Tompkinsville, Staten Island

Coordinates: 40°38′02″N 74°05′09″W / 40.63389°N 74.08583°W / 40.63389; -74.08583
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Tompkinsville Welcome Sign

Tompkinsville is a

Upper New York Bay, between St. George on the north and Stapleton on the south; however, it is considered part of the North Shore by the island's residents.[citation needed
]

History

Early history

Central Avenue, early 20th century

Tompkinsville, located in the

Upper New York Bay and landed in advance of the American Revolutionary War.[1] In 1799, the New York state government took 30 acres (12 ha) along the waterfront, upon which it established the New York Marine Hospital (also "The Quarantine"), a contagious disease hospital[2][3] and quarantine
station.

In 1815, a settlement was established by

steam ferry service to Manhattan.[4] Angry residents burned down the Quarantine in 1858 in a series of attacks known as the Staten Island Quarantine War. Although there were no deaths as a result of the attack, the arsonists completely destroyed the hospital compound.[3]

20th century

Versailles Peace Conference

In the early 1900s, the

All-Number Calling
, "727" still exists on the island today. It is the sole surviving number of the designations of the 1920s.

Tompkinsville was the site of a

President Wilson
.

During World War II, it was designated Tompkinsville, SI, New York.

21st century

In the 21st century, Tompkinsville became a racially mixed area,

Eric Garner was killed by police in Tompkinsville, in an incident that received widespread media coverage.[7]

In 2019, the section of Bay Street in Tompkinsville was rezoned to allow for a higher concentration of residential, commercial, and office space along the street.[8][9] The plan was controversial, as the vast majority of Staten Island Community Board 1 members had rejected the plan,[10] as did many residents of Tompkinsville,[5] and the commissioners of the New York City Planning Commission had mixed opinions.[11]

Culture

Tompkinsville Park

Tompkinsville contains an enclave of Sri Lankans.[6] The neighborhood also hosts a number of live music and art venues, including Everything Goes Book Café, Deep Tanks Studio, Coyle Cavern, Ink Chyx Tattoo & Art Gallery, and the Staten Island LGBT Community Center, all of which take part in the north shore's monthly Second Saturday art walk.[12] As with much of the north shore, the area is decidedly more urban than is typical of Staten Island, evinced in the architecture (predominantly tall brick buildings) and numerous retail stores and eateries. Unlike many other North Shore communities (and like Port Richmond), the neighborhood has no public housing projects. Its housing stock is dominated by single-family homes built in the first few decades of the 20th century.

Demographics

The neighborhood is mixed commercial and residential. Like many areas of the northeastern part of the island, it suffered a decline following the construction of the

African-Americans, Hispanics, and Whites, with recent arrivals including immigrants from such countries as Albania. Tompkinsville also contains a Little Sri Lanka, one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside of the country of Sri Lanka itself.[13][14]

Transportation

The Tompkinsville station of the Staten Island Railway is one stop south of the terminus at St. George. Unlike at the majority of the railway's stations, a MetroCard or OMNY must be used to enter or exit at Tompkinsville. Faregates were installed at the station in 2009 to deter fare avoiders who would exit at the station to avoid paying the fare at St. George.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ Papas, Philip (2009). That Ever Loyal Island: Staten Island and the American Revolution. p. 77.
  2. ^ Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project in Kings, Queens, Richmond Counties, New York, and Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Essex Counties, New Jersey: Environmental Impact Statement. Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project in Kings, Queens, Richmond Counties, New York, and Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Essex Counties, New Jersey: Environmental Impact Statement. 2004. p. 433. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  3. ^
    PMID 15147652
    .
  4. ^ "TOMPKINSVILLE, Staten Island". forgotten-ny.com. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  5. ^ a b Wishnia, Steven (July 17, 2019). "Eric Garner's Neighborhood Fears Rezoning Will Bring Brooklyn-Style Gentrification To Staten Island". Gothamist. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Little Sri Lanka: An Island Nation Unites on Staten Island". Charter Communications. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  7. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  8. ^ Spivack, Caroline (June 26, 2019). "Staten Island's Bay Street rezoning approved by City Council". Curbed NY. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Rose, Councilwoman Debi (June 26, 2019). "Bay Street rezoning ends era of nonexistent planning on Staten Island (commentary)". silive. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  10. ^ Spivack, Caroline (January 11, 2019). "Staten Island's Bay Street rezoning rejected by community board". Curbed NY. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  11. ^ Spivack, Caroline (April 23, 2019). "Staten Island's Bay Street rezoning approved by City Planning Commission". Curbed NY. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  12. ^ "Second Saturday Staten Island". secondsaturdaystatenisland.com. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  13. ^ Peck, Harrison. "NYC The Official Guide - Must-See Little Sri Lanka: 7 Great Things to See and Do". © 2006–2011 NYC & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  14. ^ Zavatto, Amy (August 5, 2010). "Frommer's - New York City: Exploring Staten Island's Little Sri Lanka". 2000-2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  15. ^ "Fare-saving walk now less of a bargain for Staten Island commuters". silive.com. Staten Island Advance. August 28, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  16. ^ Mooney, Jake (September 5, 2008). "S.I. Railway to Close Walking Loophole". City Room. The New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tompkinsville, Staten Island.

40°38′02″N 74°05′09″W / 40.63389°N 74.08583°W / 40.63389; -74.08583

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