In the center of Downtown Far Rockaway in Queens, Marvel is concluding an ambitious project to bring 1,700 new affordable housing units to an under-utilized site between the A-train terminus and the Long Island Rail Road in order to create a more vibrant, supportive community through socially thoughtful design.

Over three phases totaling two million SF of development, the design reimagines the old railyard as a series of new public spaces and streets, invigorating the center of downtown Far Rockaway. Across Mott Ave from the A-train, a new public plaza flanked by 100,000 SF of commercial space serves as the gateway to the project, leading to a total of eight buildings on six new blocks arranged along a tree-lined shared street.

Each building participates in a carefully curated approach to the scale and character of the neighborhood, developed through an interactive process with the client and the Department of City Planning.

Defined by a verdant courtyard, each building is also clad in unique blends of brick that subtly shift in color. The massing break up the street wall with a number of setbacks and shifts, responding to the nearby context and pedestrian experience.

The first phase began construction in the fall of 2018, with the final phase consisiting of the final two buildings completed in the spring of 2026. 

“The buildings are built with budget in mind, but they are pleasantly blocky, each differentiated through its stepped form, staggered window mixes. As if another example were needed, Rockaway Village proves the point that affordable housing can—and should—be designed well.” - Jack Murphy, The Architect’s Newspaper