Pleasant Plains

 

 

If you’re on the hunt for a luxury community on Staten Island’s South Shore, Pleasant Plains may be your perfect match. In the midst of impressive Staten Island parks, this neighborhood features high-end detached colonial homes and many semis as well. Border communities are Richmond Valley, Princes Bay, and Woodrow. Pleasant Plains is along the southeast coast of Staten Island and peers over the Lower New York Bay.

 

Pleasant Plains is known for two major landmarks: Resurrection Cemetery and Mount Loretto. The neighborhood is great for New Jersey access too because the Outerbridge Crossing is so close. Being in such a safe and low crime area, this community could be perfect for buying your dream home or raising your family.

 

 

This East Shore neighborhood has a dedicated stop on the Staten Island Railroad. In fact, the origins of the Pleasant Plains neighborhood can be traced back to this connection stop. In 1860, the rail line extended service between Vanderbilt’s Landing (modern day Stapleton) and Tottenville. The company decided to name the stop at Amboy Road and Penton Street “Pleasant Plains.” Soon after, a distinct community rose around the train.

 

The community’s anchor Mount Loretto opened in 1882. Founder John Christopher Drumgoole purchased this 120-acre farming plot from the Bennett family back when Staten Island was mostly agricultural. Drumgoole purchased more acreage until his plot totaled 400 acres! The Reverend already had a mission located in Manhattan to help homeless newsboys. He then built Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto to serve as a boys’ orphanage on a working farm. In 1888, St. Elizabeth’s Building was erected here and served as an orphanage for 350 girls. It was destroyed by an arsonist in 2000.

 

 

North of Hylan Boulevard, a large part of Mount Loretto now belong to the state of New York, comprising the Mount Loretto State Forest. South of the boulevard, The Mount Loretto Unique Area is maintained by the New York State DEP. Adjoining Lemon Creek Park, this part of Staten Island is important from an environmental standpoint. The shoreline along the bay is about a mile long. You won’t find waterfront homes here in Pleasant Plains because all the land has been preserved. Here, you will find Dorothy Fitzpatrick Fishing Pier and the Prices Bay Lighthouse.

 

Let’s talk lifestyle! Aside from it’s stunning parks, there is just enough shopping in this quiet neighborhood primarily on Amboy Road. At the intersection of Amboy Road and Penton Street is Amboy Bedell Plaza. This will also be your main avenue to get around the island if you drive. On the northern border of Pleasant Plains is a ramp to the Korean War Veteran’s Expressway. This will be your main interstate to travel north or to New Jersey. Do you prefer public? The obvious answer is the train which travels north to Manhattan or south to Tottenville. There are also a couple of bus routes: the local s55 and the Manhattan express line SIM26.

 

Cemetery of the Resurrection is one of the largest in Staten Island. This noteworthy landmark spans 126 acres and can be found along beautiful Sharrott Avenue. The cemetery was opened in 1978 by the Archdiocese of New York and provided a burial ground for Catholics when other plots around the city were full. Another interesting fact about Pleasant Plains is that the church of St. Joachim and St. Anne was used as the facade in The Godfather baptism scene. Sadly though, this church was also destroyed by fire in 1973.

 

Children here are lucky to attend very good schools. Kids are zoned for PS 3 The Margaret Gioiosa School, IS 34 Tottenville, Tottenville High School, or South Richmond High School. Several private schools are also found here should you prefer. These include St. Joseph/St. Thomas School (also a house of worship), Yeshiva of Staten Island, Gateway Academy, and Our Lady Help of Christians School.

 

Could Pleasant Plains be your next home? Browse these listings to find out!