NEW YORK CITY-The New York City Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development has announced that it has selected four finalists in the first phase of a competition to develop a mixed-use, mixed-income, sustainable and storm-resilient community in Far Rockaway, Queens.
Judged by HPD, the American Institute of Architects New York chapter and several private organizations, the “For a Resiliant Rockaway” contest sought ideas for developing a site spanning more than 80 acres, called Arverne East, into a project that meets “the new physical and regulatory challenges of waterfront development while maintaining the balance between innovation and affordability,” the announcement states.
FAR ROC asked applicants to use the 80+ acre Arverne East site as a laboratory to identify and explore best practices in waterfront development for the 21st century and beyond. The teams were also asked to propose innovative building solutions that not only respond to New York City's housing needs, but also bring critical economic development to the Rockaways. The goal is for the winning design concepts to serve as a guide for long-term planning and development strategies in New York City and other densely populated seaside communities.
In Phase I, project teams were asked to submit a proposed site plan, along with specific resilient development strategies, smart infrastructure strategies, and proposed uses for any facilities on the site. Teams proceeding to Phase II of the design competition must include at least one licensed architect and one licensed engineer.
“The FAR ROC competition tapped into the international community of architecture and design practitioners, which responded with nearly 200 creative and imaginative waterfront development strategies for Arverne East,” says HPD Commissioner Mathew Wambua. “Hurricane Sandy did not back us away from the waterfront and its development, but the intensity of the storm and the terrible damage we all saw the day after reminded us that intelligent shorefront design is essential to our future. These ideas have the potential to not only guide development and protect property, but most important of all, they could save lives.”
“Although the jurors had to choose four teams, I wish we could have picked them all,” adds Rick Bell, AIA New York's executive director. “Every team presented innovative concepts that would no-doubt make Arverne East the most resilient new development in the country.” The jury selected the four proposals from a pool of 117 submissions that came from designers in more than 20 countries
The four finalists each will receive $30,000 to further develop their proposed design solutions. The winning project team will be announced on October 24 and will receive an additional prize of $30,000 and the opportunity to engage with the City, L+M Development Partners, the Bluestone Organization and Triangle Equities to discuss the possible production, design, and construction documents for the development of the project.
FAR ROC is jointly sponsored by HPD, L+M Development Partners, the Bluestone Group, and Triangle Equities, along with Enterprise Community Partners and the Committee on the Environment of the AIANY. L+M, Bluestone and Triangle Equities were designated by HPD—through a competitive request for proposals—to develop the 80-acre Arverne East site.
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
