Opinion: The future of Edgemere is bright

The Edgemere Commons development will include mixed-income housing, retail and community space. Renderings courtesy of Arker.

By Donovan Richards and Daniel Moritz

Special to the Eagle

After years of blight stemming from the closure of the old Peninsula Hospital, Edgemere’s community has suffered from missed opportunities and delayed investment, while the rest of the Rockaways has blossomed. But the residents who lived around the abandoned lot, demanded a new development that would revitalize the area, alleviate rent burdened families with affordable housing and serve future generations.

They made sure we — as the developer and the local council member — would bring positive change to an ailing neighborhood they call home. Now, we are on the cusp of building a new project, which would represent millions of dollars in investment in Far Rockaway and transform the former Peninsula hospital into a vibrant economic hub.

We worked day-in and day-out with the Edgemere community, building upon a vision that would serve local needs — one that would create jobs for the neighborhood, be resilient, and bring business to an economically underserved area of the Rockaways.

Now, after years of community input, negotiations and a vote of support by the City Council, our vision for Edgemere Commons can become a reality and the future of Edgemere has never looked brighter. We can say confidently that the legacy of Edgemere Commons will be one of revitalization and renewal that will reshape the future of the Peninsula.

As Edgemere Commons moves forward, it will become the largest, affordable housing development led by a private applicant advanced under the de Blasio administration, delivering 2,050 units of affordable housing to the people of Edgemere. Providing critically needed new housing for a community that is too short on affordable options.

It will deliver a financial boost to the Edgemere neighborhood, serving as an economic anchor with thousands of square feet for commercial and retail space for restaurants, businesses and more. Not only that, but it will also bring a new supermarket, Western Beef, to a neighborhood that is currently a food desert. In total, Edgemere Commons is expected to generate $1.486 billion of economic growth for the City and will elevate the financial circumstances of many by creating 650 permanent quality jobs.

But this project is about more than just economic growth, it’s about community. Edgemere Commons will give the community a place to live, work and play together. Public open space will be dedicated to a children’s playground and a public plaza will allow for special events, regular programming and community engagement and enjoyment. We are designing a community center with and for the local residents to ensure people have a place of their own.

And finally, as the consequences of climate change continue to shape our environment, Edgemere Commons will be built to handle the worst of storms, featuring innovative resiliency and storm preparedness measures including bioswales, bioretention rainwater system solar panels, green and gray water infrastructure and extended tree pits.

The future of Edgemere is bright, but more work has to be done.

Currently, the median income for Edgemere sits at $30,400, the lowest income on the peninsula. But that will not be the reality forever. Edgemere Commons has all the ingredients needed to shape the neighborhood renewal and with continued community investment in the outcome of this project, we can raise that median income. The often overlooked residents of Edgemere now have a seat at the table and will have increased access to resources, like a new supermarket, community space, and a business center they’ve demanded for years.

Our hope for this project is that others will look back and see that this pivotal vote by the City Council and community partnership was one that began the revival of Edgemere and opened doors of opportunity for generations to come.

Donovan Richards is a councilmember and candidate for Queens Borough President. Daniel Moritz is a principal of Arker.