Far Rockaway Beach Gentrified
How NYC’s hidden gem is not exempt from the global phenomenon of gentrification
Far Rockaway Beach, New York has been a hidden gem of New York City. A summer hotspot for New York City dwellers to escape the sweltering summers. Yet recently some have come to stay, and make Far Rockaway their new home, with the development of the Arverne by the Sea complex.
It attracts newcomers with its ‘best of both worlds’ appeal. With close proximity to Manhattan via the A train, and all of the amenities that comes with a beach community (and affordable rent) Far Rockaway Beach has become the next hotspot to undergo gentrification.
“The two things that have changed Rockaway in the recent years are Arverne by the Sea and the surfing culture.” -Glenn DiResto
Arverne by the Sea was a $1 billion dollar oceanfront development, between Beach 62nd and 80th Streets. It is the new home to 1,000 plus families and is amongst the largest of residential development projects in New York City. In 1988 the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) issued a “Request for Expressions of Interest”, in search of developers and designers for Arverne. The Arverne by the Sea complex was developed in 2002 in a joint venture between the Benjamin Companies and the Beechwood Organization.
With the development of the Arverne by the Sea oceanfront complex, built essentially to accommodate the surge of surf culture, and people who were looking to escape Manhattan has created its own community within a preexisting community. The development has built their own Super Stop & Shop, a YMCA, retail stores, and restaurants to accommodate the needs of their new residents. Everything they may need is within reach, without going outside of their own built community. I believe this may be great for the new residents providing ease and convenience yet it takes away from the preexisting business in the community since the residents will not need to use them. “It has introduced these ‘trendy’ hipster-type stores that take away from the preexisting deli and bodega types in the community,” said Walther Guerrier who grew up in Far Rockaway when asked his opinion on the Arverne by the Sea’s retail development.
On the other side of the train tracks……..
“If not for this development there would be no revitalization of this area. The people that benefit the most may be the people that don’t even live here.” -Glenn DiResto
Far Rockaway Beach inhabits a population of 60,035 people. 25.2 percent of individuals live below the poverty level. This creates an uneasy juxtaposition in Far Rockaway where on one side the train tracks there is a new and vibrant beach town that accommodates middle and upper middle-class residents and then on the other side there are people living in affordable housing projects. In Far Rockaway Beach there are 21,374 people live in housing units and public housing. It makes me wonder could there have revitalization in Far Rockaway without creating a new community?
The Arverne by the Sea complex has made efforts to benefit residents from outside of the community. The development of the YMCA community center is not exclusive to Arverne by the Sea residents but open to all Far Rockaway residents. It is mainly used by the youth of Far Rockaway and is seen as the new asset to the community for all to use.
The difference in the Arverne by the Sea development and other cases of gentrification; is the land the development was built upon was vacant land. The development has not directly caused any displacement of preexisting residents in Far Rockaway. “It has both pros and cons on Far Rockaway. The development has increased rental rates in the community, yet it has not introduced any affordable housing, which the Rockaways are in dire need of” said Walther Guerrier. “On the other hand, the development has transformed abandoned and vacant property. I am hopeful that this is a precursor to the beautification of Far Rockaway”. On that note, I am hopeful too.
