Fort Staunton

File:FortStaunton-GTA3-southwards.jpg

Fort Staunton in GTA III, as viewed to the south. The Staunton Plaza construction site bearing a Panlantic logo is the district's centerpiece.

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Fort Staunton location

Fort Staunton (formerly known as Little Italy) is an area in Liberty City that appears in Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, on Staunton Island. Surrounding the area are the districts of Rockford, Newport and Liberty Campus.

Character and places of interest

In GTA III, set in 2001, the area is in the process of demolition of old buildings and large-scale redevelopment with the construction of Staunton Plaza (due to be complete "next fall"); much of district has also been dug out. Panlantic Construction Company, in charge of the area's development, is suspected by the LCPD to be one of the many fronts for the Colombian Cartel, which explains the presence of Cartel members and gang cars in the area.

Fort Staunton before its destruction in GTA Liberty City Stories.

Fort Staunton is revealed in GTA Liberty City Stories, set three years earlier in 1998, to be previously known as Staunton's Little Italy, once a vibrant and lavish district. Fort Staunton has many buildings, mostly stores and rowhouses. Notable buildings in Fort Staunton include an opera house, an Italian restaurant, and a museum. The Forelli Family operated in Fort Staunton, but are driven out after its destruction.

Fort Staunton was destroyed by Toni Cipriani in GTA Liberty City Stories, after he placed several explosives in a disused subway station, via an unfinished section of the Porter Tunnel. Many buildings, including the opera house, were destroyed. Donald Love, who secretly gave Cipriani the orders, invested in the area's real estate until the Colombian Cartel (through Panlantic construction and the recently-deceased Avery Carrington, who formulated the plan) demanded shares by nearly killing Donald Love.

It can be assumed, following events in GTA Liberty City Stories, that the Colombian Cartel-controlled Panlantic Construction Company eventually moved in on Fort Staunton's redevelopment, clearing away nearly all remnants of district in preparation for the groundbreaking of Staunton Plaza. There is still a short tunnel under the area in GTA III that may be the only be the remains of the disused subway tunnel Toni Cipriani used to plant the explosives.

Influence

Fort Staunton is based on Manhattan´s Little Italy in 1998, while in 2001 it is a typical construction site.

Gang control

As Panlantic is affiliated with the Colombian Cartel, Fort Staunton is depicted in GTA III to be under the control of the gang during early progression of the game's storyline. However, with Donald Love orchestrating the murder of Yakuza co-leader Kenji Kasen to falsely implicated the Cartel and instigate a gang war between the two factions, the Yakuza launched an offensive into Fort Staunton, leading to Yakuza members appearing on the streets, frequently engaging in firefights with the Cartel and nearby Yardies, who are walking their turfs in the borders between Fort Staunton and Newport. Fort Staunton is one of the most violent neighborhoods in GTA III, because after the mission Grand Theft Aero there are always gang members fighting each other, the Yakuza members are seen most usually.

Given the nature of Fort Staunton in GTA Liberty City Stories, the area was under control by the Forellis, who apparently maintained a large ammunition storage area underneath the district. The aforementioned destruction of Fort Staunton was actually planned by Donald Love with the backing of Leone don, Salvatore Leone, to kill two birds with one stone: The bombing will not only condemn the entire district and spearhead redevelopment, but also cripple Forelli activity in the city. After the explosion, local media blamed the Forellis' munitions storage as being the source of the explosion.

Also, in LCS, idle soldiers armed with MP5Ks can be seen in the district, supposed patrolling the ruins.

Businesses

1998

Ba Bo-Bella Bottiglia Clamlapras Clench Deli & Market Fort Staunton Museum

Fort Staunton Opera House Liquor Charlies Bar 'n' Grill Page 3 Bookstore Ristorante ecoli Signora Grande Staunton Café

Trivia

• Following the devastation of Fort Staunton in GTA Liberty City Stories, the district is cordoned off; no traffic or pedestrian will venture into the district. Instead, firefighters (and a parked Fire Truck) and military personnel are present to survey the destruction.
• When the player achieves 100% Completion in GTA Liberty City Stories, a Rhino will spawn at the large crater left by the explosion near the Staunton Café.

Gallery

The Staunton Plaza poster in the construction of Fort Staunton, GTA III.

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