The consultant team will provide professional land use and transportation planning, as well as market analysis and feasibility studies, according to a release from NYEDC. The study area encompasses about six miles of shoreline along the Kill van Kull and includes the neighborhoods of Mariner's Harbor, Arlington, Port Richmond, Elm Park, West Brighton, Livingston, New Brighton and St. George, all within walking distance of the former North Shore Rail right-of-way. St. George is also home to the Staten Island Ferry.

"From the restoration of the North Shore Railroad to the expansion of the Containerport, the North Shore of Staten Island is ripe for opportunity, job creation, mass transit and a better quality of life for every neighborhood," says James P. Molinaro, Staten Island borough president, in a release. He adds that it's "vitally important" to work together "to ensure that the North Shore Study does not die on the vine, but instead helps us to achieve these worthwhile goals on Staten Island."

The release says the study is intended to create a framework and long-term vision and planning implementation strategy for sustainable development within this 3.5-square-mile area of privately and publicly-owned property, identifying short-term actions to jump-start early initiatives. It will also research the potential for reusing the North Shore Rail right-of-way.