Lower Main Street in Tottenville became an important business center in the mid-19th c. with the revitalization of the oyster industry enhanced by the extension of the SI Railroad to Tottenville in 1860. Capt. John Totten, who lived nearby & whose house still stands, built a dock and general store along the waterfront here, and the maritime industries that supported that industry soon flourished. A century later, Main St. remained at the heart of the community’s business district, providing a wide range of services from banking to shoe repair.

Today, the mom-and-pop stores have all but disappeared, and Main St. struggles in tough economic times. What does the future hold for small town centers like Main Street, Tottenville?

Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm

Date: Sunday May 6, 2012

Event Start/End: Tottenville train station (last stop on the Staten Island Railway)

Hosts: Tottenville Historical Society

Registration: Please RSVP: 646-291-7005 or at http://bit.ly/IK7opO

Accessibility: Fully Accessible

New Dorp is set apart by its architectural characteristics, density, walkability, and independent businesses. Walk with us around New Dorp Lane, the “Main Street” of Staten Island’s East Shore, to learn about the history and visit local businesses, and see tree-lined residential streets and parks. Take part in a mobile discussion and envision how New Dorp and sister railway villages can improve cohesiveness, walkability, transit use and and take advantage of inevitable pressures to densify.

Every day, all over the city, Transportation Alternatives is working to revitalize New York City’s neighborhoods and restore a vibrant culture of street life. This walk features one of the many communities where T.A. advocacy brings safe and healthy streets for all.

Time: 11:30am-1:00pm

Date: Saturday May 5, 2012

Event Start: Rose Avenue and N. Railroad Avenue; Staten Island Railroad station south entrance

Event End: New Dorp Lane and S. Railroad Avenue; Staten Island Railroad station north entrance

Hosts: Transportation Alternatives’ Staten Island Volunteer Committee

Registration: RSVP at http://transalt.org/events/calendar/5849

Accessibility: Fully Accessible