Excerpts from an article entitled: On the Beach, a Brand New Life
By JEFF VANDAM The Rockaways are a string-bean-shaped peninsula that juts into the ocean south of Kennedy Airport and Jamaica Bay. The Rockaways are undergoing the nation's largest urban development of homes, with stores, restaurants, a Y.M.C.A., a marina and a school.

Angel and Marisol, who can't seem to stop talking effusively about their new home, have never had serious doubts about choosing a home in the Rockaways. But their final confirmation came from an entrepreneur with slightly more experience. They attended a real estate expo at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center last fall, and one of the events was a question-and-answer session with Donald Trump.

"What happened was a girl told him, 'I'm about to buy a home in the Rockaways,' " Marisol said. "And Trump was like, 'Rockaway? Can I have your contract?' "
"We high-fived," Angel said. "It was great! We were so happy. Another person said, 'I have $20,000 in equity, what can I do with that money?' And Trump said, Rockaway. That's exactly how we took Rockaway, as an opportunity."

"It's like a Florida in New York," Marisol said. "No, no," Angel corrected her, "it's California in New York. That's the way I see it. You see guys in wetsuits out there," he said, pointing to the ocean, which attracts its own legion of surfers.

"We all got here almost in the same week," Marisol added of her neighbors. "We're building relationships together."

To Angel and Marisol, there is no end to what Rockaway will bring. They have talked about investing in other properties in the area, or maybe even opening a franchise like Starbucks. ("Iced coffee at the beach!" Marisol said.) Outside, Angel pointed at the expanse of dirt that will become his new community.

"You see that lot right there?" he asked. "That's prime real estate. That's untouched. That's empty. This is what I see that a lot of people don't see. You just have to have the courage to jump in. It's unbelievable. It's gonna be great!"