Stalled Rockaway site seeks new life through competition

In a surprising twist, the wrath of Hurricane Sandy has helped give rise to a new development. L&M Development Partners, Triangle Equities and the Bluestone Organization have launched a competition for architects, engineers and local residents to design a new project at their storm-battered and stalled Rockaway Peninsula site.

The team of developers ultimately wants to build a mixed-income, storm-resilient property on the 80-acre plot, dubbed Arverne East, according to Curbed, which first spotted the news.

Their plans for the site fell through during the recession. Now, the developers are doing away with the old plans — including retail, recreational, commercial and residential construction — and starting from scratch.

The competition aims to “set a precedent for future development in waterfront communities,” a release on the project said.

The guidelines for the development site are open, which gives participants the chance to study what the community wants in a new development, Curbed said.

The first round of proposals is due in June. [Curbed] —Zachary Kussin