Rockaway Village Celebrates Completion in Far Rockaway, Queens

After five construction phases and nearly ten years of hard work and dedication, Rockaway Village, an eight-building mixed-use development in Far Rockaway, Queens, has officially welcomed its first residents. Built on the site of a former strip mall, the transformative project marks a major milestone in Far Rockaway's ongoing revitalization.

DeSimone has been involved in the development since its inception, guiding the project through the pandemic and designing eight distinctive yet cohesive cast-in-place concrete structures.

Designed to promote affordability and community support, the 1,699-unit complex is comprised entirely of affordable housing and includes the Phipps Opportunities Center, which offers services such as financial literacy, workforce development, STEAM education, and summer youth employment. Developed by Phipps and designed by Marvel Architects, the completed complex fosters community engagement through street-level interior courtyards, breezeways, retail spaces, and essential neighborhood services, including healthcare, grocery, and laundry facilities, creating a vibrant and supportive environment for residents.

The DeSimone structural engineering team has remained much the same since the project began and is led by Managing Principal Borys Hayda, PE, Principal James Bonnano, PE, and Project Manager Ben Isham.