A massive Arvene East project in Queens has been approved and up to 30 million worth of funding was secured from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, by a tri-joint venture consisting of Triangle Equities, The Bluestone Organization, and L+M Development; in order to undertake the first phase of the project. This development is intended to become the first net-zero community in the city.
The Arvene East project will be located on a vacant 116 acres plot, nestled between Arvene and Edgemore neighborhoods along Rockaway Peninsula. Development plans for phase I will cover the restoration of a 116 acre vacant site; construction of a new building, which will house a welcome center, a park ranger office and comfort station; and a nature preserve which will be developed on 35 acres of land between Beach 44th Street and Beach 56th Place. The nature preserve will be managed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
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Design plans for the Arvene East project show that the building plans will incorporate various energy saving techniques, to ensure that the buildings produce more renewable energy than they consume. A net-zero energy status will be attained by using the passive house construction method, which will develop highly insulated and airtight buildings that make use of new efficient mechanical systems to bring in fresh, filtered air. In addition, photovoltaic panels will be used all through the development to ensure that enough energy is produced to offset the energy used in the new buildings.
Arvene East project offers 80% out of 1, 650 units as affordable housing units
The Arvene East project, on completion will have about 1, 650 housing units built on the property, with 80% of them to be offered as affordable units and the remaining 20% to be set at the market rate pricing. This new development will also feature numerous retail and public spaces, along with a community center housed within the new building. The community center will be owned and operated by a non-profit group – RISE, based in the Greater Rockaway community.
Urbane, a community development consulting firm with an MBE certification will also become part of the tri-venture. The company will serve as development partner on the Arvene East project and will also be responsible for the management of retail and small business, with the aim of promoting the growth of new and existing local, small businesses. Other companies involved in this development include Starr Whitehouse, a certified MBE firm, serving as the landscape architect, and the WBE certified, WXY architecture firm, serving as the nature preserve architect.
