A surplus of vacant, unkempt properties, much of it in areas highly vulnerable to flooding, is a critical issue in Edgemere. The abundance of empty lots stems from incomplete urban renewal initiatives, creating gaps in the neighborhood fabric that have persisted for decades. In 2022, through a competitive process, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) selected ReAL Edgemere CLT to develop new stewardship models for dozens of vacant, city-owned lots as new open spaces in the neighborhood. As climate change increases flood risks along Jamaica Bay, the community needs innovative approaches to transform these vacant spaces into assets that enhance neighborhood resilience while providing new amenities for residents.

The ReAL Edgemere CLT has been leading an effort to build a community-led vision for transformation of these vacant lots. Through the federally-sponsored Community Change Equitable Resilience (CCER) Technical Assistance program and a partnership with The Garden by The Bay in 2024, residents collaborated to envision how formerly blighted lots could serve multiple community needs—from flood mitigation to public gathering spaces, urban agriculture, and renewable energy generation.

Over the course of several months in 2024, the CLT and The Garden by the Bay worked with a consultant team to host site visits and a community charrette that attracted over 50 local residents. Engagement was targeted toward those living in Edgemere and the adjacent communities and focused on property located at the intersection of Edgemere Drive and B 43rd Street. The CLT and the Garden are currently seeking funding to implement the vision that emerged from these sessions.

Background

Earlier planning efforts to address Edgemere's vacant land included a Columbia University study in 2021, and a study sponsored by the Nature Conservancy and the Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity's on year later. In 2022, as part of a comprehensive set of land use actions, the City approved changes to the Edgemere Urban Renewal Plan that designated numerous city-owned lots for permanent open space use, particularly in areas most vulnerable to flooding. This action reflected recommendations from the 2017 Resilient Edgemere Community Plan to limit development in high-risk areas while creating new community amenities. Potential proposed uses for these spaces included community gardens, active and passive recreation, urban farming, solar farms, memorials, and natural habitat restoration. The city noted these spaces could serve multiple functions - helping manage stormwater, linking together planned coastal protection systems, and providing gathering spaces for residents.

Next Steps

During site visits and community charrettes hosted by the CLT and The Garden by The Bay in early 2024, community members emphasized the need for flexible, multifunctional spaces that could accommodate both quiet relaxation and community gatherings at Beach 43rd and Edgemere Drive. Residents specifically called for redevelopment that would help manage stormwater, a persistent challenge in the neighborhood, while creating natural, functional areas for community use. The CLT, the Garden have prepared an application to bring federal funding to Edgemere to implement this vision.

The CLT will continue to work with residents to determine specific programming for additional open spaces in Edgemere and seek government and private funding sources to manifest these resident visions over the coming years.