Roosevelt Island's Good Shepherd Plaza Renovation - What's Happening? RIRA Common Council Meeting Wednesday 8 PM

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Received the following Good Shepherd Plaza renovation update from Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Planning Committtee Chair Matt Katz.

I have put together some notes on our meeting and I’m sharing them with you prior to presenting them to the RIRA Common Council on April 7. They are not based on a recording or transcript and so, may reflect a somewhat different perspective than your recollections. I hope I have touched on the high points. RIRA Council Members will have an opportunity to discuss the meeting on April 7; others may address the project during the Public Access portion of the Council agenda.

Below is Mr. Katz's report.

Good Shepherd Plaza Renovation Project
Town Meeting – March 25, 2010

Attending: RIOC: Rosina Abramson, Tom Turcic; Santo Verta; RIOC Board of Directors: Fay Christian, Howard Polivy, Margie Smith; RIRA Planning Committee: Ashton Barfield, Dolores Green, Matthew Katz (Chair), Joyce Mincheff, Ellen Polivy, Lynne Shinozaki; Rivercross: Marianne Russem; RIHS: Judy Berdy; WIRE: Dick Lutz; Resident Community: Helen Chirivas; arriving late: Paco Bozzano-Barnes (RIRA), Vicki Feinmel, Nurit Marcus, Fernando Martinez (RIOC).

Katz welcomed the group, saying that, while the meeting was under the auspices of the RIRA Planning Committee, a formal sub-committee had not been formed and that the meeting was, at least at present, an ad hoc response to Abramson’s request to discuss the Good Shepherd Plaza renovation project with community stakeholders. He noted that the invitation list included management and tenant representatives from the building complexes abutting the Plaza; RIOC, RIOC Board and RIRA reps; as well as organizers of the events that use the space. Approximately half of those invited were attending.

Turcic, RIOC Chief Engineer, presented the plan. He said there was little change involved, and that the proposed HVAC upgrade was the only element that requires approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The cooling tower in the Chapel belfry is to be replaced by a ground-level condenser just west of the side entrance that will be covered by a wooden barrier. The red slate pavers are to be replaced, drainage will be reconfigured, bench locations are to be reconsidered and the tall lights will be replaced by ten-foot lights similar to the ones on Main Street and with new eight-foot lights at the west entrance doors. Russem said the Plaza is dim and asked if three lights each on the north and south sides would be sufficient to make the area brighter.

Turcic indicated that subsidence has caused drainage problems. The north-south-running drains on the east and west sides of the Chapel will remain, but the other north-west-running drain, located near the back of the Chapel, would be replaced by east-west-running trench drains where the concrete stripes now break up the red tile pattern. In addition, the squared-off concrete apron at the eastern (apse) end of the structure would be rounded to conform to the shape of the building. Chirivas asked if there would be any interior Chapel work and Turcic responded, “No.”

Christian asked what color the proposed herringbone brick would be. Turcic said it could match the present color with concrete pavers, still broken up by concrete stripes. Smith asked why the present red pavers would be replaced using a small herringbone pattern. Turcic said that the interlocking pattern would last longer. When asked about existing stocks of z-brick, Turcic said there was none left and that it was no longer manufactured. He said that the Plaza sub-base was crushed concrete covered by sand, and noted that two-inch bricks would replace the existing, more fragile one-inch pavers.

Mincheff advocated placing a bocce court in the Plaza; Turcic suggested perhaps using another venue. Turcic mentioned that the sixteen existing concrete bollards are in poor condition and questioned whether they should be replaced or removed. Green advocated removing them. Russem said she was concerned about the bench placement blocking performance sight lines for audiences and suggested placing concrete chess/checkers tables with permanent seating in appropriate spots.

Russem advocated using larger, more substantive planters around the Plaza and Marcus asked if built-in irrigation could be channeled to raised planters. Turcic noted that moveable planers could be moved to accommodate specific functions and events. Shinozaki asked whether a disabled ramp could be installed at the west entrance noting that the side-door elevator often breaks down. Turcic cited the extreme slope at that entrance and the involvement of the Landmarks Preservation Commission that this would require. Berdy noted that the side-door steps and ramp are “shot,” and Turcic said that door would be replaced.

Turcic said that Alex Herrera of the Landmarks Conservancy was assisting in the choice of a wooden barrier to camouflage the HVAC installation. Reflecting an idea proposed by RIRA President, Frank Farance, Katz asked if this potentially noisy machinery could be installed on the Island House side of the north plaza and connected to the Chapel ductwork using conduits underneath the pavers. Turcic thought the condenser assembly wouldn’t add to the noise, either on the Plaza or in the community room abutting it. It was noted that the garbage dumpster adjacent to Island House is “offensive,” and Martinez said that the Trellis needs to keep up with collections. Mincheff thought the Trellis fencing should be the same as the HVAC fencing.

Bozzano suggested canopies to provide shade on the Plaza similar to those used in Spain. Turcic said these had not been considered so far. Bozzano asked if alternatives to air conditioning might be considered that would not use energy and thus, would not add to global warming. Turcic said the air conditioning upgrade already had been put out to bid, and noted that the current Chapel cooling tower is not operational and therefore, Good Shepherd will not be cooled this summer. Katz said he would alert the Island concert promoters to this situation. Turcic noted that the existing cooling system was inefficient and would be replaced by a more efficient method that can be directed to the level where people are congregating. He said the new system would cut energy costs by half.

Russem asked who controlled the concrete seating area directly adjacent to Rivercross. Nobody knew.

Katz asked the group to consider next steps. Abramson suggested another meeting to discuss design elements such as herringbone brick (or another surface), planters, moveable furniture and so on. She noted that construction would probably start in the fall (September? October?) so as not to disrupt summer activities and would require about three months to complete. Katz noted that the Fall for Arts performances would need another venue in this case. Turcic said that bids are expected back April 5.

The April RIRA Common Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 7 at the Good Shepherd Community Center (8 PM). Prior to the start of the Common Council meeting there is Public Session providing an opportunity for the public to present any issues of concern to the Council.