“With this RFEI, we are throwing out a wide net to gauge the interest of the private sector in this piece of property,” Oddo says, in a statement. “I am not shy about saying that my preferences would be a viable senior housing project, a recreational facility or an educational institution. We purposely left the RFEI open-ended so that it can most effectively gauge such interest.”

According to the NYCEDC, the property is “advantageous” for new development, as it features enough land areas for master planning, historic assets and access to the 3,500-acre Staten Island Greenbelt, the borough’s biggest network of open space. The site is also close to major healthcare facilities and educational institutions such as the College of Staten Island, Sea View Hospital and Home Rehabilitation Center and the Greenbelt Recreation Center. It is also in close proximity to destinations such as the Staten Island Mall and Historic Richmondtown.

The RFEI comes at a time when the borough’s population has increased significantly. According to data from the US Census Bureau, Staten Island’s population jumped by 5.6% in 2010, the highest out of any other borough within the city. In turn, development is high in demand—which can be a boon for new projects in the area.

“This site is one of the largest unused city-owned properties in the entire borough,” says Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro, in a statement. “As Councilman Oddo has been saying over the years, it offers an opportunity for a use that would benefit Staten Island for generations to come.”