Staten Island Airport

The primary reason for the airport's closure was economic, driven by real estate development. Located in a rapidly urbanizing area of New York City, the value of the land for commercial development far exceeded its value as a general aviation airport. The owner sold the 63-acre property to a developer in the mid-1980s, leading to the airport's permanent closure to make way for a shopping center. This is a classic example of urban encroachment forcing out aviation infrastructure.

The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped and is now the location of the South Shore Commons shopping center. This large retail complex, located at 2955 Veterans Road West, hosts major stores such as Target, Home Depot, and ShopRite. All traces of the airport, including runways, hangars, and taxiways, have been demolished and paved over by the shopping center and its extensive parking lots. There is no physical evidence of the former airfield remaining.

Staten Island Airport was the last public-use airport on Staten Island. It opened in 1941 and played a significant role during World War II as a base for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). CAP pilots flew coastal patrol missions from the airport, searching for German U-boats off the Atlantic coast. After the war, it became a vital hub for general aviation in the borough, supporting flight training, aircraft rentals, charter services, and providing a base for private and business aircraft. It typically featured a single paved runway (Runway 1/19) and served as a key connection for local pilots to the national air transportation system for several decades.

None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the Staten Island Airport. The land has been permanently and completely converted to high-value commercial use. Reacquiring the property, demolishing the existing shopping center, and rebuilding an airport would be financially prohibitive and face insurmountable political and community opposition. Furthermore, the airspace in the New York City area is among the most congested in the world, making the reintroduction of a small airport challenging.