Your Home NYC: Mayor de Blasio Welcomes Home Tenants at New, Resilient Affordable Housing Development in Queens

February 19, 2020

New, affordable development furthers the City’s commitment to creating affordable housing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings

NEW YORK––Mayor Bill de Blasio joined City officials and development partners today to celebrate the opening of Beach Green Dunes II, a 100 percent affordable housing development in Edgemere, Queens. The development is a cutting-edge affordable housing project that furthers the City’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient Edgemere community.

“I know New Yorkers feel as if they are losing their grip on this City and fear their children will no longer be able to afford to call New York home,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are changing that reality, and with Your Home NYC, will be in the corner of every family fighting for neighborhoods they can afford.”

With Your Home NYC, the City is strengthening its efforts to build and preserve affordable housing, protect renters and create neighborhood wealth. The Administration is now working to build even more homes for the lowest income New Yorkers, create community land trusts, and legalize basement apartments to generate more affordable homes for New Yorkers and allow families to earn more income. 

The City-financed building – developed by L+M Development Partners and designed by Curtis + Ginsberg Architects – brings 127 new homes to Edgemere in addition to retail and outdoor recreation space, including a play area for children. Of the 127 affordable apartments, more than 50 homes are for the lowest income families making less than $50,000 a year, and 13 are set aside for homeless New Yorkers.

The eight-story building is also anticipated to receive Passive House certification, a high performance building standard for energy efficiency, and integrates resilient design features, which mitigate and manage flooding and storm damage.

"We often hear, 'I never thought I would be able to afford an apartment for my family.' And with every apartment we build or preserve, we are giving New Yorkers the hope and relief they need to thrive," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. "I want to welcome residents of Beach Green Dunes II to their new homes; our work is not done, and we will continue delivering on the Mayor's promise to make New York the nation's fairest big City.”

“Beach Green Dunes II represents the city’s continued commitment to build resiliently and strengthen our coastal neighborhoods. With these 127 cutting-edge new homes that are truly built to last, we are delivering a development that will serve the Rockaways well into the future,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “We applaud our partners for leading with green design to provide safe, stable, and affordable homes for this community.”

“Beach Green Dunes II represents the City’s commitment to providing holistic solutions to the dynamic challenges faced by our most vulnerable communities.” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Thanks to the contributions of our partners and elected officials, this development is bringing greater economic opportunity and lasting security to Far Rockaway through the addition of 127 affordable homes and retail space, all in a sustainably designed building.”

“Affordable housing is critically important as more and more people struggle to put a roof over their heads,” said New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. “I am proud to welcome the new Beach Green Dunes II apartment complex to Arverne, which be environmentally friendly and will contain more than 100 new affordable housing units, giving priority to Community Board 14 residents as well as municipal employees and the disabled. We need more developments like this in our district and I will continue to fight to make sure that happens.”    

“Housing instability creates a snowball effect of issues for anyone, anywhere in Queens. We know this already,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “This project is a crucial step in revitalizing Rockaway sustainably. Geothermal energy in affordable housing is a smart way to heat buildings, generate electricity and save money. Families will be able to spend more on other necessities. That is how you revitalize a neighborhood and an economy at large, by starting with the home.”

 “Beach Green Dunes II builds on L+M’s long-term commitment to developing high-quality affordable housing in the Rockaways and we're thrilled to welcome our first residents,” said Sara Levenson, Director, L+M Development Partners. “This project is a model for creating resilient, sustainable and green affordable housing through collaborative public-private partnerships. Thanks to the de Blasio administration, Council Member Richards and all our partners in helping us to deliver 127 critically needed affordable homes in the Rockaways.”