Economy

Can Co-Ops Help the Rockaways Recover?

An isolated part of New York City is still rebuilding its economy after Sandy.
Closed and boarded-up businesses in the Rockaways in January 2013, shortly after Hurricane Sandy.Seth Wenig / AP

Most New Yorkers rarely go to the Rockaways. Sitting just above sea level and surrounded by water, the narrow peninsula off the southeastern edge of Queens made horrific headlines after Hurricane Sandy: families stranded for days without food, seniors lacking water and electricity for months.

As the cityā€™s memory of the storm has faded, so too has its attention on the 130,000 New Yorkers who live in the Rockaways. The area still hasnā€™t made a full recovery from the storm.