While a massive redevelopment project waits to proceed, an 80-acre oceanfront site in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of New York City will host a competition to advance concepts for resilient waterfront development, reports Matt Chaban.
"The Bloomberg administration plans to use a massive 80-acre piece of oceanfront property in Far Rockaway, Queens, as a laboratory for possible solutions for the future of coastal development in the city," writes Chaban.
"The parcel of publicly owned land, known as Arverne East, will eventually be developed by a consortium of affordable housing companies. In the meantime, the city is launching a design competition to come up with new ideas for sustainable, affordable and, most importantly, resilient shoreline development, some of which might eventually be used at Averne East."
The competition, dubbed FAR ROC, is being sponsored by New York's Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the AIA New York chapter, L+M Development Partners, Triangle Equities, the Bluestone Organization, and Enterprise Community Partners.
"We're always looking to Holland, looking to Europe and other places, for ideas on how to build better on the water," Ron Moelis, principal at L+M Development, said. "Here's our opportunity to have an example that the rest of the world will point to as a model for waterfront development."
The first round of entries is due by June 14.
FULL STORY: City envisions Far Rockaway as storm-resilient model
Net Zero Development Coming to New York City
The project, which relies largely on geothermal energy to minimize its carbon footprint, will bring affordable housing and boost storm resilience to an area devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
Managed Retreat in New York City
More and more New Yorkers will face the prospect of encroaching seas in the coming decades, and the unwanted choice of whether to stay or to go.
Headed for Approval: Rezoning for Affordable Housing in Far Rockaway
The New York City neighborhood of Far Rockaway will see the latest of the rezoning proposals at the center of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's affordable housing plan.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
Tiny House Villages for Addressing Homelessness: An Interview with Yetimoni Kpeebi
One researcher's perspective on the potential of tiny homes and owner-built housing as one tool to fight the housing crisis.
Preserving Altadena’s Trees: A Community Effort to Save a Fire-Damaged Landscape
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena Green is working to preserve fire-damaged but recoverable trees, advocating for better assessment processes, educating homeowners, and protecting the community’s urban canopy from unnecessary removal.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Investigation Reveals Just How Badly California’s Homeless Shelters are Failing
Fraud, violence, death, and chaos follow a billion dollar investment in a temporary solution that is proving ineffective.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research