RIRA Island Services Committee Reports On Roosevelt Island Tram Station Elevators, Sportspark, Southtown Commercial Trash, New Public Library & Enhanced Seniors Center Services

Below is Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Island Services Committee (ISC)

  Image From RIRA

report to the RIRA June 1  Common Council:  

RIRA – ISLAND SERVICES COMMITTEE REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL MEETING – 6/1/16

ISC met 5/17/16 with 9 members present from a membership of 12.

Tram Elevator – RIOC is now estimating that the new elevators will be in operation in the fall, 2017 (previous estimate was winter, 2017). RIOC has not yet begun negotiating with the NYC Dept. of Parks for the extra land needed for the elevators’ installation. Meanwhile, John Bost, Director of Engineering and ISC’s principal contact with RIOC on the elevators and other projects, has left RIOC. This may further delay the elevators’ installation.

Sportspark – ISC is dividing this issue into two parts – the major capital projects that have a total cost of over $20 million in the next 3 years, and, the “small” needed improvements in the facilities and programs. If RIOC completes all the planned major projects (roof, HVAC, pool, etc,) in a reasonable time, we should be satisfied with the substantial improvement in the facility. Meanwhile, ISC will work to achieve the ”small” improvements. We plan to meet with RIOC’s new VP for Operations.

Commercial Trash in Southtown – The condition of the yard has improved so that in every week on 4‐5 days the yard is in an acceptable condition, but on 2‐3 days (chiefly on weekends) the yard doesn’t meet regulations. Related promises to redouble their efforts with the restaurants to achieve required standards on every day.

New Public Library – The project remains on schedule with construction expected to start fall, 2016 and be completed at the end of 2017 or 1st quarter, 2018.

Enhanced Programs and Services at Senior Center – ISC has decided to not make this an active issue at present. Instead, we will monitor activities to learn what changes and improvement might be made by the new leadership, which takes over in July.

Control of Rats in Northtown – ISC agreed to make this an active issue. Community Use of Good Shepherd & Cultural Center – We are still fact finding.

Respectfully Submitted Aaron Hamburger, Chair ‐ ISC

Here is the June 1 RIRA Common Council discussion of the RIRA ISC Committee Report presented by ISC member Mickey Rindler.