Beach Channel Senior Residences

Organization Name: The Arker Companies

Project Title: Beach Channel Senior Residences

Project Location: Far Rockaway, Queens

Project Description:
Beach Channel Senior Residences is a new construction 7 story building for seniors ages 62 years and up in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY. The project totals 144,973 gross SF and includes 154 one bedroom affordable units and approximately 9,000 SF of community facility and commercial space. Project amenities include a laundry room, bike storage room, community room, recreation/game room, tenant services office, private outdoor space, and a high-end security system. All units are affordable to households earning up to 60% of AMI and benefit from a 15-year project based Section 8 HAP contract from the New York City Housing Authority. 30% of the units in the project are reserved and have been rented to formerly homeless seniors referred by NYCHA and the Department of Homeless Services. The site is located across the street from Bayswater Park with amenities such as waterfront paths, baseball fields, tennis courts and basketball courts. Primary commercial and retail shops such as grocery stores, markets, municipal services, and healthcare facilities are all within walking distance and the Beach 36 St subway station is located one block west of the site.

Community Impact:
•These 154 units of senior affordable housing has provided Far Rockaway with a new vibrant community that many seniors, who were once homeless or living in sub-par conditions, can now call home.
•On-site supportive senior services are being provided to residents of the development by JASA, including, medical insurance coverage, legal aid, and access to home care services. An on-site social worker will help with benefits, supportive counseling, health and personal care referrals, supplemental food, and family related issues.
•St. John's Episcopal Hospital will occupy the CF space, providing general practice medical facilities for primary care. This is a valuable amenity for all residents of the Far Rockaway community.
•The first project to break ground under the City’s SARA program.
•One of the first N/C developments in Rockaway since Hurricane Sandy, leading the efforts in the revitalization and resiliency of the neighborhood: Flood gates, standby generators, elevated systems, and elevated emergency flood exits.
•Incorporates all Enterprise Green Communities building standards.
•Participated in the New York City Brownfield Cleanup Program, bringing new life to the environmentally sensitive land.

Organization Description:
The Arker Companies is a fully integrated development, construction, and property management company with more than 200 employees. It is a third generation family business, founded in 1949. Its four principals are Allan Arker, Sol Arker, Alex Arker and Daniel Moritz. The Arkers have developed more than 8,000 affordable housing units for very low and low-income residents, while focusing on supportive services, superior examples of architecture and engineering, green and energy efficient design and the preservation of historic landmarks.

Team Members:

Client: The Arker Companies
Architect: Aufgang Architects, LLC
Structural: Brooker Engineering PLLC
MEP: Ettinger Engineering Associates
Service Provider: JASA
GC: Chateau GC LLC