No Response For Roosevelt Island Rowing/Kayaking Request For Proposals, One Response For Waterfront Food Concession - RIOC Real Estate Committee Meeting In Executive Session to Discuss RFP's As Well As Island House and Southtown Ground Lease Extensions
Yesterday was the due date for submission of the Roosevelt Island Rowing/Kayaking and West Promenade Subway Pier Waterfront Food Concession Request For Proposals (RFP) to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC). Though not officially confirmed, my understanding is that there were no submissions for the Rowing/Kayaking RFP and only one for the Waterfront Food Concession RFP.
Both of these subjects are among the Agenda Items for today's Executive Session RIOC Real Estate Committee meeting which is closed to the public.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.As with all RFP submissions, RIOC can choose to accept, reject or modify any proposal.
AGENDA
1. Chair's Motion for Executive Session to Review and Discuss:
a. Responses to RFP's:
i. RFP#12-27395 Operation of a Kayaking/Rowing Concession in the Eastern Channel off
Roosevelt Island; and
ii. RFP#12-27396 Operation of a Waterfront Food Concession on the West Promenade of Roosevelt Island;
b. Proposed Modifications to the Ground Lease for Southtown Buildings 7, 8 and 9; and
c. Proposed Modifications to the Ground Lease for Island House.
Last weekend, I visited Gantry State Park in Long Island City and came across their version of a waterfront food concession with seating for about 30, though it was closed at the time,
as well as these places to relax and take in the great East River Waterfront Views.
(note the Kahn/FDR Memorial in background)
If you have not been to Gantry State Park in Long Island City - go, they did a great job.
26 comments :
I'll be very surprised if the waterfront concession response is from anyone but Riverwalk Grill.
I predicted NO responses for the waterfront concession but I agree with Westviewer, of course Mr. Riverwalk would answer.
Also of course no other sane proprietor would bother - the opportunity to make a profit it way to low (too short, too many rules ... just to get started). This is why government sponsored enterprise just doesn't work. In an effort to be fair and responsible and whatever other noble ideals, the process weeds out the profit motive - the only one that would cause someone to invest money and time in an enterprise when they to have rent bills to pay.
It can't happen as long as we are run by a public benefit corporation but at least the populace could begin to appreciate that depending on the government to do much of anything is living in a false hope.
Forget the concessions and go over to Gantry Park. The park has the best views of the FDR Memorial that is most impressive from Queens.
The waterfront of Western Queens and Brooklyn is changing - for the better!
Yes, it is. I hope we're next!
Ms. Shull, you and your Man-Of-The-House have complained about being run by a public benefit corporation. Mr. Long has suggested some kind of municipal government, which does not pass muster. What plan do you suggest, other than whining? (Well, Yes I know you like SECRET committees where the public cannot attend/observer on the whole Silicon Whatever committee meetings.)
So RIOC issues an RFP (sounds like an open process). Then, given the potentially low profits (according to you), instead of seeing this as something competitive that would reduce cost for consumers, you leap to the conclusion that this becomes a "government sponsored enterprise". Could you please explain your thinking?
Was down at South Point Park with my kids and wondering if anyone else has noticed that the back of South Point Park is falling into the river bit by bit over the last few weeks? The cliffs are erroding away from where they cut all the trees down that lined the back of the park behind the Schrek lab. It looks to be erroding really fast! Where is the sea wall that should be there? Not a good sign of things to come. I hope that the people building the four freedoms park repair what they have destroyed here on RI. All of that back area was nesting grounds for Mallard ducks my children used to love to feed and crains and other island habitat. What is to become of them when looking for their old nesting grounds now that Spring is here? Will there be a refuge for nature there at all? Ever? Not even a fountain for birds to get a sip of water in the Summer time. I would hope the parks at the southern end would be a fun place for the islanders and our children as well as birds and other wildlife to go and spend some time, not just a tourist draw for the builders of Four Freedoms to brag about. Wouldn't it be nice to have a playground for the kids at the new parks as well. All that green space and really nothing to do there. A dog run would be a great idea as well...all in all making RI a destination as well as a wonderful place to invest in buying or renting. Who makes all these plans for the parks anyways? They must not live here or have kids or like animals very much.
I hope you feel better after getting that off your chest and decaf can really help maybe.
The pier by the subway station has a charming "weathered" look that could easily be adopted as a restaurant theme, as well as the million-dollar view. Instead of being a semi-permanent concession, it could be configured as a year-round concession, perhaps by having the eatery operate on multiple levels at the pier even taking over part of the green area on Main St for example. The business would immediately be visible upon exiting the train, as well as from the tram. Before this can happen, the necessary infrastructure would have to be put in by RIOC (public restrooms & water supply for the business). Otherwise, for an entrepreneur to go to the trouble to set up a concession at the pier for part of the year with the modest amount of foot traffic makes no sense. The investment will never pay off in terms of available customers. Another possible location for a restaurant might be Blackwell House - since it is located within a park/plaza, it would be logical for a few tables to be set up within the green area for customers. As a historic site, it could be called "Blackwell's" for example with framed photographs of RI history on the historic restored walls etc.
Blackwell House is perfect for a restaurant, and attractive and convenient enough so that customers could easily make a special trip if the restaurant were good enough, i.e., much better than what we already have here. I know that such a place would be anathema to some, but it would be good for the rest of us and would go a long way to helping alter the perception that the island is nothing but a provincial outlier of the real New York City. To develop such a project, I'm afraid though, is beyond the imagination and capacity of RIOC, and Hudson-Related so far, seems only marginally better.
There IS a plan for Blackwell House and it doesn't include a restaurant. It DOES include meeting space and an archive.
Ask Judy Berdy of the R I Historical Society and she will tell you that RIOC's slow steps to move ahead with the construction of the interior have nearly caused the loss of funds that the RIHS secured from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.
I had forgotten about that. Blackwell House is the most appropriate site for the historical society. The unused Island House Pool space is another site I thought would be good for a restaurant, especially if there were ferry access to it from Manhattan.
I had forgotten about that. Blackwell House is the most appropriate site for the historical society. The unused Island House Pool space is another site I thought would be good for a restaurant, especially if there were ferry access to it from Manhattan.
Frank, as usual, you simply don't or won't understand and spread misrepresentations and half-truths. Unfortunately that makes ANY sort of productive dialogue with you impossible (imo).
DKS
Ms. Shull, I translate your response as: you have no good arguments, nor clarifications of your original (incoherent) statement. Your hit-and-run approach and unwillingness to clarify/support your points in fact does impede productive dialogue.
You're right that I don't understand the misrepresentations and half-truths in your original posting, which is why I asked: Could you please explain your thinking?
Actually, I read this as she's unwilling to discuss anything with you. There was not much more to it.
I agree. There's zero imagination so far. The plaza by Blackwell House is a natural location to sit out and enjoy the view across Blackwell Park and on over the river toward the City. I doubt if Europan - to be located across the street from 504 - will be permitted to avail itself of outdoor seating by Blackwell Park, although there is an area of concrete by the park (on the W. Side of Main Street - before the turnaround). It's not much of an area, though, not like the plaza across the street. Does the RIHS have to take over every historic structure on RI? Don't they already have an outpost at the Octagon, as well as the Kiosk at the Tram? The Chapel of the Good Shepherd was restored and is in use as a house of worship as well as a community center; it is historic but at the same time vital and of today. Why can't Blackwell House be restored and reused in some "real" capacity instead of simply remain a historic site. If it must remain a historic site, then it should be kept 100% historic/authentic like the Poe House in the Bronx, for example. If the Library had been given the 2nd Floor of 504, that's where community meeting space could have been constructed and perhaps space found for the archive as well. Blackwell could combine the best of both worlds: It could be restored as authentically as possible and have a caretaker living in the house year-round full-time. It could also have a small restaurant operating out of the restored kitchen serving food that might have been served at the time the Blackwell family owned the island and had a farm here. Someone would have to research what crops they actually grew or the livestock they raised, and figure out what they likely ate in those days. For example, were there apple orchards here? If so, you could deduce they were eating a form of apple pie. Thus, a historically-inspired form of apple pie could be on the menu of the restaurant.
That's probably because they know the island and how to run a profitable business
The only advantage they have is that they have a very captive audience. Anybody with some capital can make a good business here on RI. The Bar & Grill will not survive in any other neighborhood of the city. Personally. I just wished the food they serve would be better. That's why I would love to see another entrepreneur give it a try. A bit of variety would be nice.
Diverse options are always better but, having attempted our own business that did not work out, I disagree that all you need is capital. What I have learned so far is that at least a few were here and then failed. If you don't want to pay $50 for a Smith and Wollensky burger then you get a grill like the Riverwalk that doesn't exclude anyone due to price and their food is consistent and quality for a grill. Just sayin
Agreed. I simplified a bit. I guess my point is that for the money the B&G is charging they could put out much better product. It's a matter of who is running the kitchen. Same with Nonno's. Play with the dough a bit more. Right now it is rather "eh". Not anywhere close to other pizzarias that charge the same (or even less) but have awesome pizza.
If there were real competition on this island, we would see improvements.
I get your point, but, for the record, Smith and Wollensky's burger is $17.50, not $50.
The pizza crust was even worse when Nonno's first opened. I know I complained (as I sure other did, too) and it improved a bit, but not enough.
That would be correct YetAnotherRider. Thanks for figuring it out!
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