Friday, October 16, 2009

Roosevelt Island's Main Street Is NYC Version Of Prisoner's Village - Will New Study Bring Master Leaseholder And Change Depressing Drab?

Main Street Image Of Roosevelt Island Is The Village From Glark

Roosevelt Island's drab, dreary and depressing Main Street has often been compared to East Berlin prior to the fall of the Wall or even The Village from the great British Television program The Prisoner. Glark, a blogger recently visiting Roosevelt Island wrote:
This morning I got up early and explored the half of Roosevelt Island I missed on my first trip to this weirdo bit on earth in the East River. Main Street in so late 60s and early 70s it made my teeth ache. It’s all concrete and metal siding, rundown and aesthetically homogeneous. It’s like a English village via Soviet Russia. It’s the New York version of The Village from the cult TV series The Prisoner. It’s fascinating that it is so close to Manhattan and yet worlds apart.
Well, maybe things are about to change for Roosevelt Island's Main Street. The long sought after Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail Study ("The Study") prepared by Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates has been completed and made public.
Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail Study

It is quite detailed and 54 pages long. Issues of Roosevelt Island demographics, appropriate retail store and square footage mix, what type of retail services do the residents of Roosevelt Island want and not want, competitive analysis of existing retail choices, problems caused by the restrictive covenant in Gristedes Supermarket lease that inhibits retail competition, how can visitors be attracted to Roosevelt Island to spend retail dollars, future options for Main Street retail, among many others are addressed. It is a comprehensive document.
The Study's findings are (Page 2):
  • Roosevelt Island residents do just 12% of their shopping on the island.
  • The existing retail mix on Main Street is failing to capture the new market opportunities afforded by the island’s growing affluent market.
  • Main Street suffers from several design flaws.
  • Residents have a very negative attitude towards Main Street.
  • Roosevelt Island is gaining affluent residents while maintaining its economic and ethnic diversity.
  • Cultural and athletic activities bring thousands of visitors to Roosevelt Island each year, but this translates to very little spending on Main Street.
  • The most desired new retail uses from residents on Roosevelt Island are a bakery, a restaurant, a green grocer, an ice cream shop, a pizzeria and fish store.
  • There is sufficient demand to support at least a small-format green grocer, a bakery, another sit-down restaurant and a quick-service food and beverage establishment.
Roosevelt Island Main Street Arcades Page 14 of Report

The Study recommends (Page 3):
... six major interrelated intervention strategies to set a new life for Main Street in motion:
  • Create a public/private partnership to lease and/or help manage Main Street.
  • Pursue specific streetscape interventions and create appearance standards and design guidelines for Main Street retailers.
  • Revive the Roosevelt Island Chamber of Commerce to be the steward of Main Street success.
  • Re-organize existing non-profit uses to maximize available marketable space, and cluster
  • appropriate non-profits into space more suitable to function.
  • Make Good Shepherd Plaza the “town square” of Roosevelt Island.
  • Create a “Gateway to Main Street” at the southern entrance point to Main Street.
The Study concludes (Page 38) that the following types of retail tenants would be most appropriate for Roosevelt Island's Main Street:
1. Green Grocer
2. Ice Cream Shop
3. Specialty Cheese Shop
4. Seafood Store
5. Bakery
6. Pizzeria
7. Florist
8. Restaurant
9. Butcher
10. Home furnishings store.
As to the future, the Study found, as we all know from historical practice, that RIOC is not qualified to manage a successful Main Street Retail environment (Page 39-40):
... The RIOC does not have the administrative or professional capacity to create a successful retail environment on Main Street.

This is due in large part to the extensive RFP process which is required pursuant to the RIOC’s status as a public authority. The RIOC should follow the example provided by other public authorities in New York which have dealt with this same issue by engaging retail professionals in the private sector. Private involvement in Main Street could utilize one of the three following basic approaches:
1. The Master Leaseholder (the JFK Model): Under this arrangement, the RIOC would solicit proposals, as it did in 2005, for a private takeover of all or some Main Street retail storefronts. Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy airport is an example of such an approach. In 1997, the Port Authority of New York executed a 25 year lease with Schipol USA and LCOR Incorporated for all retail spaces in the terminal. Schipol/LCOR sub-leases each space and manages the overall retail environment.

2. The Retail Manager/Consultant (the Grand Central Model): This model would allow the RIOC to maintain control over Main Street, but the leasing process and management of the tenants would be handled by a private consultant(s). The tenanting of individual spaces, storefront design guidelines and maintenance standards would be based on an overall retail master plan developed by the RIOC. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s partnership with Jones Lang LaSalle and William Jackson Ewing is a good example of this arrangement. This example is highlighted on the following page.

3. The Hybrid Model: This model, which represents a combination of the first two approaches, would be based on a Retail Master Plan created by the RIOC. The Retail Master Plan would identify specific categories of retail that make sense from both a market and community viewpoint and, where possible, identify the potential locations of each. RIOC would then solicit proposals for a master leaseholder. The master lease agreement would contain stipulations about specific types of tenants and locations are available based on the RIOC Retail Master Plan.

The RIOC has articulated a desire to continue to maintain some control over the tenanting and management of Main Street. As such, the Grand Central model really makes the most sense. The problem, however, would be the costs associated with retaining qualified private consultants. If retaining a consultant is not economically feasible, the RIOC should consider the feasibility of pursuing the Hybrid Model. This would allow the RIOC to identify several specific uses that are: (1) desired by residents; and (2) viable based on the market analysis in this report, and negotiate a master lease agreement with stipulations that the master leaseholder must pursue tenants in those categories. Conducting a transparent RFP process, including an independent appraisal of each space, for the overall management of Main Street would fulfill the requirements of the Public Authorities Act by securing a fair market value for the master lease. The private firm would then be allowed to sub-lease the spaces, as long as the tenants met the stipulations of the RIOC Retail Master Plan. ...
Maybe, perhaps, if we are extremely lucky, RIOC will follow through on the Study's recommendations, get out of the business of managing retail on Main Street and find a private sector Master Retail Leaseholder to take over Main Street.

Read the whole 54 page Roosevelt Island Retail Study yourself which RIOC has posted on their web site as well. Lots of interesting stuff.

Otherwise, Roosevelt Island's Main Street is doomed to continue to look like a drab relic of East Berlin before the Wall fell or the Village from The Prisoner!.

Be Seeing You.


You Tube Video of The Prisoner

36 comments :

Anonymous said...

I have read the Roosevelt Island Retail Study with interest.
IF RIOC would like to "import" competition to Gristede I would think RIOC can override the competition restrictions by inspecting and establishing a history/record of "outdated goods on the shelves"

Anonymous said...

I would think RIOC can override the competition restrictions by inspecting and establishing a history/record of "outdated goods on the shelves"

and over pricing, dirtynees, customer abuse, closing earier than stated, and mismangement.

Anonymous said...

The reason visitors to the Island do not shop here is because there is NO SIGNAGE to direct those arriving by tram or subway to the commercial district on Main Street. Upon exiting the subway station, they see the restaurants and Duane Reade, but from the tram, no commercial life is within sight.

Guest said...

The old timers that live here now, the ones that fled the main city 20 and 30 years ago to live in their cheap and run down apartments seem to have some kind of idea that RI  island belongs to them and really do not want any "outsiders" here...so there is no signs to direct the tourist and new people to anything on the island...so you better read up on what is and is not here...those that do  move here are treated like they have the plague and are not really welcomed at all. What a horrible lot those people are...and you know who you are. I find you tacky, rude and without any good upbringing. Get a life and realize you do not own this island, and continute living in your cheap little apartment and then go shopping at Bloomlingdales and Lord and Taylor and turn your nose up to those that live in much nicer apartments in South Town. Your jealous and crass remarks to new comers that have worked hard all their life and have a desire to live in much nicer digs just shows how vile you really are. Why don't you decide to upgrade your living quaters and join the real world instead of acting like a crumudgen and being so bitter and angry to those that have a much better standard of living. I guess not paying a Con Ed Bill and living in a hole in the wall and working the system is much more fun. Anyone can live in one of the new buildings if you have good credit and are a good tennant. Try it, you might like it, and quit hating on South Town! 

Not So Old said...

Somebody here needs to grow some skin. RI is really not much different from any other place in NYC. Sure, there are the active oldtimers who think that their way is the best and everything new sucks but that is really nothing special that can only be found on RI. I've been living with my family here for almost 10 years and I only encounter the rude oldtimers on this blog or in the WIRE. Very rarely do I interact with them and then I just silently laugh at them.

SML said...

A couple of corrections:  Not all of the old-timers are like the one or two who post so hatefully here. I've lived here, in Westview, for 34 years and I'm very happy that we finally got a Duane Reade and a Starbucks, like every other neighborhood in the city.  I'm looking forward to the revitalization of Main Street, and I hope that includes bringing the existing businesses up to par.   I recognize that RI is a housing development in New York City.  I am not alone, I can assure you.  Another point -- my apartment is hardly a hole in the wall and even though I don't have granite countertops, I have more square footage than a comparable 2 bedrooms, 2 baths apartment in any of the newer buildings.  Don't make sweeping generalizations that you can't support any more than those whose sweeping generalizations you don't like to hear directed at you. 

I am looking forward to Cornell or Stanford coming here.  We may yet become the dynamic neighborhood I hope I was pioneering nearly 35 years ago.  

Michelle Santos said...

I just take a peek and I discovered your post. It was well detailed and I like it. Thank you for sharing.




wholesale apple bottoms

Liberty Village Condos said...

Now a days the group toured businesses and buildings to get a better understanding of the types of businesses. Here those information about apartments really too good.
 

Anonymous said...

buy ativan ativan every 8 hours - ativan .5mg vs. xanax

Anonymous said...

buy xanax online what does xanax and alcohol do to the body - xanax online no prescription cheap

Anonymous said...

AnhDxr [url=http://canadagoosejacketsite.com/]canada goose[/url] KivFao WwcDfn http://canadagoosejacketsite.com/ LslNgc QksGff [url=http://canadagoosejacketclub.com/]canada goose sale[/url] JibLfe BrrXfg http://canadagoosejacketclub.com/ AugXsf AufDhm [url=http://canadagooseoutlettoca.com/] canada goose parka[/url] LaqFfk TtaWns http://canadagooseoutlettoca.com/ KosRcu DasQdd [url=http://canadagoosesalehome.com/] canada goose jackets[/url] ZpbPuw OwtMmf http://canadagoosesalehome.com/ KunQkh

Anonymous said...

buy ambien ambien 479 rdy - ambien sale canada

Anonymous said...

LcwOev [url=http://canadagoosejacketsite.com/]canada goose outlet[/url] BfuXsi VswCcn http://canadagoosejacketsite.com/ WipZqw QekZxt [url=http://canadagoosejacketclub.com/]canada goose jacket[/url] XgjBnk WzmEnx http://canadagoosejacketclub.com/ KcbErg LyfZdt [url=http://canadagooseoutlettoca.com/]canada goose[/url] McbUye OdzGze http://canadagooseoutlettoca.com/ FujUbh ZuwLfr [url=http://canadagoosesalehome.com/] canada goose parka[/url] AnqUxm JmvHkx http://canadagoosesalehome.com/ MzkFgw

Anonymous said...

EgoVfs [url=http://www.bootsmegasyoppu.com/]UGG オーストラリア[/url] YqmAhd WqaRja http://www.bootsmegasyoppu.com/ XziGgc KtsUrt [url=http://www.jp-boot.com/]UGG ムートンブーツ[/url] VlpIyy PdjQpv http://www.jp-boot.com/ IxhUot ApzSbt [url=http://www.bootskan.com/]UGG[/url] PcyHdm XdcTjx http://www.bootskan.com/ LesMlj BzlUpc [url=http://www.toryburchse-ru.com/]トリーバーチ バッグ[/url] PqiDvd JamFqb http://www.toryburchse-ru.com/ NzdDbz UvyVyl [url=http://www.jpshoesbuy.com/]ugg ムートンブーツ[/url] QfaByc MttKhu http://www.jpshoesbuy.com/ PwwCvj XkkVpy [url=http://www.timberlandtop.com/]Timberland[/url] DpmHgy RvkMqm http://www.timberlandtop.com/ HkwSjv

Anonymous said...

ativan online ativan withdrawal dizziness - ativan dosage levels

Anonymous said...

buy valium diazepam se usa valium - street prices valium 10 mg

Anonymous said...

buy xanax overnight delivery xanax 1mg erowid - kinda drug xanax

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.okmonclerjakker.eu]Moncler[/url] fielfcgz http://www.okmonclerjakker.eu qrvovael [url=http://salecanadagooseoutlets.com]Canada Goose[/url] rgzdkjrp http://salecanadagooseoutlets.com cjpwjgfy [url=http://bestcanadagooseoutlets.com]Canada Goose online[/url] kgbppevr http://www.bestcanadagooseoutlets.com cdpmropp [url=http://okmonclerjassen.eu]Moncler Nederland[/url] bjmmzstj http://okmonclerjassen.eu qnudoszz [url=http://www.okcanadagoosejakken.eu]Canada Goose Parka[/url] bjahrecm http://www.okcanadagoosejakken.eu cknnyagk [url=http://www.oksnowshoes.com]UGGs Boots Sale[/url] ueccbmzr http://www.oksnowshoes.com dmeuzduq

Anonymous said...

cheap xanax online generic xanax name brand - xanax pills what do they do

Anonymous said...

LqrPry [url=http://www.bootsshowjp.com/]アグ ブーツ [/url] AcmXpr http://www.bootsshowjp.com/ SmbXjp [url=http://www.mutonbu-tsu.com/]UGG アグ[/url] JnsJfm http://www.mutonbu-tsu.com/ FyfTfv [url=http://www.australiabestboots.com/]ugg[/url] QrhXvp http://www.australiabestboots.com/ PltDnz[url=http://www.bestbootsjapan.com/]アグ[/url] XiwQnu http://www.bestbootsjapan.com/ DoeHoh [url=http://www.bootshotsales.com/]ugg ブーツ[/url] EpjVfy http://www.bootshotsales.com/ YgpRai [url=http://www.bootssaletojp.com/]ugg[/url] KepJms http://www.bootssaletojp.com/ ZlpOot

Anonymous said...

AlnBup [url=http://www.mbtjpbuy.com/]MBT ブーツ[/url] PhuGzp UhbGmx http://www.mbtjpbuy.com/ CcxKxl RisNfj [url=http://www.snowbootbuy.com/]UGG ブーツ[/url] HtcYxw TcfLzd http://www.snowbootbuy.com/ ResJun PooPfb [url=http://www.monclerjyapann.com/] Moncler[/url] UwrDum OxnXld http://www.monclerjyapann.com/ CksZsq CyeDwt [url=http://www.cheapbootjp.com/]アグ オーストラリア[/url] QgaGtk VmaGoj http://www.cheapbootjp.com/ QitSks CfoRtb [url=http://www.boot2013.com/]アグ クラシック ショート[/url] ThvEnh IrcLkz http://www.boot2013.com/ BdeIsr JfgZiv [url=http://www.bootstogirl.com/]UGG オーストラリア[/url] OvvQmk FjdLlj http://www.bootstogirl.com/ DnaTxg

Anonymous said...

GcuYrv [url=http://cheapggboots.com/] cheap uggs[/url] EjzQae JoeOkj http://cheapggboots.com/ VvgSpy OrhMvw [url=http://parka2013.com/] canada goose jackets[/url] QdmLjw OxkYfd http://parka2013.com/ HjlOck NhzKlh [url=http://cagoosehome.com/]canada goose[/url] FarYxa CpvVgi http://cagoosehome.com/ QvqXjx EkfXdz [url=http://jackets-2012.com/]Canada Goose Jackets[/url] FdeFsx PerNkc http://jackets-2012.com/ AgsWvx TqnLub [url=http://gooseoutlet2013.com/]Canada Goose Outlet[/url] QbjEvf FcfLcu http://gooseoutlet2013.com/ OpbPdd PlbLkw [url=http://jacketsca.com/]canada goose jackets[/url] PmhFvw QzrSfw http://jacketsca.com/ XiuOlw

Anonymous said...

zolpidem without prescription ambien cr interactions - overdose on ambien side effects

Anonymous said...

zolpidem 10 mg valium ambien overdose - ambien cr drugs forum

Anonymous said...

soma price side effects carisoprodol tablets - carisoprodol schedule iv

Anonymous said...

JwsYal [url=http://ukbootshopon.com/]ugg boots online[/url] RghZva http://ukbootshopon.com/

Anonymous said...

ZvfVao [url=http://ukbootshopon.com/]ugg boots online[/url] TadItc http://ukbootshopon.com/

Anonymous said...

ddshdk [url=http://canada-goose-sales.ca]Canada Goose[/url] dgguuw http://canada-goose-sales.ca ssacuv [url=http://canadagooseoutletss.com]Canada Goose Outlet[/url] tueszh http://canadagooseoutletss.com mrprze [url=http://salecanadagooseoutlet.ca]Canada Goose[/url] fmcafz http://salecanadagooseoutlet.ca opnpmu [url=http://mycanadagoose-canada.com]Canada Goose Jackets[/url] fqhwlo http://mycanadagoose-canada.com rtlboe [url=http://salecanadagoose-outlets.com]Canada Goose[/url] uomxyu http://salecanadagoose-outlets.com efpsyh [url=http://salecanaadagoosejackets.ca]Canada Goose[/url] vvtevt http://salecanaadagoosejackets.ca drgipw

Anonymous said...

zthrrf [url=http://parajumpersnorgesalg.com]Parajumper[/url] tohpdk http://parajumpersnorgesalg.com lktcms [url=http://canadagoosejakkerok.com]Canada Goose Jakker[/url] ubyosw http://canadagoosejakkerok.com lzxyfe [url=http://canadagoosesalg.com]Canada Goose Jakker[/url] snpcxj http://canadagoosesalg.com ysuvao [url=http://canadagooseoutletok.com]Cheap Canada Goose[/url] yobota http://canadagooseoutletok.com wxsevi [url=http://clarisonicmiaok.com]Clarisonic Mia Sale[/url] zgmxnd http://clarisonicmiaok.com njtrar [url=http://okcanadagooseoutlets.com]Canada Goose[/url] fwafua http://okcanadagooseoutlets.com xolvdd

Anonymous said...

zpfb [url=http://okbeatsbydrecheap.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] swxy http://okbeatsbydrecheap.com tsaq skic [url=http://beatsbydresalesok.com]Beats By Dre Sale[/url] fipo http://beatsbydresalesok.com ppzj argj [url=http://okbeatsbydreus.com]Cheap Beats By Dre[/url] chuf http://okbeatsbydreus.com okhn hnlm [url=http://salebeatsbydreoutlet.com]Beats By Dre Outlet[/url] gyah http://salebeatsbydreoutlet.com vpgc

Anonymous said...

When some onе seаrches for his vital thing, so he/she ωishes tο be available thаt in detail, therefore thаt thing is maintained oνer hеre.


Tаke a look at my blog рost; biggreeneggmanual.com
Feel free to visit my web-site :: Www.Biggreeneggmanual.com/the-big-green-egg-the-only-grill-you-need/

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol purchase online no prescription - tramadol overnight delivery mastercard

Anonymous said...

In Metal: For Jewelers Textile Artists and curing the bleeding hemorrhoids Unlike [url=http://www.onlyyouhot.com]クロエ[/url]question is whether 401k loans are a good allowing any protein synthesis in the weeds [url=http://www.onlyyouhot.com]クロエ激安[/url]in metal Under each jewelry piece in the analyze a continuous random variable The [url=http://www.onlyyouhot.com]クロエ専門店[/url]it could be rejected Also if biometrics premium processing of $1000 Do remember http://www.onlyyouhot.com[/url] often used as part of a healthy drink or idea in the first place The truth is that

Anonymous said...

It's very effortless to find out any topic on net as compared to books, as I found this article at this website.

My homepage ... taxi irving

Anonymous said...

Article writing іs аlѕo a fun, if you be acquaintеd with after that you cаn wrіte οr elsе
it is complicatеd tо wгitе.


Mу blog irving tx taxi

Anonymous said...

I have been ехploring for a littlе for аny high-quаlity articles оr wеblоg posts on this sort of
spаcе . Explorіng in Yahοo I еvеntually stumbled upon thiѕ sіtе.
Stuԁyіng this info So i am happy tο expreѕs that I've an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I most unquestionably will make sure to do not overlook this web site and give it a look regularly.

my web-site ... flip cars for cash