Edgemere Then and Now

Forgotten-NY has a great feature on the decline of Edgemere, Queens-- a neighborhood out in the Rockaways. Back in the day, it was apparently a nice summer resort spot. Now, it's just a few miles of spooky empty lots and boardwalk, but Forgotten wonders if it can be resuscitated:

Can Edgemere be brought back south of the el? Various plans are out there, most of which call for residential development. This should be an amusement area, a playground, a mecca for sea, sun and sand. If Atlantic Beach and Long Beach, which aren't very far away from here, can be summer fun spots, so can Edgemere. It has subway service that can feasibly be converted to a super-express from Manhattan or Brooklyn. Unlikely NYC neighborhoods have made comebacks, like the meatpacking area and Williamsburgh. Those however were brought back by trendseekers looking for the next big thing; they came and stayed, bringing unaffordable hosuing costs with them. Seaside development should be done without the privileged few occupying the shoreline and leaving out the less lucky.

Hear that hipsters? Edgemere is calling! We can call it Williamsburg-by-the-Sea!