Judge Rules Rockaway Development Improperly Built
Richard George has been fighting for preservation in the Rockaways for decades and he’s making some headway….
His cottage industry: preserving Rockaway bungalow communities
Longtime Far Rockaway resident Richard George has made it his mission to preserve the homey bungalows that once defined the seaside community.
And he has proven he’s not afraid to take his cause to court.
A state judged recently ruled in favor of George, deciding that a row of three-family apartment buildings on Beach 26th St. was improperly built, blocking a longstanding easement that runs parallel to the street and gives waterfront access to many bungalows.
But for George, who is president of the Beachside Bungalow Preservation Association of Far Rockaway, that ruling hardly marks the end of his mission.
In September, another lawsuit filed by George – this one against the 2,300-unit Arverne by the Sea project – is set to go before a federal judge.
As with the case he won in May, George says the megadevelopment hinders local access to the beaches.
“All the adjacent homeowners cannot access the beach,” said George, who has restored several bungalows and now rents some of them.
In May, the court ruled that the developers and the city were in violation of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, which states that seaside resources must be preserved for public use. All projects in coastal areas – including beachfront land – must follow the act.
In his ruling, the judge noted that George was eligible for monetary damages, but George instead wants the buildings demolished.
For more info about Richard and his campaign to preserve this remarkable enclave see;
The Beachside Bungalow Association of Far Rockaway
A Man’s Beach Bungalow Is His Castle
Last Stand For a Bungalow Backwater