On February 11, The Federal Emergency Management Agency signed a $480 million “letter of understanding” that will allocate Hurricane Sandy relief funds to rebuilding the coastal boardwalks of the Rockaways. The new boardwalk, designed jointly by WXY with Pentagram Design, RBA Group and CH2M HILL, “will rival the best in the world when it comes to withstanding the effects of climate change, while maintaining Rockaway tradition and providing the community with a key beachfront amenity,” said a spokeswoman for Mayor de Blasio. [Capital New York]