Saturday, June 29, 2013

The Hunger Games Showing Tonight To Open 2013 Roosevelt Island Outdoor Summer Movie Series At Southpoint Park


According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
It's that time again! Saturday, June 29th is the start of the Outdoor Summer Movie Series, which will begin with the blockbuster hit The Hunger Games ! Make your way down to Southpoint Park at 7 PM for a FREE night of music and movie trivia. A variety of food and drinks, along with buttery popcorn and tasty cotton candy will be available for purchase. Come out early, claim your spot and enjoy the movie with family and friends.

** Rain Date: July 6th**

This event is sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Here's the trailer for The Hunger Games.



RIOC President Charlene Indelicato adds:
A beloved Roosevelt Island tradition, RIOC’s Summer Outdoor Movie Series, is back for a fabulous fifth season starting with the 2012 blockbuster The Hunger Games on Saturday, June 29 (rain date: July 6). 
This year we are screening a wide range of flicks that were voted on by residents, including The Breakfast Club (July 12, rain date: July 20), Pitch Perfect (July 13, rain date: July 21), Brave (July 27, rain date: August 3), Rocky (August 10, rain date: August 17), and Inception (August 24, rain date: August 31). In the event of inclement weather, we will announce postponements via RIOC advisories – email subscribe@rioc.ny.gov to sign up – and on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The movies start at 8:45 pm at Southpoint Park, but residents and visitors are encouraged to come at 6:00 pm for music, movie trivia, and refreshments that will be on sale. The park is ADA accessible and the Red Bus will stop at the nearby bus stop every 15 minutes. As always, admission is free, so bring a blanket or a chair and enjoy the show!
Southpoint Park is a great place to watch outdoor movies with beautiful views

Image Of 2012 Roosevelt Island Southpoint Park Movie Showing of Captain America By Irina Hage


of the East River waterfront skyline.

Pass the popcorn please.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Report From RIOC President Charlene Indelicato - Roosevelt Island Interim Public Safety Director John McManus, New Red Bus Stop At Sportspark, New Benches and Chairs, Motorgate Disabled Signs and 2013 Southpoint Park Outdoor Summer Movies Start Tomorrow

 Image of RIOC President Charlene Indelicato From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato sends the following report to the community.
The hot weather is finally here and I can think of no better place to enjoy the summer months in New York City than on Roosevelt Island. We have some great events planned for our residents and visitors and hope everyone has an opportunity to take part in the fun. You can learn more about one of those activities, the Summer Outdoor Movie Series, below. But first, a more serious matter.

New PSD Interim Director

As I have said repeatedly in the five weeks I have been President of RIOC, resolving issues related to the Public Safety Department (PSD) and ensuring the ongoing safety of residents is a top priority.

To that end, on Monday, June 17, we hired John B. McManus through a consultant firm to serve as Interim Director of PSD. Mr. McManus has extensive public safety, security, and management experience. He served as Commanding Officer of three NYPD precincts, Commanding Officer for the Operations Division, and as Executive Officer to the Chief of Department, where he assisted with personnel management, staff deployment, developing and monitoring operational budgets, and analyzing the effectiveness of departmental and operational plans and major new crime fighting initiatives. He also has served as Director of Security for the Time Warner Center and as Director of Security for the World Trade Center where he managed between 100 and 150 guards daily.

Mr. McManus comes to the job equipped to implement a community-based service model, where officers are fully engaged with the community. The emphasis will be on de-escalation, reducing civilian complaints, and enhanced support for residents, as well as focusing on quality of life issues. Mr. McManus has a background in successfully implementing community-based service and I’m already starting to see a culture change within PSD.

As Mr. McManus is serving as the Interim Director, we have initiated a search for a permanent PSD Director that we plan to complete this year.

New Red Bus Stop

We are always evaluating transportation on the Island to ensure that our Tram and Red Bus systems are meeting the needs of residents and visitors. With that in mind, we are creating a new Red Bus stop at Sportspark. Beginning on July 5, there will be a southbound stop outside the Sportspark pool entrance and a northbound stop on the other side near the gym.

New Benches and Chairs

RIOC’s ever-busy Engineering Department is in the midst of replacing the old benches on the west side of the Island with 30 brand new benches that are made of a more resilient wood. Stretching from the rear of PS/IS 217 to 30 River Road, the new benches will be perfect for relaxing and enjoying the spectacular views of Manhattan. Meanwhile, we are also refurbishing the chairs inside the Good Shepherd Community Center.

Motorgate Disabled Signs

The renovation work at the Motorgate Parking Facility has necessitated the temporary relocation of vehicles during several phases of construction. As a result, the upcoming work scheduled for August 1 will cause the temporary relocation of lots on levels 4B and 4D, which include a large number of parking spaces for the disabled.

In the course of installing the temporary signs currently located on 5D and 6D, there was a misunderstanding with the Motorgate operator regarding the placement and the time frames for installation. The disabled parking placards that are currently posted on levels 5D and 6D will be removed, replaced on July 24, and will to go into effect on August 1. The placards will be posted in areas that are closer to the elevator. The new lots will temporarily replace those in area 4D, as well as the parking spaces for the disabled that were removed from Main Street due to the construction work at Manhattan Park.

Summer Outdoor Movie Series

A beloved Roosevelt Island tradition, RIOC’s Summer Outdoor Movie Series, is back for a fabulous fifth season starting with the 2012 blockbuster The Hunger Games on Saturday, June 29 (rain date: July 6). 
This year we are screening a wide range of flicks that were voted on by residents, including The Breakfast Club (July 12, rain date: July 20), Pitch Perfect (July 13, rain date: July 21), Brave (July 27, rain date: August 3), Rocky (August 10, rain date: August 17), and Inception (August 24, rain date: August 31). In the event of inclement weather, we will announce postponements via RIOC advisories – email subscribe@rioc.ny.gov to sign up – and on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The movies start at 8:45 pm at Southpoint Park, but residents and visitors are encouraged to come at 6:00 pm for music, movie trivia, and refreshments that will be on sale. The park is ADA accessible and the Red Bus will stop at the nearby bus stop every 15 minutes. As always, admission is free, so bring a blanket or a chair and enjoy the show!
Ms. Indelicato also reported to the June 27 RIOC Board Of Directors meeting. She indicated that negotiations are starting with Cornell NYC Tech and that policies are in the works concerning the Garden Club, Cultural Center and other non profits. Ms. Indelicato thanked the RIOC Board as well as former acting RIOC President and current General Counsel Don Lewis for their support.  Here's what she had to say.

Double Scoop Of Roosevelt Island Treats Tonight, Local Singer/Songwriter Emily Mure Performing 7 PM At Coach Scott's Main Street Sweets - Live Music and Ice Cream, What Could Be Better?


You Tube Video Of Emily Mure's Like The Moon

Are you in the mood for some Roosevelt Island Ice Cream


and Music tonight? If you are, then you can have both treats tonight at Coach Scott's Main Street Sweets where Roosevelt Island resident and singer/songwriter Emily Mure will be performing at 7 PM. Ms. Mure Tweets:
Here's Ms. Mure performing Don't Lock The Front Door



You can find out more about Ms. Mure and download her music here.

UPDATE 10:45 PM - In front of a packed crowd of young and young at heart ice cream eaters at Coach Scott's Main Street Sweets, Roosevelt Island's version of Williamsburg's Pete's Candy Store, Ms. Mure played a wonderful acoustic set of her music.

Enjoy..

Part 1



and Part 2.



It would be great to see more of Ms. Mure performing on Roosevelt Island - perhaps outdoors at Meditation Steps, Riverwalk Commons or in Southpoint Park.

Her next New York City gig is at The Living Room on  July 30.

Report From Cornell NYC Tech Vice President Cathy Dove - Creating A Vibrant, Open Roosevelt Island Campus, Corporate Co Location Building And Partnering With Developer Forest City Ratner

Cornell NYC Tech Vice President Cathy Dove 

 Image of Cathy Dove From Crains NY Business

sends this report to the Roosevelt Island community.
Creating a Vibrant and Open Campus

Now that we have completed the Cityʼs land use review process for the Cornell Tech campus, our planning is advancing and our vision for the campus is coming into clearer focus every day as we move toward aground breaking early next year. In this column we are stepping back from some of the details weʼve been focused on for the past few months and are taking a look at how weʼre working to make the campus active, open and engaging from the day we open in 2017. We made great progress on that front this week with the announcement of a partnership with Forest City Ratner to build one of the key buildings on campus, which Iʼll describe in greater detail below.

When we open our doors in 2017 itʼs important that the campus feel like a complete and wonderful place for students, faculty, staff, Islanders, companies and visitors. This is true both from a design perspective – with attractive and usable open space and a mix of building types and activities – and from a program perspective – with all of the components needed to achieve our academic mission.

When you approach the campus in 2017 and beyond, youʼll be welcomed by the first academic building at the campusʼ main entrance at the northwest corner of the site. As you may know, this building is being designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis. We released some very exciting renderings early this year. Since then the building has evolved and improved through the design process as we get closer to a final design. We will have new renderings to share in the fall and we couldnʼt be more excited about how this signature building is coming together.

The campus is designed to be open – and the architecture of the academic building also follows this principle. It will be open and permeable, inside and out. Inside, it will promote collaboration and an open exchange of ideas between students, faculty, researchers and the industry partners who will work with us. Outside, the building is being designed to welcome the community, with transparent lower floors and a public cafe that spills out on to the open space in warm weather.

The next key piece of the campus is the corporate co-location (“co-lo”) building. This building is a big part of what differentiates Cornell Tech – it will bring private companies directly onto the campus, promoting collaboration between academia and industry, helping to remove friction that can inhibit innovation. Industry plays a key role throughout the curriculum – companies are already partnering with us on special projects, weekly practicum courses and as mentors – but it is also important to have significant interaction as part of the overall campus activity. The way to do that is to provide space for relevant organizations to “co-locate” at the Cornell Tech campus.

The co-lo building will include between 150- 200,000 square feet of flexible space, with a diverse mix of tenants including both start-ups and established organizations. There will be a balance of incubator space, innovation centers for bigger companies and adaptable space for relevant organizations to spend time on the campus. The building will include flexible, open floor plans with common spaces to facilitate meetings and serendipitous, informal interactions between students, faculty and companies. We expect that leading-edge companies of all sizes and life-stages will be drawn to the innovation and energy of Cornell Tech, helping to accelerate the already rapid growth of New Yorkʼs tech sector. Cornell Tech will also occupy space in the building, further cementing the connection between academics and industry on campus.

We announced a major advancement regarding this building this week with the selection of Forest City Ratner Companies to develop the building, subject to finalizing plans and terms. Forest City Ratner would also oversee development of the first academic building, the open space and related infrastructure for the first phase of the campus, ensuring a coordinated approach to construction. The award- winning architecture, landscape and urbanism firm, WEISS/ MANFREDI will be the architect of the co-location building, furthering Cornell Techʼs commitment to innovation in design for this campus. Early concept drawings reflect a design that is equal to the significant architecture of the first academic building, and the overall beauty of Roosevelt Island. Now that the team is in place, we will begin the design process in seriousness, and look forward to sharing preliminary concepts with the community later this year.

This announcement was a major milestone for a number of reasons. The participation of a great partner in Forest City Ratner ensures we will be working with an extraordinarily capable firm. In addition, our plan always envisioned working with partners such as Forest City Ratner as a way to meet our aggressive timeline and to have a vibrant mix of activities when the campus opens in 2017.

We hope to have similar news to share about the first residential building and possibly our executive education center in the coming months, which would round out the first phase of the campus. I look forward to keeping everyone updated as this exciting new campus moves forward!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Gorgeous Picture Of Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park East River Waterfront Pathway - Not By Monet Or Manet But By Local Photographer Braga-Babinsky

No, this beautiful picture is not a landscape painting by French Impressionist masters Claude Monet or Edouard Manet but a recent photo of pathway at Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park by


local photographer Juliana Braga-Babinsky.

Good Job!!!!!

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Board Of Directors Meeting Today - Public Safety Management Services, Communication And Marketing Services, 2012 -13 Financial Statement Among Items On Agenda

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Board of Directors meeting will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at the Manhattan Park Community Center, 8 River Road, Roosevelt Island, New York, for the purpose of transacting such business as shall come before the Board.

* * *

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.

AGENDA

JUNE 27, 2013 MEETING OF
THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE MANHATTAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER,
8 RIVER ROAD, ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NEW YORK
5:30 P.M. 1
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
1. May 30, 2013 Board Meeting (Board Action Required)
IV. Old Business
V. New Business
1. Presentation of RIOC's Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2012-13
2. Approval of Report on Procurement Contracts for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013 (Board Action Required)
3. Approval of Report on Investments for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013 (Board Action Required)
4. Approval of Property Report for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013 (Board Action Required)
5. Approval of Annual Report for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013 (Board Action Required)
6. Authorization to Enter into Contract with Zetlin Strategic Communications, Inc. for Communications and Marketing Services (Board Action Required)
7. Ratification of Contract with Guidepost Solutions, LLC for Public Safety Department Management Services (Board Action Required)
8. President's Report
9. Committee Reports
a. Audit Committee
b. Governance Committee
c. Operations Advisory Committee
d. Real Estate Development Advisory Committee
10. Public Safety Report
VI. Adjournment

1 The RIOC Board Meeting will commence following a public comment period. The public comment period is not part of the meeting.

Update On Cornell NYC Tech Negotiations With RIOC Subject Of Today's Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Real Estate Advisory Committee Meeting - Meeting Is In Executive Session, Closed To Public

Image From Cornell NYC Tech (credit Kilograph)

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

1. Chair's Motion for Executive Session for Update on Current Negotiations Regarding Cornell NYC;

2. Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee
As previously reported, NYC has approved the project and transfer of Goldwater campus land NYC controls to Cornell but Cornell must still reach an agreement with RIOC for the Goldwater campus land controlled by RIOC:
... Many issues still need to be resolved before Cornell NYC Tech can take possession, begin demolition of the existing Goldwater Hospital and start construction of the new applied sciences and engineering school. Among the issues still to be negotiated with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) are an agreement with RIOC for land controlled by RIOC that is part of the proposed Cornell campus, the use of barging and temporary concrete plant during the construction process, air and noise pollution monitoring and much more....
Below is an aerial view of the existing Goldwater Hospital campus that is scheduled to be demolished in early 2014 to make way for the Cornell NYC Tech campus. NYC controls the land that is beneath the hospital buildings and extending a perimeter of 5 feet from the buildings. RIOC controls all the other land on the Goldwater campus site between the roads on the outside of the campus (East and West Channel Roads).

More here on latest Cornell NYC Tech developments including selection of Forest City Ratner as corporate co-location building and Master Plan developer

and this video in which
Dan Huttenlocher, Founding Dean of Cornell Tech, and Provost Kent Fuchs provide insight into the latest developments of the newly established Cornell NYC Tech Campus.



If you are interested in the Cornell NYC Tech project,  I recommend watching the whole hour long video.

Today's RIOC Real Estate Committee meeting on the Cornell negotiations is in executive session which means it is closed to the public.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Can DNA Testing Solve Roosevelt Island's Dog Poop Mess? PooPrints To The Rescue

Reported previously that Roosevelt Island is a great place to test new and exciting technology for the betterment of those who live, work and visit here. Projects that succeed on Roosevelt Island can then be expanded to other locations.

Here's another opportunity to test a technology solution to a common problem on Roosevelt Island and everywhere else. Could DNA Testing technology


be the solution for the Dog Poop problem?


According to the Huffington Post:
The only thing worse than stepping in dog poop is knowing there's pretty much no way to track down the guilty pet owner.

That's where PooPrints comes in. The service, created by BioPet Vet Lab in Tennessee, can be purchased by entire housing complexes or housing developments that are willing to make pet DNA swabbing a requirement for residents. That way, if anyone ever comes across a pile of abandoned feces on the street, PooPrints can take a sample, send it to a lab and instantly know which dog, and consequently which owner, is the culprit....
Click here for the entire article.

ABC 7 News reports:



Responding in 2010 to residents complaints about some dog owners not picking up their dog's poop, former Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department (PSD) Director Keith Guerra stated:
... The Public Safety Department has received calls regarding dog owners not picking up after their dogs. Unfortunately, by the time we respond to the location, the person is usually gone. However, if someone is seen by a Public Safety Officer not picking up after their dog, they can be ticketed.

Dogs are also not permitted to run loose in non-designated areas. "Curb your Dog" signs refer to just that. Dogs must be kept on a leash.

"No Dogs Allowed" signs are authorized to be placed on private property. If a person disobeys any of the posted signs, they fall subject to being ticketed as well.

Please note that Public Safety Officers can use discretion and choose to issue a verbal warning in lieu of a ticket.

Residents need to use good judgement in these areas, as they do affect the Quality of Life here on the island. Encourage your readers to be good neighbors by keeping their dogs on a leash and picking up after them as well....
So, what do you think? Should Roosevelt Island dogs be required to have their DNA on file with PSD or their building management so that poop not picked up can be tested to identify and ticket the dog owner?

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Roosevelt Island Women's Health Organization Free Seminar Tomorrow June 26 On Empowering Women Today For A Healthier Tomorrow

Received the following invitation from the Roosevelt Island Women's Health Organization for their June Seminar on:

Empowering Women Today For A Healthier Tomorrow
which will take place Wednesday June 26, 6-9 PM at the 546 Community Room on the 12th Floor.

The flyer below incorrectly states the date as July 26, the correct date is tomorrow June 26.

Roosevelt Island Is A Great Place To Watch Boats Passing By On The East River - Anybody Interested In A Roosevelt Island East River Kayaking Program

One of the great things about living on Roosevelt Island is the opportunity to see all different types of boats travelling the East River.

Last night I spotted this fast moving speedboat passing Roosevelt Island approaching and then underneath the Queensboro bridge


leaving behind a sizeable wake.


Over the last weekend, a much more leisurely paced rowboat was passing by


and a flotilla of sailboats followed by a tug pushing a barge.


Not to mention the East River pirate ship, solar powered catamaran, inflatable duck, kayakers, house, and even dolphin.

It's a real shame Roosevelt Island does not have direct access to the East River for a Kayak Launch.



The Long Island City Community Boathouse has expressed a willingness to start a Roosevelt Island kayaking program.

Anybody interested?

Roosevelt Island Yoga Community Celebrates June 21 Summer Solstice - Raises Money For Local Children

Image From Keren Messer

Lauren Blankstein reports on last Friday's

Image From Keren Messer

 Roosevelt Island Summer Solstice Yoga Event.

Image From Keren Messer

From Ms. Blankstein:
Roosevelt Island’s yoga community came together to celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, on June 21st. Approximately 30 yogis and a handful of kids gathered at P.S. 217’s playground for a 108-minute class.

Image From Keren Messer

Under a beautiful sky, with various styles of music accompanying detailed instruction, the class included pranayama (breathing exercises), a dynamic hatha flow, walking meditation, and Merengue-inspired asana.

Image From Keren Messer

The evening class raised $300, which organizers will donate to Island Kids, the Youth Center/Beacon and the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery.

Yoga instructors and Island residents Lauren Blankstein, Jax Schott and Keren Messer organized and led the event with support from Beacon and the Youth Center. Each of these instructors teaches yoga at different locations on the Island and this was their inaugural collaborative event.

Image From Keren Messer

Their long-term intention is to foster a stronger sense of community among Island yogis and to expose more Islanders to the benefits of yoga through these events. For more information about yoga events on Roosevelt Island contact lblankstein@gmail.com, jax-nyc@hotmail.com, kerenmsr@gmail.com
Meditation Steps would be a great place to hold future Roosevelt Island Yoga Events.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Black Billowing Smoke Coming From Transcanada Big Allis Ravenswood Power Plant In Long Island City Causing Concern On Roosevelt Island

About 4:15 this afternoon a very heavy,


scary looking, black smoke was coming out

 Image From Adib Mansour

of the Transcanada Big Allis Power Plant in Long Island City causing concern among Roosevelt Island residents and others.

It lasted for about 25 minutes

Image From Judy Berdy

and then


stopped.

A Roosevelt Island resident reports being told by the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department that debris got struck in the smokestack causing the black smoke but that it is safe now.

UPDATE 6/25:

Image From Eva Bosbach

Roosevelt Island's Assembly Member Micah Kellner forwards this response from Transcanada's Community Relations Coordinator Sharon Scott:
I appreciate that your office reached out and inquired about the smoke situation at the plant today. Below is a brief description of the day’s events. I hope this is helpful in bringing comfort to Assembly member Kellner’s constituents and our New York City neighbors.

At approximately 4:30 pm ET, TransCanada's Ravenswood Power facility lost one of the eight boiler combustion fans in an operating unit. As a result of the loss of this combustion fan, black smoke was present in the stack and people would have seen this for a short period of time. Corrective action was taken immediately and the situation is under control.

There is no risk to human health and our personnel are investigating what took place. Until we can determine what caused the fan to stop and safely make repairs, this individual unit will be operating under a limited load. However, the Ravenswood facility has the ability to deliver additional power from our reserve units on site, which will allow us to meet our commitments to our customers in the New York City area.
Roosevelt Island's interim Public Safety Department Director John McManus told me last night that the cause of the black smoke was debris getting caught in the smokestack.

Cornell NYC Tech Announces Forest City Ratner As Corporate Co-Location Building and Master Plan Developer For New Roosevelt Island Campus But Financial And Other Terms Not Yet Finalized - Agreement Must Still Be Reached With Roosevelt Island Operating Corp On Land Conveyance, Barging And Other Issues

Image From Cornell NYC Tech (credit Kilograph)

Received the following Press Release from Cornell NYC Tech this morning:
Cornell NYC Tech today announced a major advancement in its effort to bring industry and academia together on its Roosevelt Island campus with plans to develop its first “corporate co-location” building. This building will house a mix of companies at the heart of the campus, facilitating the interaction between academia and industry that is central to Cornell Tech’s mission. On Thursday, Cornell University’s Board of Trustees approved the plan to move forward with Forest City Ratner Companies as the developer of this building, subject to finalizing plans and terms. Forest City Ratner would also act as master developer, overseeing development of the first academic building, the open space and related infrastructure for the first phase of the campus.

“This level of private sector investment in the campus, and, upon completion of our finalizing the details, the participation of a great partner in Forest City Ratner, validates the campus’ enormous economic development potential for New York and ensures that we will have a vibrant mix of activities when the campus opens in 2017,” said Cathy Dove, Vice President of Cornell Tech. “We expect that leading-edge companies large and small will be drawn to the innovation and energy of Cornell Tech, helping to accelerate the already rapid growth of New York’s tech sector.”

“Cornell Tech is radically re-thinking how industry can collaborate with faculty, students and researchers, and corporate co-location is vital to making that a success,” said Cornell Tech Dean Dan Huttenlocher. “It was so exciting to launch our academic program this year and it’s equally exciting to see the physical campus coming together in a way that will advance our mission moving forward.”

"Forest City Ratner is thrilled to partner with Cornell Tech on the creation of a world class innovative campus that will drive the growth of New York's tech sector and economic development in the city for years to come," said Forest City Ratner Companies President and CEO MaryAnne Gilmartin. "From Metro Tech to Times Square to Barclays Center and Atlantic Yards, Forest City Ratner has always bet on the growth of our great city and we couldn't be more excited to play a part in this next exciting chapter. With the corporate co-location building Cornell Tech is charting new territory, and we look forward to exceeding expectations with an iconic architectural design by WEISS/MANFREDI.”

The award-winning architecture, landscape and urbanism firm, WEISS / MANFREDI will be the architect of the co-location building, which together with Cornell Tech's flagship academic building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis, will launch the Cornell Tech campus.

“We're excited to partner with Forest City Ratner Companies and Cornell to create a new architectural paradigm that fosters innovation and collaboration,” said Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi.

Cornell Tech offers a distinctive model of graduate tech education that fuses scientific excellence with real-world applications and entrepreneurship, rooted in the latest academic research. Students, faculty and industry experts learn and work together to develop ideas and create new ventures that have globalimpact.

The corporate co-location building will include up to 200,000 square feet of flexible office space, with a diverse mix of tenants including both start-ups and established companies. There will be a balance of incubator space, research and development labs, corporate innovation centers for bigger companies and rotating space for regional companies to spend time in New York City. The building will include flexible, open floor plans with common spaces to facilitate meetings and serendipitous, informal interactions between students and companies. Cornell Tech will also lease 50,000 square feet in the building, further cementing the connection between academics and industry on campus.

This is another major milestone for the campus. Cornell Tech’s “beta” class of computer science masters students completed its first semester in May in space donated by Google in Chelsea. Cornell Tech is rapidly rolling out new academic programs, recruiting star faculty, developing a distinctive new model of tech entrepreneurship, and designing its permanent campus on Roosevelt Island, which will break ground early next year. In April, Dr. Irwin Mark Jacobs, Founding Chairman and CEO Emeritus of Qualcomm, and his wife Joan Klein Jacobs, donated a $133-million gift to Cornell University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology to create the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute (JTCII). The JTCII is a key component of Cornell Tech. The funds will help support curriculum initiatives, faculty and graduate students, and industry interactions in a two-year graduate program.

The City's Applied Sciences NYC initiative was designed to capitalize on the considerable growth presently occurring within the science, technology and research fields in New York, and builds on the Bloomberg Administration’s dedication to creating a more diversified and competitive economy for the future. In December 2011, the Cornell and Technion partnership was selected by the City as the first winner of the Applied Sciences competition. When completed, the Roosevelt Island campus will house approximately 2,000 full-time graduate students.
In response to my inquiry about the agreement between Cornell NYC Tech and Forest City Ratner (FCRC), a Cornell NYC Tech Press Spokesperson added:
Financial terms are being finalized ...

FCRC would own the corporate co-location building and be responsible for leasing the space, with Cornell committing to be an anchor tenant essentially.

On the rest of the first phase FCRC would have a fee developer relationship, overseeing development of the first academic building, open space and infrastructure.
What is not widely known about the Cornell NYC Tech project is that it is not yet a done deal. Although NYC has approved the Cornell NYC Tech ULURP application, Cornell NYC Tech must still reach an agreement with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC).  As previously reported:
... Many issues still need to be resolved before Cornell NYC Tech can take possession, begin demolition of the existing Goldwater Hospital and start construction of the new applied sciences and engineering school. Among the issues still to be negotiated with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) are an agreement with RIOC for land controlled by RIOC that is part of the proposed Cornell campus, the use of barging and temporary concrete plant during the construction process, air and noise pollution monitoring and much more....
Below is an aerial view of the existing Goldwater Hospital campus that is scheduled to be demolished in early 2014 to make way for the Cornell NYC Tech campus. NYC controls the land that is beneath the hospital buildings and extending a perimeter of 5 feet from the buildings. RIOC controls all the other land on the Goldwater campus site between the roads on the outside of the campus (East and West Channel Roads).


Click here for a satellite view of the area.

NYC is giving away for free the land they control to Cornell NYC. RIOC, whose Board of Directors have fiduciary obligations to maintain the financial stability of Roosevelt Island, hopes to receive fair compensation for the land they control which Cornell NYC Tech desires to be part of their campus.

Roosevelt Island's NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin and Cornell NYC Tech VP Cathy Dove addressed this issue during May 8 press conference announcing Cornell's ULURP Application approval. Here's what they had to say.



RIOC has a new President, Charlene Indelicato, who has the backing of NY State Governor Cuomo. She is reportedly a tough, resourceful, experienced and competent real estate negotiator. We will soon know if Ms. Indelicato and the RIOC Board are able to protect the interests of Roosevelt Island as they negotiate with Cornell NYC Tech.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Roosevelt Island Children's Concert Today 4 PM At Riverwalk Commons - R&R Concerts Present Guitarist Troy Schremmer and Violinist Ralph Allen

Image From R&R Concerts

R&R Concerts is presenting a free Children's Concert this afternoon, 4 PM, at the Riverwak Commons. According to R&R Concerts:
Bring the kids for some great fun with guitarist and singer Troy Schremmer accompanied by violinist Ralph Allen outdoors on the grass at Riverwalk Commons just behind the Roosevelt Island subway station.
Here's more on Troy Schremmer.



UPDATE 8:40 PM - No doubt about it, the kids and parents had a great time at today's Children's Concert with Troy Schremmer and Ralph Allen. Here's a sample.