Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Views of Waterfront and NYC Skyline Safe - Can We Keep Southpoint Park Views Safe From Kahn/FDR Memorial Boondoggle Also?

Image of new Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin Design, the Carvatech, From RIOC (link is no longer active)

Several readers have expressed concern about the tinting of the windows in the new Roosevelt Island Tram Cabins pictured in the drawings (the Carvatech on the left is the winning design) that make it appear as though the windows will be black. These readers are concerned that passengers inside the cabins will not have a clear view looking out of the Tram to see the magnificent New York City Skyline and waterfront views available from the Tram (By day and night).

I inquired of RIOC President Steve Shane about this issue and he replied:

Tram cabin glass will be clear for both sight and safety reasons, although may have some reflective tinting so that the radiant energy from the sun is not fully transmitted to the interior which would make passengers uncomfortable. The depiction of dark glass is an artist's thing.

That's a relief. At least the views from the Tram are safe.

I just hope we can say the same thing about these magnificent 360 degree, panoramic views of the waterfront and NYC skyline from Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park that are in danger of being destroyed by the Louis Kahn Memorial (some refer to it as the FDR memorial) Boondoggle. There was another puff piece from Sunday's NY Times on the memorial. At least a tiny reference was made in the article to community opposition as expressed by fellow blogger Roosevelt Islander 360 but the article left out much as to why this project is so inappropriate for a 21st century Roosevelt Island.

Image of Kahn/FDR Memorial Sculpture room from Village Voice's Runnin Scared

RI 360 also had a terrific post about the absurdity of spending $8 million in public taxpayer funds on the initial construction phase of this project with the great likelihood of spending much more to complete it. From RI 360:

This weekend when I read RIOC President Steve Shane's column, in the Main Street WIRE, and was reminded that NYC and NYS have jointly committed $8 million in total to the planned FDR Four Freedoms Park to be built at Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park I could only cry. How in this economy could this make sense? I don't see how either legislative body could allow such appropriations to continue? How can the constituents of any legislator supporting these appropriations not let them know this is wrong? Yet each of our local legislators supports this plan and no one thinks its improper in today's world.

Think how many job training programs this money could fund? How many New Yorkers could be kept in their homes? How many meals can be provided to out of work City residents? Would you close a city shelter to justify a park?...

I will have more on the Kahn/FDR memorial soon.