Eltingville, Staten Island

Eltingville is a well-established neighborhood on the south shore of Staten Island. The community, which runs from Raritan Bay into the southerly center of the island, attracts young families looking for trees, lawns and backyards.

Among the things attracting young families to Eltingville is its position at a crossroads: people can easily reach the Staten Island Railway from the main bus lines along Richmond Avenue, which transfer to and from buses along Hylan Boulevard, another main thoroughfare. In addition, these main streets, along with Amboy Road from Richmond Avenue to Armstrong Avenue, are shopping destinations, with supermarkets, drugstores, delis and bagel shops, pet stores, pizzerias, travel agencies and restaurants.

Most housing in the area is detached and semidetached one- and two-family homes and schools are a large attraction to the area. Public School 42, with about 1,000 students, is one of the 200 schools in the city exempt from the uniform curriculum. Tottenville High School, in Huguenot about two miles from Eltingville, is the largest high school in Staten Island, with 4,028 students. The high school’s marching band is known for winning many state championships, as well as their girl’s soccer, gymnastics, and baseball teams.

I live right on the cutoff of Eltingville and Great Kills. I have lived in Eltingville for about 15 years now and it hasn't really changed a lot. Lots of traffic, good public transportation and middle class families with nice cars. There is a lot of so-so restaurants in this area, there is average pizza places and chinese places. They did just open a new bus depot recently which is good. Overall it is an average area to live with the YMCA right in the middle. It is a good place to raise your kids with decent schools and good transportation.