Alvin Benjamin (1920-2012) was a real estate developer originally from Brooklyn, NY, who is remembered for his commitment to building affordable multifamily and senior housing projects. Benjamin's vision of community transformation through smart-growth and environmentally-conscious development translated into the Arverne by The Sea project in Rockaway, Queens, one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the country at the time of its opening in 2004.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Benjamin graduated from Erasmus Hall High School and Brooklyn College before voluntarily enlisting in the United States Navy during World War II. He rose to the rank of captain and was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions aboard a landing vessel during the battle of Iwo Jima. After his military service, Benjamin enrolled in law school and took a position as a mortgage broker with the LeFrak Organization, resulting in the foundation of Benjamin Development in the early 1960s (now called The Benjamin Companies, located in Garden City, NY).

Benjamin's imprint was initially centralized in New York with a focus on affordable senior housing – a niche he saw as not being adequately served - and his company eventually spread throughout the East Coast. His development portfolio similarly expanded to include both affordable and luxury multifamily units, as well as smart-growth communities incorporating residential, commercial and retail properties. Benjamin was proud that the hallmark of his projects, and now, his legacy as a developer, was building in harmony with the environment while fulfilling the needs of the local community. To this point, he has been quoted saying, “A developer must respect nature’s gifts and build to complement what she has given.”