NYC Breaks Ground on Recovery, Resiliency Project in Rockaways

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New York City broke ground Friday on a $67 million reconstruction project at the Ocean Bay-Oceanside development in the Rockaways. The New York City Housing Authority development, which is home to more than 400 families, was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy.

The project is the first of 33 public housing recovery and resiliency works that are being funded through a record $3 billion grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Hurricane Sandy recovery assistance.

"Many of us still remember the weeks of cold and darkness after Sandy – including thousands of New York City Housing Authority residents. People across all five boroughs are still feeling the impact today," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press release. "However, with this $67 million investment, we will continue to fortify NYCHA buildings and create a more resilient city and so that residents never have to go through this again."

The work underway includes a full roof replacement, stand-by generators for back-up power, new electrical systems and flood-protected equipment annexes, resiliency measures to prevent flooding, upgraded playgrounds and recreational areas and new lighting, security cameras and state-of-the-art security doors.

"The groundbreaking at the Rockaways Ocean Bay-Oceanside NYCHA development is terrific news for the hundreds of families who can now rest assured they will soon be better protected in the event of a future storm," U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer said in the release.

The city said that the NYCHA's recovery efforts are being complemented by coastal protection and other safety measures, which are key elements of the mayor's OneNYC $20 billion resiliency program.
 

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