Rebecca Gafvert, Assistant Vice President, NYCEDC
Kevin Alexander, President & CEO, Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corp.
Renee Hastick-Motes, VP, External Affairs, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
New York City Council Member Donovan Richards
Jonathan Gaska, District Manager, Queens Community Board 14
The recently approved Downtown Far Rockaway rezoning represents more than a zoning update – it is the result of years of the City’s work with a community ignored by past administrations. As the peninsula transformed from a seasonal destination to a place where low-income populations were concentrated, it became an area out of sight and mind from the rest of the city. It once was the peninsula’s commercial, institutional, and transportation hub known as the “Village”, today, it suffers from underperforming retail and underutilized and vacant properties. The Downtown Far Rockaway Roadmap for Action will bring new opportunities for retail, community facilities, affordable housing, and open space, along with $288 Million in City investment. Hear from those who led and participated in the process.