Why Live in Belle Harbor
Belle Harbor, located in the Rockaways of Queens, is a 1-mile-long neighborhood known for its quiet streets, green lawns, and ocean access. This compact suburban area offers a respite from New York City’s congestion, with children playing outdoors and a strong sense of community. The neighborhood features a mix of single-family homes, including prewar and mid-century colonials, many of which were renovated after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Home sizes vary, creating a diverse suburban atmosphere. Rockaway Beach, located on the south side of Belle Harbor, provides a less crowded sandy shore with lifeguards in the summer, while Jacob Riis Park, 2 miles west, offers another beach option and a par-3 golf course.
Belle Harbor’s dining and shopping hub is the one-block stretch of Beach 129th Street, where residents can find upscale pub food, Mexican, Italian, and New American cuisine, along with small grocery stores like Belle Harbor Foods. For larger grocery trips, the Stop & Shop in neighboring Rockaway Park is preferred. Public transit options include the QM16 express bus, which reaches Midtown in about an hour, and nearby Rockaway Park’s A train and ferry to Pier 11 near Wall Street, also taking around an hour.
Local schools include the highly rated P.S. 114 for preschool through eighth grade and The Scholars’ Academy for grades six through 12. Despite the risk of flooding, with 99% of properties at risk according to First Street, infrastructure improvements such as cement boardwalks and beach dunes have been implemented to mitigate future storm damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
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