A NASCAR racetrack has been proposed for a former oil tank farm in Bloomfield, Staten Island. The project, which as proposed would not only result in the racetrack but also thousands of housing units and a large retail complex, has been the subject of an increasingly vigorous community debate. Supporters of the track argue it will create needed infrastructure improvements and spur increased economic development on the island. Opponents cite harmful ecological effects and increased traffic problems as reasons to halt the project’s development.
Unable to secure political support for required land-use change approvals, International Speedway Corp ended plans for the project in December 2006 but announced that they remained committed to building in the New York region.