Saturday, December 23, 2017

Roosevelt Island St Francis Xavier Cabrini Church Opens New Location Just In Time For Christmas

Roosevelt Island's St Francis Xavier Cabrini Church new location on the second floor at 504 Main Street


will open for the first time on Sunday December 24


for Christmas services.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Comedy Tram Is New TV Pilot Featuring Stand Up Comedians Performing On Roosevelt Island Tram

The Roosevelt Island Tram was the venue for a new comedy TV pilot. According to Comedy Tram:

Comedy Tram is taking comedians to new heights - literally!

This upcoming series features stand-up comedians performing to public audiences on the Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City.
Here's the trailer



and routine by Petey DeAbreu.

SPONSORED POST - Wengerd Family Farmers Market Wishes A Blessed Christmas Season And A Wonderful 2018 New Year To Roosevelt Island Community, Will Be Open Saturday December 23 & December 30

The Wengerd Family,


operators of the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market, wish you a Blessed Christmas season and a wonderful 2018 and want you to know that they will be open Saturday December 23 and December 30.

The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market under the Motorgate Ramp is open early morning to mid afternoon on Saturdays in good weather and bad.

Good News, Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend

According to the MTA, there will be Roosevelt Island F Train service


to and from Manhattan this weekend.

There's also the Roosevelt Island Express Lego Train that rides around the FDR Four Freedoms Park reported on yesterday.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

And Now For Something Completely Different - Roosevelt Island Express Lego Train Explores FDR Four Freedoms Park, Take A Ride And Enjoy Fantastic Views

All Aboard.



Click full screen icon for fantastic views from the FDR Four Freedoms Park.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Report From RIOC President Susan Rosenthal - Roosevelt Island Public Safety Officers To Use Radar Speed Gun To Slow Down Traffic, Half Million Dollar Grant For Smallpox Hospital Stabilization, All Seawall Railings Will Be Replaced & More

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal reported to the December 19 Board of Directors meeting on the following:

  • Half Million Dollar matching grant for Smallpox Hospital Stabilization Project - $25 million is necessary to stabilize the Ruins
  • Hiring a Public Information Officer to improve communications between RIOC and the community,
  • New RIOC web site launching next month,
  • Cultural Center closing for month of January to do mold re-mediation,
  • Both Tram Cabins are now running - additional work will be done in spring when only 1 cabin will run,
  • Public Safety to use speed radar equipment to slow down traffic in north and south of Island,
  • Youth Center Operator will be awarded in January,
  • Tram Elevator project to start soon
  • All the Roosevelt Island Seawall railing will be replaced
  • Youth Center and Sportspark renovations,
  • New Octagon Sports Field and Comfort Station Coming
  • Happy Holiday and a Wonderful New Year!

Roosevelt Island Community Literary Associates Donates $3700 To NY Public Library To Establish Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Collection - Final Act Of RICLA Before Closing

Before ending operations as a non-profit organization, on Saturday, December 16, Roosevelt Island Community Literary Associates (RICLA) President & Treasurer Janet Falk presented a check for $3,700 to NY Public Library Roosevelt Island Branch Manager Carlos Chavez

Image Of Janet Falk, Lorraine Lasker, Board member, Carlos Chavez, Library Manager RICLA

as a donation to establish the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Collection.

RICLA President & Treasurer Janet Falk reports:
The Roosevelt Island Community Library was created in 1979 by volunteers. Members of the newly established community conceived a volunteer library stocked with donated books and open to all residents for a nominal membership fee, making the resources accessible. Housed initially in a Westview community room, there were sessions of story time for very young children and the collection grew.

Eventually, the Friends of the Roosevelt Island Community Library signed a lease for the large storefront at 524 Main Street in June 1981. The collection continued to expand and by December 1994 numbered more than 30,000 volumes. On July 11, 1989, Roosevelt Island Community Literary Associates (RICLA) was incorporated. Its mission was to enrich the intellectual life of Roosevelt Island residents by supporting the promotion of a variety of literary, cultural and educational activities.

The New York Public Library had long intended to open a branch on Roosevelt Island, but budget issues precluded appropriations. Assemblyman Pete Grannis worked to secure the funds for capital improvements. Finally, in June 1998, the Community Library's books, bookcases and other assets were sold to the New York Public Library.

The primary function of RICLA having been re-assigned, the organization entered a quiet period. In 2004 and again, from 2009-2014, RICLA applied for grants from the Public Purpose Fund of RIOC and other sources. These funds were allocated in a matching advertising grant to Roosevelt Island's cultural and educational nonprofit groups. A new service, begun in 2009, provided grant writing services to these groups. Notably, RICLA assisted the Roosevelt island Disabled Association in securing funds for its operations. RICLA also was instrumental in aiding the Roosevelt Island Historical Society to secure the lamppost base and the funds for its transport, restoration and installation near the Visitor Center kiosk.

RICLA has decided to donate the balance of its treasury, $3700, to the New York Public Library to establish the Franklin and Elanor Roosevelt Collection. This money will be used to purchase books, DVDs, a bust of Eleanor Roosevelt and other relevant materials of the period of their lives. The collection will circulate throughout the NYPL, but will be tagged appropriately so that the materials are always returned to Roosevelt Island.

In making this donation, RICLA will close as a nonprofit organization that has long supported the Island community and its nonprofits.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Who Maintains Safety And Removes Ice From Roosevelt Island Ferry Dock Landing? - RIOC Discusses Infrastructure Improvements To Roosevelt Island Ferry Dock Landing

After the snow of last week, a Roosevelt Island resident reported on Friday, December 15:

Stairs and path to the ferry are nearly solid ice this morning around 8. Who is responsible for salting this and keeping it safe?
I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal and Vice President Of Operations Shelton Haynes about the icy conditions at the ferry dock and who's responsibility is it to maintain safety by removing ice - RIOC or the NYC Economic Development Corp (EDC)/Ferry Company.

Mr. Haynes replied:
... RIOC is responsible for the upland area while EDC is responsible for the actual Ferry Dock....
On Sunday I took a walk around the Ferry Dock area and most of the ice was gone,


either removed or melting to slush.



by the warmer weather over the weekend.

During the November 30 RIOC Operations Advisory Committee meeting (audio web cast of full meeting here), RIOC Engineering Consultant Mike Russo discussed improvements being made to the Upland portion of Roosevelt Island Ferry Dock



and



Oil Dock area.

Sponsored Post - Season's Greetings From Hudson Related, Wishing Everyone On Roosevelt Island A Happy And Healthy 2018

Season's Greetings From Hudson Related, Wishing Everyone On Roosevelt Island A Happy And Healthy 2018.


Shops On Main appreciates your patronage.

Monday, December 18, 2017

Help A Fellow New Yorker By Donating To NY Cares Winter Coat Drive Hosted By Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department reports:

Help a fellow New Yorker and take part in this year's NY Cares Coat Drive, hosted by the Public Safety Department. Gently used coats can be donated to the Public Safety Department, at 550 Main Street, from now until December 28th. For more information, call (212) 832-4545.

More info



on NY Cares from their web site.

RIOC Budget Approval, Public Purpose Funds Authorization & Funds For Youth Center Program Among Items On Agenda For December 19 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Board Of Directors Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors will meet 5:30 PM Tuesday, December 19 at the Cultural Center (548 Main Street). Among the items on the Agenda are

Prior to the start of the RIOC Board meeting, there will be a public comment period. Sign up here to speak at the meeting.

The RIOC Proposed Budget reports rescheduling the start of Southtown Building 8 and 9 construction to April 2018 and July 2019 respectively.

The RIOC Budget also includes projected payment of over $23 million from NY State for the Cornell Tech project.

Image From RIOC

According to the Proposed RIOC Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19 (Page 1):
Revenues

RIOC’s Proposed Budget FY 2018‐19 projects revenues of $51,203,000 a increase of $23,234,000 or 83.07 % over the Approved Budget FY 2017‐18 amount of $27,969,000. RIOC generates most of its revenues from long‐term ground leases to developers of housing projects on the Island. These leases specify the manner in which the ground lease revenues are derived, including amounts, timing, and escalation of ground lease payments, specifically residential fees, ground rents, and public safety fees. In addition, RIOC generates revenues from its Tramway transportation system, Motorgate parking garage, metered street parking, commercial leases, interest income, and other revenues. Other revenues mostly consist of permitting fees collected for activities that take place in the Sportspark sports facility, the Cultural Center, the Sports Fields, and third party construction on the Island.

Residential fees are projected to decrease by $534,000 or 26.47%. This is mainly due to two factors: (1) the rescheduling of the projected construction dates for Southtown Building 8 and 9 to April 2018 and July 2019; respectively, resulting in the deferral of Tax Equivalent Payments in the amount of $268,000 to the respective fiscal periods, and (2) the completion of the Island House Initial Sponsor Sales in FY 17‐ 18, resulting in the reduction of the projections for coop and condo sales transactions fees for FY 18‐19 in the amount of $221,000.

Ground rents are projected to increase by $23,541,000 or 194.17% due to the projected payment of the State’s contribution for Cornell. Furthermore, projections for Rivercross and Westview are based on current levels, however both projected ground rents are expected to increase.

Commercial rents are projected to decrease due to the cost for the joint marketing campaign between RIOC and Hudson Related Retail LLC.

Tramway revenues are projected to decrease by $233,000 or 4.08%, due to over‐projection of the revenues in the FY 17‐18 budget.

Public Safety revenues are projected to increase by $56,000 or 2.86% due to contractual escalations. Transport/parking revenues are projected to increase by $510,000 or 19.28%, mainly due to the addition of 15 additional parking meters on the Island.

Interest revenues are projected to increase by $35,000 or 33.02% due to gradual increases in interest rates.

Other Revenues is projected to decrease by $98,000 or 5.48%. Most of the decrease is due to the provision of free usage of the Sports Fields to meet the recreation needs of the community residents.
Also (Page 4-5):

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Roosevelt Island Tram Service Operating On Regular Service Schedule With Both Cabins Starting Monday Morning December 18 Says RIOC - But Work Still Remains To Complete The Tram Platform Repair Project

The Roosevelt Island Parents' Network asked:
Some parents are asking about progress of tram maintenance. Could you please help me find out if it'll finish as promised or will need to take longer?
Good news for Roosevelt Island Tram riders. Both Tram cabins will be in operation tomorrow morning, December 18.

 Image of Roosevelt Island Tram Station Sunday December 17

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
As of 6:00AM on Monday, December 18, 2017, both tram cars will be in service operating on their regular schedule. The temporary Red Bus shuttle service that was offered during the tram platform renovation will no longer be in operation.

Tram platform repairs will still be on going. From December 18th through December 29th , it will be necessary for contractors to use one tram car between 6:30AM and 7:00AM, as well as between 2:00PM and 2:30PM daily. These are the only anticipated deviations from the regular tram operating schedule.

Both tram cars will remain in operation until the spring. RIOC anticipates that only one tram will be in operation for a period of three weeks to complete the renovations during that period.

We thank you for your patience and wish you a happy holiday season.
The Roosevelt Island Tram Platform repair project began July 24.  The station repair project often resulted in very, very long lines due to only a single cabin operating, frustrating many Roosevelt Island residents with the inconvenience. In August::
...  the RIOC Board approved an expenditure of up to an additional $160,000 to extend the Tram Station repairs work week to include Saturday's.

According to RIOC Engineering Consultant Mike Russo, the extended work week will save at a minimum 30 days on the project's schedule. Mr. Russo said he hoped the Tram Station repairs will be completed before the end of 2017....
RIOC said both Tram Cabins will return to service by the end of 2017 and it looks like that will happen. An early Christmas/Chanukah holiday present for Roosevelt Island residents.

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