Report From RIOC President Leslie Torres - Stunning Roosevelt Island Winter, Efficient Snow Removal, Temporary Tram Service Pause, Projects Underway, In The Pipeline & Upcoming Events
Image Of RIOC Crews Removing Snow From Street
RIOC President Lesie Torres sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.
Re: RIOC President's ColumnA version of the RIOC President's column also appears on RIOC's web site and the January 29, 2011 Main Street WIRE.
Date: 1/25/2011
Winter has been in full force this year but it has been simply stunning on Roosevelt Island. Our Grounds Crew and transportation workers have done an excellent job keeping the island running smoothly and safely. This season I have seen that when severe weather is well-managed, you have the privilege of enjoying nature, especially amidst beautiful views such as those on Roosevelt Island.
All this month, we have also been managing a trial period for Red Bus-Tram schedule coordination. With thorough communication and cooperation between our drivers, dispatch, residents, and administration we will create a system that serves the public’s needs efficiently and conveniently.
I appreciate all the residents that have presented their input in recent months and would like to thank the RIOC employees that have worked so hard to make this island an example of community responsiveness.
Thank you everyone and stay safe.
Projects Underway:
Good Shepherd Chapel Flooring Repair – In the Chapel’s multipurpose area and the offices, including the back office, removal of existing tile has been completed and an RFP has been published for solicitation of a contractor to install the new flooring finish.
Good Shepherd Chapel HVAC Installation – Work continues on installation of the new HVAC System. The new system is expected to be completed by the end of April 2011.
Motorgate Parking Garage Refurbishing – Parking spots that were closed during construction have been open back up for use. On the 7th floor, the steel fence has been removed and the area is expected to be available for parking approximately 2 weeks from this Saturday, January 29th.
Z-Brick Resetting – Weather permitting, repair of low spots and trip hazards will continue.
Projects in the Pipeline:
Tram Service Pause – The Aerial Tramway temporarily suspended service on January 18th. Tram crew has analyzed the situation to find that the antennae on the Tramway towers that monitor the tension of the track cables had their insulation breached by the built-up ice. This resulted in an interrupted signal which prompted the safety mechanism to shut the system down and return the cabins to their stations. Tram crew has since reinforced the antennae’s insulation and multiple tests have confirmed that the problem will not reoccur. In case of service changes, Tram riders are notified on the digital screens located at both
Tram stations. Service changes are also communicated through the RIOC website, www.RIOC.ny.gov, RIOC's facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/ RIOCNY, and RIOC email advisories. We encourage everyone to subscribe to RIOC email advisories by following the link on the RIOC homepage, http:// www.rioc.ny.gov/advisorybody.htm.
Red Bus Schedule Changes – The trial period for RIOC’s new coordinated Tram and Bus schedules continues through January. Please consult the RIOC website, www.rioc.ny.gov, for an up-to-date Red Bus schedule as well as a Tram schedule. Also, please send all suggestions and comments to information@rioc.com or RI311@rioc.com to help us work together as a community to create the best transportation system possible.
Events, Recreation, & Community:
Field Permits for Spring – Permits for Roosevelt Island field use for the spring season beginning April 1st are now being accepted, so get your applications in early. Roosevelt Island residents receive steep discounts. Relevant forms and information can be found on the RIOC website’s “Doing Business With Us” tab.
Graffiti Removal – On Saturday, January 15, 2011, at 8:39 PM, the Public Safety Department apprehended three individuals in possession of paint and markers who claimed responsibility for 25% of the graffiti in Motorgate parking garage. This result can be attributed to increased Public Safety patrols of the Motorgate area based on resident reports. The individuals were charged with Criminal Mischief, Graffiti, and Possession of Graffiti Instruments. With the help of the Public Safety Department, the Grounds Crew will continue to remove all graffiti island-wide. We encourage everyone to report any incidents of graffiti directly to Public Safety at (212) 832-4545 to ensure immediate removal.
Grandparents Safety Day – On Tuesday, February 22nd, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Public Safety is co-sponsoring Grandparents Safety Day along with Safe Kids NYC. The event will take place at the Senior Center located at 546 Main Street.
Roosevelt Island Film Gallery at Sportspark – The Roosevelt Island Film Gallery is located at the east and west lobbies of Sportspark and it consists of film posters for movies shot on or depicting the island. Approximately 50 posters are currently displayed, including the 1935 movie “Blackwell’s Island,” starring John Garfield. Anyone who can name a movie or television show which should be included in the showcase should please email Michael Smith at msmith@rioc.com.
Sportspark Table Tennis Tournament – On Sunday, February 5th, we will have our first table tennis qualifying tournament at Sportspark. There will be beginner, intermediate, and advanced categories and the format is round-robin. The results from this tournament will decide the players who advance and compete in the finals, the tournament at the upcoming Health and Fitness Day for which trophies are awarded.
19 comments :
Nothing about the empty stores on Main Street. No surprise there.
The Governor has to indicate if Torres has his confidence or not. RI is not exactly the most pressing issue in Albany, true; still, it's one thing to repair Z-bricks, it's another to address festering problems in the community such as the stores. If Torres can't do it then the Governor must put in a RIOC President that can cut through the red tape so businesses -- any sort of business such as a computer repair shop for example - can open on Main St.
I rather want infrastructure to be fixed before filling the retail stores. No flashy stores will make up for streets and sidewalks that are unusable because they are not maintained. Compare the state NYC streets and sidewalks are in with Roosevelt Island's. BIG difference.
The Rioc President should be required to live on the island.
Main Street shops will find it difficult to attract customers if the parking situation on Main Street is not improved.
Why not assign the businesses,that have parking privileges on Main Street,some of the new,unused parking spaces on the West Road ???
The empty store situation is in the hands of Jonathan Kalkin, Margie Smith and the RIOC Board Members. They are the ones who put this master lease plan into action and still - NO ACTION.
I agree. I am really astonished that in the year I have lived here, the retail options have actually shrunk. I don't understand what is so difficult, advertise the spaces, negotiate a lease for each one, business will come for the right price (which would be more than the big fat zero they have been getting for the last god knows how many months). It doesn't matter what RIOCs excuse is on this one, they haven't delivered, they've screwed up, and someone should take responsibility to make it right. Madam President must have thought we all have just forgotten about this gigantic island issue and decided if she didn't mention it, all of the sheep on the island wouldn't ask any questions. Or maybe she just doesn't know how to get the word out, so here are some examples so you can see how the rest of New York City does it. Its amazing how RIOC can accomplish so many things but fail in such a basic area.
In all fairness, Roosevelt Island is not like any other place in NYC. It is managed by the state and there is a lot of red tape to overcome, especially when it comes to leasing the retail spaces. The landlord of those stores is the RIOC and not the owners of the buildings they are in. That makes things a lot more complicated.
All that said, I agree that it should be a piece of cake to fill the store fronts. There is plenty of interest from on and off island merchants. I disagree that this has anything to do with parking. The only people that will frequent these stores will be islanders and the occasional tourist.
Now I have to say, though, that I do not care much about those store fronts. If they end up to be like the existing stores I have very little interest to use them. I am used to do most of my errands off-island anyway. The stores are not going to change my habits much. Since I have children, though, I'd like to see a donut/ice cream shop. Something like a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin-Robbins thing that you can find all over New York.
Dunkin Donuts had expressed interest in coming here but only in the space occupied by the art gallery (the only establishment on the island that reflects the fact that it is in New York City and not the third world.
Parking spaces are not needed. How many stores in Manhattan provide parking spaces? RI is ONE SUBWAY STOP from midtown Manhattan. It is shocking to me how many people still do not realize that RI has a subway stop. While I agree that island stores would be used primarily by residents, and are what are most necessary, if there were other stores interesting enough to attract others, they would come. We don't need a master plan or bulk retailer; we need a RIOC President who is willing to go to Albany and get an exception made to the regulations that are preventing our storefronts from being rented. The circumstances that prompted the regulations do not apply to Roosevelt Island and an exception could be made, if only someone would do the work.
NO TO D&D.
We need something good for the local population like fresh food, full time farmers market, bakery, sandwich shoppe. maybe other ideas to focus on where kids can 'hang-out' and and keep them busy and away from drugs and gangs. Keep the Gallery where it is.
Well, you can say no to whatever you like but I am very sure that one of those chain stores will a) be one of the first to open doors on Main Street and b) a very welcome addition to RI for the majority of folks here. It would also balance out Starbuck's coffee monopoly here. Sounds like a good hang-out spot for teens if it comes with some tables also. A bakery may be a good addition, too, but Gristedes, the farmer's market, and a potential donut shop covers most needs for baked goods, IMHO.
How about a healthy Mid-Eastern place with a small grocery on the side - selling tasty Mid-Eastern foods. Falafel, kebabs, babaghanough, mid-East pastries - yum. I'm sure they'd do fabulous business. Or a Mexican eatery would be OK - we could all have tacos, enchilladas!!
Fresh fish. There is no place to buy fish near the tram or subway. There used to be a fresh fish store here.
That fish store was disgusting, though. It was more like a Chinatown kind of establishment and we all know how those places buy their fish (if not, I'd suggest to read Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential). The Food Emporium under the bridge has an excellent variety of seafood.
I just hope that some of the new business, if they ever materialize, will cater just a bit to the high end, such as it is on the island. The store in Southtown passed up that opportunity and stocks the same kind of stuff as Gristede's and the disgusting grocery on Main Street. To entrepreneurs who think there is no market for higher-end groceries, I suggest a day at the subway station to observe Islanders carrying shopping bags from Whole Foods, Citarella and the like, before dismissing us out of hand.
There is also no reason that people who don't leave here can't be induced to shop here, if there were interesting stores. We are only one subway stop from midtown Manhattan.
I heard Jon Kalkin wants to be the RIOC President. Will someone please tell me how the person responsible for the the master lease debacle and Shane being let go, possibly be the President? Would whoever said, "The RIOC President should live on the island" please shut up!
I agree with the poster above. Do you hear the way he and Margie Smith speak at the RIRA meetings? It's like they want to control everything. Get a life!
I strongly disagree with above comment. The job of RIOC Directors is to ask questions, probing questions of RIOC Staff and to oversee and monitor the work of RIOC. That is their fiduciary duty as Directors.
In the past, it seemed as though previous RIOC Directors served more as rubber stamps to the RIOC President and Albany politicians. So far at least, that is not the case with current Board
I may agree or disagree with decisions made by Ms. Smith and Mr. Kalkin but they are always well prepared and knowledgeable about the issues facing Roosevelt Island.
They and the other Directors should be thanked for the time and effort they put in to serve the Roosevelt Island community.
Well, you're one opinion.
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