Dream Home Or Pipe Dream?

Help Me Howard Goes To Bat For Lonely Queens Community

"Arverne by the Sea", is one of the country's largest urban renewal projects. Developers call it a great opportunity for the first time home buyer.

But recently we heard from some residents, who while happy with their investment, want to know what happened to all the promised amenities?

"I love where I live, I have great neighbors, but I would like a supermarket, somewhere I can go buy a newspaper, get a coffee or something like that..."

"They promised us pretty much everything, that this was going to be a self-contained community, there would be shopping, there'd be recreation, a YMCA, with a pool..."

"We've been waiting for a Stop & Shop..."

That's just a sampling of statements we heard from some of the "Arverne by the Sea" residents. A mammoth development of new upscale properties in the Far Rockaways in Queens. First sales were made back in 2004. Since that time, residents say they have been waiting for a Super Stop and Shop, a YMCA and a new train station. None of which have materialized yet.

Many residents are frustrated because shopping means traveling several train stops, taking a bus or walking a few miles to the nearest store.

Calls to the developer have not produced results, so some residents asked Help Me Howard to help them get answers they were seeking.

Howard contacted Gerry Romski, who is Counsel and Project Executive for Arvern's developer, Benjamin Beechwood.

Romski says the YMCA has been delayed because a community board objected to plans for a bigger pool and the MTA had problems with the planned Stop & Shop's proximity to the train track.

He's hopeful construction for the Stop & Shop will begin by September or October and invited Howard to come back in the Fall for a progress report. Hopefully the news will be good for "Arverne by the Sea."