10309 — Charleston, Rossville, and Pleasant Plains

ZIP Code 10309 Neighborhood Guide

Charleston, Rossville & Pleasant Plains – Staten Island, New York

Welcome to 10309

ZIP Code 10309 spans Staten Island’s southern West Shore, encompassing Charleston, Rossville, and Pleasant Plains.

It’s one of the island’s most dynamic areas—where historic villages coexist with major new commercial centers and natural preserves.

This ZIP captures the borough’s future-facing growth, anchored by modern retail, new housing, and the expanding West Shore Greenway, while still preserving the character of its centuries-old settlements along the Arthur Kill.

10309 at a glance

Covering Staten Island’s southwestern corner, 10309 stretches from the West Shore Expressway to Hylan Boulevard and south to Bloomingdale Park.

It includes a patchwork of quiet residential streets, wetlands, and open land that give it a semi-rural charm rare in New York City.
Neighborhoods within 10309 include Charleston, Rossville, Pleasant Plains, and parts of Woodrow.

The ZIP is a balance of progress and preservation—boasting new housing communities, historic landmarks, and some of Staten Island’s largest nature reserves.

Charleston

Vibe: Expanding suburban community—modern, convenient, and family-focused.

Featured elements

  • Charleston Shopping Center: Major retail hub featuring big-box stores, restaurants, and services along Veterans Road West.
  • Bricktown Commons: Staten Island’s modern lifestyle complex with Target, Home Depot, and local eateries.
  • Veterans Park & Clay Pit Ponds: Green corridors defining the area’s landscape, ideal for walking and birdwatching.
  • Residential development: Mix of new single-family homes, senior housing, and condos.
  • Community tone: Clean, convenient, and suburban—one of Staten Island’s newest residential destinations.
  • Access: Direct links to the West Shore Expressway (NY-440) and Korean War Veterans Parkway.

Rossville

Vibe: Historic river village reborn—where centuries-old charm meets new suburban life.

Featured elements

  • Rossville Avenue: The historic heart of the community, once known as “Old Blazing Star,” a port town dating back to colonial times.
  • Blazing Star Cemetery (1767): One of Staten Island’s oldest burial grounds and a Revolutionary War site.
  • Bloomingdale Park: A vast recreational space with trails, sports fields, and picnic areas—one of the borough’s most beloved parks.
  • Housing: Primarily single-family homes, new construction, and cul-de-sacs blending modern convenience with village serenity.
  • Community connections: Civic groups and local schools reinforce neighborhood unity.
  • Character: A mix of historical gravitas and suburban tranquility.

Pleasant Plains

Vibe: Peaceful and green—residential with rural traces and strong community traditions.

Featured elements

  • Mount Loretto Unique Area: A 200-acre coastal preserve with meadows, bluffs, and panoramic views of Raritan Bay.
  • Church of St. Joseph & St. Thomas: One of Staten Island’s landmark parishes and community anchors.
  • Housing: Detached homes, large lots, and newer townhome developments.
  • Open space: Rolling fields, wetlands, and nature trails define its quiet landscape.
  • History: Originally a 19th-century farming settlement with ties to Staten Island’s charitable institutions.
  • Atmosphere: Calm, spacious, and family-centered—a village within city limits.

Woodrow (northern section overlap)

Vibe: Transitional residential pocket connecting Charleston and Rossville, known for balanced suburban development.

Featured elements

  • Housing: Primarily modern two-family homes and semi-attached residences.
  • Schools: Served by nearby IS 75 and local elementary programs.
  • Shopping: Close to Charleston’s Bricktown Commons and Rossville’s Amboy Road corridor.
  • Character: A family-friendly midpoint—suburban comfort with urban access.

Everyday life in 10309

Parks & recreation

  • Bloomingdale Park: Expansive sports and recreation hub with baseball diamonds, soccer fields, playgrounds, and trails.
  • Mount Loretto Unique Area: Ecological reserve with walking paths, beaches, and seasonal bird migrations.
  • Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve: Woodland and wetland trails, horse riding, and interpretive nature programs.
  • Charleston Conservation Area: New parkland addition with walking trails and preserved native habitat.
  • Recreational tone: The greenest section of Staten Island, offering open-air recreation and environmental education.

Education

  • Public schools: PS 56, PS 4, IS 75 Huguenot, Tottenville High School.
  • Private & parochial: St. Joseph–St. Thomas School and nearby Our Lady Star of the Sea.
  • Early childhood: Daycares and Montessori programs reflect the ZIP’s family-oriented population.
  • Community learning: Environmental and history programs at Mount Loretto and Clay Pit Ponds.

Shopping & dining

  • Veterans Road West: Charleston’s commercial corridor—retail, fitness centers, and supermarkets.
  • Amboy Road: Local shops, delis, salons, and family restaurants serve Rossville and Pleasant Plains.
  • Cuisine: American, Italian, and Caribbean fare dominate, with new cafés and casual dining options.
  • Farm markets: Seasonal vendors at Mount Loretto and local pop-ups support Staten Island growers.
  • Convenience: Shopping clusters eliminate the need for long commutes—everything is within 10 minutes by car.

Getting around

  • Highways: Direct access to West Shore Expressway (NY-440), Korean War Veterans Parkway, and Outerbridge Crossing to New Jersey.
  • Rail: Staten Island Railway stations at Prince’s Bay, Pleasant Plains, and Richmond Valley serve the ZIP’s eastern edge.
  • Bus service: Local and express routes along Arthur Kill Road and Hylan Boulevard.
  • Commute: 40 minutes to St. George by rail, 20 minutes to New Jersey employment centers.
  • Walkability: Increasing with modern developments and interconnected park systems.

Housing

  • New development: Significant growth since the early 2000s—Charleston leads with modern communities.
  • Style: Mix of colonial-style homes, contemporary townhouses, and two-family residences.
  • Lot size: Larger than average for Staten Island, especially in Pleasant Plains and Rossville.
  • Affordability: Middle to upper-middle range—reflecting newer housing stock and suburban appeal.
  • Architecture: Consistent, clean-lined, and family-focused design blending with natural surroundings.

Why 10309 stands out

  • Modern growth: Charleston and Rossville represent Staten Island’s newest wave of suburban expansion.
  • Green wealth: Three major parks and hundreds of acres of protected space define its landscape.
  • Historic legacy: Centuries-old Rossville roots and Mount Loretto’s legacy connect the past to the present.
  • Community quality: Quiet, spacious neighborhoods with high homeowner rates and family amenities.
  • Access advantage: Seamless highway, rail, and retail connectivity makes it one of Staten Island’s most balanced ZIPs.

Quick neighborhood index (inside 10309)

  • Charleston — Retail hub, new development, Veterans Road West corridor
  • Rossville — Historic core, Bloomingdale Park, family neighborhoods
  • Pleasant Plains — Coastal preserve, Mount Loretto, open landscape
  • Woodrow (north) — Modern housing, suburban bridge between ZIPs