mattyhoff

Comprising mostly of homes and two-family houses, Willowbrook Road can be described as nothing more than "residential". It's an unassuming street, with little action and traffic. A somewhat lengthy route, it traverses a number of areas, notably Westerleigh and Willowbrook, for which the street is named. A highly-recommended street to visit or live upon.

Named for the Morning Star, an old tavern which once resided on the street, Morningstar Road is an integral north shore street, extending from Richmond Terrace to Forest Avenue and Richmond Avenue.

It has seen better days, nonetheless. Located along the street are St. Adalbert's Church and an entrance to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Expressway, but other than that, it is emblematic of the North Shore's economic decline in the last few decades.

Signs Road is one of the older streets on Staten Island, dating at least to the 1890s when Staten Island was rife with farmland..

It is a rather peaceful street,. connecting Victory Boulevard to Richmond Avenue. The community is quiet, the homes are intimate and the streets are well-kept. There is almost never any traffic and a mini-forest accompanies the roadway as it meets Victory Blvd.

Half of Richmond Hill Road is notoriously known as Snake Road, as it dangerously snakes and weaves a very steep hill through the Greenbelt en route to its intersection at Richmond Road and Arthur Kill Road. However, its "better half" sits along the bustling commercial center of Staten Island, offering many multi-family homes and easy access to the Staten Island Mall and other businesses. Further, NYC's only remaining private and operating farm can be found on this street.

Good for living and enjoying.

There once was a time when Port Richmond, and for that matter the current Port Richmond Avenue, served as Staten Island's commercial district. Back when it was the northern section of Richmond Avenue, industries and businesses operated out of the area for many decades. A North Shore railroad station was located here, and its northern terminus was at the Bayonne Ferry station. However, the last few decades have not been very kind, and its painful effects are obvious. The street is no longer a bustling commercial strip and has clearly seen its heyday. Although somewhat of a revival is in progress, and the iconic Ralph's Ices and Denino's Pizza have persevered, the area yearns for a renaissance.

Clove Road is an integral connector between the North Shore and the SI Expressway and Hylan Boulevard. Its richest feature is the stretch along Clove Lakes Park. It is both scenic and airy. However, this is its only saving grace. The North Shore section adjacent to Richmond Terrace is somewhat deteriorating. While the section adjacent to the Expressway is seemingly always under construction. The stretch to Hylan Boulevard does little to make up for this set of circumstances.

Overall, a drive along the street can be exhilarating, to say the least. But it gets only two stars for living.

Although not a very long street, Bradley Avenue extends from the summit of a hill across the Staten Island Expressway, terminating at Victory Boulevard. Atop the hill, near the Greenbelt, one is offered a magnificent view of the Bayonne Bridge and northern New Jersey. But it's downhill - figuratively and literally - after that. Although the largely-Jewish community of Willowbrook is seemingly peaceful, this particular area appears more of an eyesore. The traffic backs up daily as it serves as a ramp to and from the expressway.

Extending from the busy Richmond Avenue corridor to the quiet Willowbook neighborhood, Forest Hill Road skirts along the periphery of the Staten Island Greenbelt. As you slowly ascend the hill, leaving behind the businesses and gas stations, the homes and neighborhoods are quite serene, as they stand proudly across the street from Staten Island's natural beauty. If a cautionary note must be raised, it would be that rush-hour and weekend traffic particularly consists of bumper-to-bumper cars. It is but the only blight on this otherwise tranquil atmosphere.

Although Travis Avenue is not a major thoroughfare, it is an integral connecting route between travelers along the West Shore Expressway and along Richmond Avenue.

A two-fold description of the street is warranted. Approximately half runs through the Greenbelt, and the more sparsely populated Travis area of Staten Island, for which the street is named. As it approached the New Springville and Heartland Village areas, homes begin sprouting until the street's terminus at Forest Hill road, where it travels through a full-fledged community.

The street offers scenic views, both within the Greenbelt and at its summit-terminus at Forest Hill Road. The homes are seemingly quiet and can offer enough space for one's relaxation.

Western Avenue is a prime street for those seeking a nice, quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of Staten Island traffic and noise, unfortunately, it comes at the expense of beauty.

I personally love a quiet drive on the weekends down Western Avenue, but of course anybody who has frequented the area knows the industry which existed for many decades.

Early in the 20th Century, a Proctor and Gamble factory began operated in the area. It's ivory soap products led to its being named "Port Ivory".

The factory has since closed, but Northern New Jersey's many chemical plants, the area's shipping and freighting industry and the Goethals Bridge have contributed to many an eyesore. Nonetheless, traffic is little, if any, and houses are practically non-existent.