RIOC Real Estate Committee Meeting on Roosevelt Island Tennis Racquet Club Lease

Prior to the Town Hall Meeting on the future of the Roosevelt Island Tram, a meeting of the RIOC Board of Directors Real Estate Development Advisory subcommittee is scheduled to begin at 6 PM. The lone agenda item is listed as the following:

NOTICE OF THE
OCTOBER 4, 2007 MEETING OF THE
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE
ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee (“REDAC”) of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the the Good Shepherd Chapel, 543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York. The REDAC will discuss the Third Modification of Lease between Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation and HCK Recreation, Inc.

The Open Meetings Law of the State of New York requires that all public bodies conduct meetings, convened for the purpose of officially conducting public business, in a manner open to attendance by the general public to observe and listen.

I believe that HCK Recreation, Inc. is the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club which has been located under the bubble adjacent to the Tram station and 59th Street Bridge since the early 1990's according to this article from the NY Times. Perhaps it is time for the RIOC Board to not act hastily but consider other potential uses for this site that may provide a different set of recreation, entertainment or cultural options for residents and visitors of Roosevelt Island. After all, how many Roosevelt Island residents actually use this facility. At the very least, given the East River waterfront location of this site and it's potentially large real estate value, I would think that the Public Authorities Act might preclude a long term commitment to this space without a thorough review.
Image is from the Bridge and Tunnel Club.