Resilient Edgemere has received a 2026 New York State Adaptation & Innovation Award in the Transformational Partnership in Adaptation category. Presented by Rebuild By Design, the award recognizes the collaboration between the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), ReAL Edgemere Community Land Trust, and VHB to advance an integrated approach to climate adaptation that brings together coastal resilience, affordable housing, transit-oriented growth, and community stewardship.
Located in Queens on the Rockaway Peninsula, Edgemere faces increasing risks from coastal flooding, storm surge, and sea level rise. Following Superstorm Sandy, community members, public agencies, and project partners developed a long-term vision for the neighborhood.
Working with HPD and ReAL Edgemere Community Land Trust, VHB helped shape a land use framework that directs future growth toward transit-accessible areas near the A Train while limiting development in locations most vulnerable to flooding. By connecting transit-oriented development with housing, open space, and coastal resilience, the framework helps guide neighborhood growth while accounting for environmental risks and local priorities.
The impact of the broader initiative can already be seen across Edgemere. Since the launch of the Resilient Edgemere Community Plan, implementation efforts have supported more than 300 affordable homes, including Beach Green Dunes III, a mixed-use development combining affordable housing, ground-floor retail, and direct access to the Beach 36th Street-Edgemere A train station. The initiative has also supported the rehabilitation, elevation, or reconstruction of 109 homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy and established a framework for more than 1,200 housing units with mandatory affordability requirements.
"This project is an incredible example of how a city and its communities can work together to rebound from climate disasters like Superstorm Sandy and become a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable place," said Andrew Buck, Senior Urban Planner & Technologist at VHB. "By directing growth toward transit-accessible areas and away from the most vulnerable coastal locations, HPD and the ReAL Edgemere Community Land Trust have shown how communities can expand housing opportunities while strengthening long-term resilience and advancing community equity."
As communities across New York continue to respond to climate challenges, Resilient Edgemere offers an example of how long-term planning and community collaboration can help shape more resilient neighborhoods.
Connect with Andrew Buck to learn how VHB is advancing climate solutions for New York communities.
