The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is now in search of a development partner to accelerate Resilient Edgemere, a major initiative to reinvigorate the Edgemere section of the Rockaways. The primary objective of the plan is to advance development of mixed-use, residential, and affordable housing properties in the community.
The Edgemere neighborhood is located near the Eastern boundary of the Rockaway Peninsula, an area that was significantly damaged by Hurricane Sandy and is still in the midst of recovery from the storm.
Resilient Edgemere was first announced in 2017. Today’s Request for Expressions of Interest, a preliminary call for proposals, is part of the plan’s next phase. At present, city and community agencies are working together to facilitate land use and zoning changes that will undergo public review later this year.
“Today, we’re fulfilling a key promise of the Resilient Edgemere Neighborhood Plan to support a new CLT that can drive affordable homeownership along with supporting the resilient and sustainable use of open space,” said HPD commissioner Louise Carroll. “This Administration is deeply committed to expanding the role of CLTs as a tool to bring long-term stability and affordability to neighborhoods throughout New York City. We are grateful to the Edgemere community and their elected officials for their continued partnership in delivering on the goals of the plan to ensure a more resilient future for the neighborhood.”
In addition to multifamily housing, the city has already identified vacant publicly owned lots that could be transferred to a Community Land Trust, or CLT. These lots could potentially support urban agriculture, ecological stewardship, and community facilities.
“This project successfully moves forward our commitment to turn city-owned vacant lots into much-need affordable housing, while at the same time addressing the effects of climate change on our waterfront neighborhoods and providing more opportunities for New Yorkers to enjoy public open space,” said Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, chair of the Assembly Housing Committee. “It is gratifying to see a partnership that accomplishes the equally important goals of helping our people and preserving our precious environmental resources.”
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