July 11, 2018

The Community Builders Inc., a nonprofit developer, will create 224 affordable housing units, commercial and community facility space on a City-owned lot at B.21st Street​

Financing secured to transform a long-neglected shopping center in the heart of the community into over 450 units of affordable housing

City delivers on key commitments made as part of the Downtown Far Rockaway rezoning.

Far Rockaway, NY - Less than one year since the Downtown Far Rockaway rezoning was approved, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and Council Member Donovan Richards today announced plans to deliver over 670 units of affordable housing across two projects located in the neighborhood’s core.

The City today announced the selection of The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB), a leading nonprofit developer of affordable and mixed-income housing, to activate an underutilized City-owned lot at Beach 21st Street to create 224 units of mixed income affordable housing, commercial space, and community facilities.

HPD and HDC have also recently closed on construction financing to deliver 457 units of affordable housing for the initial phase of the Far Rockaway Village project, which will transform the neighborhood’s long-neglected shopping center into a vibrant mix of affordable housing, modern retail, and public space, serving as a village center for the neighborhood.

Just 10 months since the City Council’s approval of the neighborhood’s rezoning, these projects demonstrate major progress in Downtown Far Rockaway. The City committed to reestablishing the area as a dynamic mixed-use neighborhood and the commercial hub of the peninsula as part of the Roadmap for Action, a 25-point interagency plan for neighborhood-wide investment. The Roadmap for Action was developed in response to recommendations from the Downtown Far Rockaway Working Group and served as the framework for the neighborhood’s rezoning.

“We’re making good on our promise to Downtown Far Rockaway. The City is delivering unprecedented investment that will improve the lives of residents and bring new vibrancy and opportunity to the neighborhood,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett. “We are proud to work with Council Member Richards, the Downtown Far Rockaway Working Group, and our sister agencies to maximize the potential of this neighborhood.”

“The de Blasio Administration is making significant investments in neighborhoods across New York City, many that have been overlooked for too long. Today marks real progress as we advance a comprehensive community plan for Downtown Far Rockaway through financing for the first phase of Rockaway Village, which will transform a long-underused site into a vibrant mixed-use development anchored by affordable housing, and the designation of a non-profit partner to breathe new life into Beach 21st Street,” said HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. “I want to thank Council Member Donovan Richards for his commitment and vision and our development partners and sister City agencies, EDC, HDC, and DCP for collaborating to move forward with this transformational plan for the neighborhood.”

“These projects are tangible demonstrations of the City coming through on its commitment to revitalize Downtown Far Rockaway through comprehensive rezoning and resilient design, all while ensuring long-term affordability that will benefit the community for generations to come, said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “Congratulations to the Community Builders team on the Beach 21st designation and thanks to all our partners and elected officials for their dedication to driving forward the many other transformative projects already underway in this vibrant and growing neighborhood.”

“We are thrilled to see a large affordable housing development take shape so soon after the community-driven Downtown Far Rockaway Plan was adopted. Just as important is the mixed-use nature of this first project, which includes a large, accessible public plaza – with public art, seating and planted areas to manage storm water – flanked by retail and commercial space. We’re off to a running start. Kudos to the Downtown Far Rockaway community for a truly excellent example of neighborhood planning,” said Department of City Planning Director Marisa Lago.

“Today’s announcement is another step in the direction of progress for Downtown Far Rockaway,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “The Beach 21st Street lot will be transformed into quality affordable housing for working families along with retail and community space to help lift up residents and local nonprofits delivering services to our community. As with every project in the Rockaways, we will work with the developer to ensure that we address the highest community needs, such as daycare services, good jobs and quality retail. I’d like to thank Mayor de Blasio and EDC President and CEO James Patchett for their dedication to the revitalization of the Rockaways. I look forward to working with The Community Builders to ensure this site delivers the progress we need in Far Rockaway.”

Beach 21st Street

​The City’s selection of TCB will transform a City-owned lot into a new mixed-use, mixed-income development with over 130 units allocated for households earning up to 60% of area median income. The remaining units will be offered at a range of affordability levels.

The project will also create approximately 24,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, 8,000 square feet of community space for early childhood education and other community services, and approximately 90 parking spots for residents of the building and the public.

Adjacent to a planned DOT pedestrian plaza and across the street from the new Beach 20th Street plaza, the project will deliver new retail and housing options in a central site in the neighborhood, encouraging new investment throughout the rezoning area.

The project is expected to create over 70 permanent jobs and over 470 construction jobs. The Community Builders Inc. has committed to 40% M/W/DBE participation, and participation in the City’s HireNYC initiative. The project is expected to break ground in 2019, with completion in 2021.

Far Rockaway Village

Developed by Phipps Houses, the initial phase of Far Rockaway Village will replace a largely abandoned shopping center with new mixed-income housing, centralized public space, and enhanced retail that better serves the community.

HPD and HDC have provided construction financing to create 457 units of affordable housing in the first phase of the Far Rockaway Village development. This project will include 67 units for extremely low-income households—46 of which will be designated for formerly homeless households; the remaining 388 units will serve a diverse range of household incomes including very low-, low-, and moderate-income individuals and families.

The first phase of the project will also deliver 92,000 square feet of commercial space and 23,000 square feet of public plaza space to the heart of the neighborhood. Construction of the first phase of the project is expected to be complete by late 2021.

"The heart of the peninsula, already a bustling epicenter for retail, transportation, entertainment, living and more under this courageous venture will reimagine Downtown Far Rockaway as the crown jewel it once was, is and shall be more than ever," said Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Far Rockaway). "Revitalization coming to this end of the Rockaways is long overdue, and finally it will receive the attention it has long deserved."

“The more work we put into our neighborhoods, the better the outcome will be for future generations. I am excited that the city is taking the next step towards that investment,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Far Rockaway). “As Far Rockaway continues to grow and develop, we must ensure that additional investments are secured so that our families can grow and thrive.”

“As the Rockaway renaissance continues, revitalization of the downtown area will be a tremendous step forward to realizing a better downtown—a better Rockaway,” said Assemblywoman Michele Titus.

“We are thrilled to be one of the first developers to put shovels in the ground in pursuit of the goals for the Roadmap for Action,” said Jesse Batus, Senior Project Manager, The Community Builders.

“We are excited about the announcement of The Community Builders, Inc. as the selected developer of the Beach 21st Street development site. The announcement further demonstrates this administration’s commitment to revitalizing neighborhoods such as Far Rockaway that remained largely ignored for decades. We look forward to working with The Community Builders to insure that local residents, businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations play an active role in this transformative development project," said Kevin Alexander, President & CEO of Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation.

Downtown Far Rockaway Rezoning and Roadmap for Action

In September 2017, the City Council approved the de Blasio Administration’s plan to rezone Downtown Far Rockaway, which helped to bring $288 million of investment to the area.

The City’s comprehensive plan for Downtown Far Rockaway includes efforts from a range of City agencies, and investments in infrastructure, parks, community facilities, housing resources, and small-business support. Highlights of the City’s Far Rockaway investments include:

• Building a new open space on the site of a vacant DSNY site at Brunswick and Nameoke. Advancing comprehensive renovation of the Downtown Far Rockaway Library.
• Upgrading sewer infrastructure, expanding sidewalks, and creating new public plazas, including the new plaza adjacent to this site on Beach 21st Street.
• Providing free legal services for Rockaway residents facing unlawful evictions and tenant harassment.
• Supporting existing businesses through free legal services and increasing access to other small business resources.
• Sourcing grants for cultural organizations and increased arts programming.
• Installing real-time bus arrival displays at key bus stops.

The Downtown Far Rockaway Roadmap for Action was developed based on the vision of the Downtown Far Rockaway Working Group — a team of local stakeholders convened by Council Member Donovan Richards in 2015 — to develop a set of goals and recommendations to support the revitalization of the neighborhood.

The Downtown Far Rockaway Working Group received input from hundreds of community members and delivered their recommendations to Mayor de Blasio in February 2016, asking that the City activate long-vacant sites, increase access to housing and retail opportunities in the neighborhood, and help the area realize its potential as the commercial hub of the peninsula.

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About NYCEDC 
New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City's primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC's mission is to stimulate growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity and strengthen the City's competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City's many opportunities. Find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or visit our blog to learn more about NYCEDC projects and initiatives.

About The Community Builders 
The Community Builders is a leading, national, nonprofit housing organization with a mission to build and sustain strong communities where people of all incomes can achieve their full potential. Since 1964, The Community Builders has constructed or preserved hundreds of affordable and mixed-income housing developments. Today, with offices throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, they own or manage over 11,000 apartment homes in more than 14 states.

About New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development 
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked with fulfilling Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York Plan which was recently expanded and accelerated through Housing New York 2.0 to complete the initial goal of 200,000 homes two years ahead of schedule—by 2022, and achieve an additional 100,000 homes over the following four years, for a total of 300,000 homes by 2026. For full details visit www.nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.

About The New York City Housing Development Corporation 
The New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is the nation’s largest municipal Housing Finance Agency and is charged with helping to finance the creation or preservation of affordable housing under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York plan. Since 2003, HDC has financed more than 140,000 housing units using over $20.2 billion in bonds and other debt obligations, and provided in excess of $1.8 billion in subsidy from corporate reserves. HDC ranks among the nation’s top issuers of mortgage revenue bonds for affordable multi-family housing on Thomson Reuter’s annual list of multi-family bond issuers. In each of the last five consecutive years, HDC’s annual bond issuance has surpassed $1.3 billion. For additional information, visit: http://www.nychdc.com