Arverne East Building D Breaks Ground

The third phase of Arverne East is underway. On Friday, April 24, the Arverne East Development Team, Governor Kathy Hochul, the Department of Housing and Preservation announced the start of construction at Arverne East Building D, a $278 million 320-unit affordable mixed-use project, which will create 89 cooperative homeownership units and 229 rental apartments.

Building D is the first and largest residential building of the Arverne East master plan. The development includes several sustainability and resiliency features designed to protect it from future storms. Arverne East Building D is developed by L+M Development Partners, Triangle Equities, The Bluestone Organization, Mega Development, and Urbane Development.

The cooperative homeownership units in the East Wing of Building D will be affordable to households earning between 80 to 100 percent of the Area Median Income. There will be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, with seven homes designed for residents with mobility and sensory impairments, including five accessible apartments and two hearing-and vision-accessible apartments.

The rental apartments in the West Wing of Building D will be affordable to households earning up to 90 percent of the Area Median Income. Thirty-five of the rental units will be supportive apartments for eligible youth aging out of foster care. On-site support services will be provided by Camba. There will be 12 apartments designed to accommodate residents with mobility impairments and five apartments reserved for residents with sensory disabilities.

Building D will have amenities such a fitness center and bike storage room, as well as dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces. The development will include two superintendent units, parking at the building, and an additional residential parking lot to the west of Beach 38th Street. Arverne East aims to be New York City’s first net-zero community and prioritizes sustainability and resiliency design elements. Building D will be all-electric and fossil fuel-free, and a solar panel system will be installed on the roof.

All buildings will be located above design flood elevation, with the first floor raised to the 500-year flood elevation. All entrances and exits will be raised to the same extent. No residential units will be located on the first floor.

“The latest phase of Arverne East will give more New Yorkers the opportunity to own affordable, sustainable and resilient homes,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “As we work to tackle the housing crisis impacting New York, we know that our only path forward is to build more housing, build it faster and more affordably. Arverne East is a perfect example of how we can accomplish those goals while also producing homes that can endure the test of time.”

When fully built, the entire Arverne East project, between Beach 32nd and Beach 56th Place, will consist of 1,650 homes, including apartments and town homes, of which approximately 80 percent will be affordable. There will be 270,000 square feet of commercial space and 76,000 square feet of community facility space. The plan also includes open space, retail, restaurants and the future Arverne East Aquatic Center. The completed first two phases feature a nature preserve, the Coastal Conservation Center, an urban farm and the reconstruction of Edgemere Avenue and related infrastructure.

The homeownership portion of the project is supported by $17.3 million from New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s (HCR) Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program. Additional support includes $25.9 million from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Open Door program, $1.5 million in funding from Borough President Donovan Richards and $1 million in funding from City Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers.

The $206 million rental portion of the project is participating in NYC Housing Development Corporation’s (HDC) and HPD’s ELLA program. It is supported by $94.1 million from HPD’s Extremely Low- and Low-Income Affordability Program and Housing Infrastructure Fund and $71.9 million from HDC.