80-Acre Site in Queens to Test Prototypes for Storm Resiliency

"The Bloomberg administration plans to use a massive 80-acre piece of oceanfront property in Far Rockaway, Queens, as a laboratory for possible solutions for the future of coastal development in the city," writes Chaban.

"The parcel of publicly owned land, known as Arverne East, will eventually be developed by a consortium of affordable housing companies. In the meantime, the city is launching a design competition to come up with new ideas for sustainable, affordable and, most importantly, resilient shoreline development, some of which might eventually be used at Averne East."

The competition, dubbed FAR ROC, is being sponsored by New York's Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the AIA New York chapter, L+M Development Partners, Triangle Equities, the Bluestone Organization, and Enterprise Community Partners. 

"We're always looking to Holland, looking to Europe and other places, for ideas on how to build better on the water," Ron Moelis, principal at L+M Development, said. "Here's our opportunity to have an example that the rest of the world will point to as a model for waterfront development."

The first round of entries is due by June 14.