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The 11-phase master development is the result of a large-scale rezoning at the former Peninsula Hospital Center.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced the start of construction on a $100 million affordable and supportive housing development in Far Rockaway.
The 17-story building with 194 homes is the first phase of an 11-phase master redevelopment at the former Peninsula Hospital Center site. Known as Edgemere Commons, the mixed-use community will eventually offer over 2,000 affordable homes, retail, community space, medical facilities, and outdoor public space.
The 11-phase master development is the result of a large-scale rezoning at the former Peninsula Hospital Center. Once complete, Edgemere Commons will include 2,050 affordable and middle-income apartments, publicly accessible open space, new medical facilities, ground-floor retail shops, and parking.
The new development works in concert with the goals of New York City’s Resilient Edgemere Community Plan, which lays the framework for continued investment by the city in the Edgemere community for years to come. Developed through community input, the plan pairs the City’s recovery efforts from Superstorm Sandy with a long-term vision for a higher quality of life for Edgemere residents.
The first building will feature 194 affordable apartments, 23,000 square-feet of ground floor retail space and 24,000 square-feet of parking for residents. The retail space is expected to include a supermarket, which was identified as an urgent need by community members during the public input period of the planning process.
The development will reserve 29 apartments for adults with developmental disabilities who will have access to on-site housing support services provided by the Block Institute.
An additional 30 apartments will be set aside for adults experiencing homelessness. These residents will have access to rental subsidies and supportive services through an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative award administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). The service provider is WellLife Network.
Residential amenities will include a community room, a recreation room, bicycle storage, laundry facilities, a roof terrace and outdoor activity space.
The building is designed to meet high standards for energy-efficiency and will pursue LEED Gold certification. Energy-efficient features include solar panels, Energy Star lighting, and Energy Star appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, bathroom fans and laundry machines. The Edgemere Commons master development will also incorporate resiliency measures to protect Far Rockaway against future storm events.
The development team for the first building at Edgemere Commons consists of The Arker Companies and Slate Property Group.
The City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is providing $22.7 million in subsidy. State financing for the first phase includes $14.7 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds and federal Low-Income Tax Credits that will generate $47.7 million equity from State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) awarded Brownfield Cleanup Program Tax Credits that will generate $5.6 million in equity. The State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities is providing $5 million in support. OMH will be providing $750,000 annually to subsidize the 30 supportive units through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative as well as $258,000 in Program Development Grant start-up costs.
