pond, which covers 15 acres. It is described as the only freshwater pond within city limits to be fit for swimming. It contains a sand beach, lifeguards, rowboats and pedal boats. The pond is the property of the private Cameron Club (named in honor of Roderick Cameron), which was formed in 1930 for members who lived within a specific area.
Brady’s Pond Park is one of two local parks in the area that are accessible to the public. Brady’s Pond Park occupies seven-acres adjacent to the private beach. The city Parks Department maintains this small area of the pond, which is accessible from Narrows Road South and Hylan Boulevard. Naples Playground is located on the western border of Grasmere, behind recently opened PS 9, Naples Street Elementary School. The playground offers basketball and handball courts, a play structure for children, and a baseball field.
Schools
Grasmere residents have many school options, including the zoned school, PS/IS 48 and recently founded open-choice school, PS 9. Academy of St. Dorothy and St. Joseph Hill Academy are other schools Grasmere residents utilize.
I hope you enjoyed getting a glance into Grasmere one of Staten Island’s neighborhoods near the Verrazano Bridge. If you are looking to buy a home on Staten Island and want to know more, please don’t hesitate to contact me on Facebook or Twitter . Even better, my website is full of helpful information about the different North Shore neighborhoods, local businesses, news and events. Don’t forget to check out North Shore Buzz for video interviews and home-buying tips.
I look forward to meeting up soon!
