Chamber Hosts 2024 Building Awards at St. George Theatre

Nov 14

On Wednesday, November 13, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce hosted its 63rd Building Awards Ceremony at the St. George Theatre. This annual event celebrates the accomplishments, vision, and creativity of our borough’s construction, building, and design industries.

The event was made possible by Signature Sponsor National Grid, as well Partner Sponsors Community Offshore Wind, Community Resources Staten Island, Empire State Bank, Northfield Bank, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Renewal by Andersen, Sherwin Williams, Staten Island University Hospital, and TD Bank.

The event was co-chaired by Christine DeHart of Salmon Real Estate and Tricia Shevack of New American Funding. The full list of Committee Members can be found below the photo gallery.

The Chamber presented its prestigious Chairman’s Award, the largest honor in the annual ceremony, to two recipients -one in the Residential Category, and one in the Commercial Category.

The Residential Chairman’s Award was presented to The Banks Residence at Harborview Place, submitted by Cutrona Architecture. This exclusive 6,000 square foot single-family residence embraces the landscape on which it is placed, with a unique site measuring 60 feet wide by 156 feet deep. The residence is located within the special natural area district in the Shore Acres area of Staten Island which remains a secluded enclave. The owners are a young, growing family with the vision of enjoying their residence for years to come in comfort and sustainability.

The Commercial Chairman’s Award was presented to Blue Pearl, submitted by Philip Farinacci, Peter Botros, and Ignacio Garcia. The newest restaurant in Bread and Butter Hospitality’s portfolio, Blue Pearl transformed the space – formerly Navy Pier – into an aquatic paradise with a stunning upscale dining experience.

Each year, the Chamber presents the Albert P. Melniker Award to a special person, group, or structure that enhances the quality of life in Staten Island. This award was named as a tribute to Albert Melniker, the founder of the Building Awards program, for his service, commitment, and dedication to keeping Staten Island a beautiful place to live and work. This year, the award was presented to the Anthony Varvaro Memorial Complex.

Anthony Varvaro, as President of the Snug Harbor Little League, mapped out significant upgrades to the facility. Tragically, in September 2022, Varvaro a former major league baseball pitcher and Port Authority Police Officer, was killed in a wrong-way traffic accident. In the wake of the accident, Dennis Thomson, Varvaro’s brother-in-law, took the mantle of League President and championed the improvements. Working alongside Nationwide Arena General Manager Derek Smith (a college friend of Varvaro’s), and Snug Harbor’s Board of Directors, Thomson teamed with numerous organizations and individuals to see Varvaro’s goal come to fruition.

The Chamber also announced three Discretionary Award winners: the Hard Hat of the Year Award, the Neighborhood Improvement Award, and the Economic Development Award.

The Economic Development Award, which honors an entry that has helped revitalize a struggling business district, either by providing jobs or by inspiring other businesses to relocate to the area, was presented to the Community Resources Day Program. Located on Port Richmond Avenue, the Community Resources Day Program redesigned an abandoned and unused store front property for use as a Day Program and work location for people with developmental disabilities. The new space serves as a catalyst for economic development by wedding a bustling nonprofit, a vibrant local community, and a lively population that live, work, and shop within the area.

The Hard Hat of the Year Award, which recognizes the resiliency and skills of a lead applicant that faced significant challenges yet completed the project on time and within budget, was presented to the Luxury Homes at Osprey Court. Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, strict FEMA regulations were enacted to ensure that future development could withstand future storm surges. The Osprey project fell within this flood zone, causing significant obstacles in its development and construction.

Lastly, the Neighborhood Improvement Award, which honors an entry that helps improve the character of a residential neighborhood, was presented to Manor Plaza. This property, located in Manor Heights, is a shopping plaza that houses Manor Superette and Bagels, a brand-new pharmacy, a barbershop, insurance services, and retail space. The space was previously in a state of disrepair and was considered an eyesore to the neighborhood. In response, the property owner undertook a comprehensive renovation of both the front and side of the building.

Photos by Steve White, Staten Arts Photography