Arverne East partners gathered last week to break ground on the first residential building advancing New York City's first net-zero carbon community along the Rockaway Peninsula. VHB supported public and private partners across multiple phases of planning and design, helping establish site grading, multimodal access, and utility infrastructure systems that made this milestone possible.
The first residential building will deliver 320 homes, including 229 affordable rental apartments and 89 cooperative homeownership opportunities, as the opening phase of a 1,650-unit housing development designed to expand housing access and strengthen long-term neighborhood stability in Queens’ Rockaway Peninsula. The building also includes supporting infrastructure such as EV parking, utility systems, and a geothermal pump station and distribution network. The extension of Seagirt Avenue, a new private roadway, will further improve circulation across the site as residential construction advances.
The vision to transform Arverne East from underutilized waterfront land into a vibrant mixed-use community began more than two decades ago. Major redevelopment efforts advanced in 2021 to prepare the 116-acre site for long-term transformation. The first phase delivered the Arverne East Nature Preserve and Welcome Center, a public open space centered on ecological restoration and stormwater management, which opened in 2023.
That work was followed by roadway and utility improvements that enhanced access and connectivity across the site. Integrated stormwater and flood mitigation measures—developed in coordination with New York City agencies—were incorporated throughout to address coastal conditions and long-term resilience needs.
“This residential phase is possible because of the significant infrastructure and environmental work that came before it,” said Devin King, Senior Project Manager. “From roadway reconstruction to stormwater and flood mitigation systems, every element has been designed to support safe, resilient development in a challenging coastal environment.”
With construction now underway on the first residential building, Arverne East shifts from long-term site preparation into full-scale housing delivery, advancing a new coastal community shaped by resilience, expanded housing access, and long-term neighborhood investment on the Rockaway Peninsula.
Connect with Devin King to learn how VHB is supporting affordable housing projects, like the Arverne East Development, across the Northeast region.
