Arverne by the Sea The Rockaways, Queens, NY

In a 2010 article, New York Magazine called Arverne by the Sea the “most improbable new neighborhood” in New York City—a “hopeful, sunny place in a part of the city that has seen its share of urbanistic storms.” Arverne by the Sea is a new oceanfront community located in the Rockaways and accessible by subway. The development includes townhouses, a grocery store and shops, a YMCA, and an on-site charter school. It emphasizes traditional streets and public spaces, and the architecture has an East Coast beach community feel. Many of the residents are young couples and first-time buyers, representing a diverse ethnic mix.