Report From RIOC President Leslie Torres - Roosevelt Island Retail Master Lease Developments, Southpoint Park Opens and Good Shepherd Plaza Restoration Begins
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Lesie Torres sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents. Ms. Torres last report to the community was in early July.
I hope you all had a great summer and had a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather at many of our parks and green spaces. We have had a very busy summer and I am eager to update you on many of the community projects that we are working on.A version of the RIOC President's column also appears on RIOC's web site and the August 27, 2011 Main Street WIRE.
Main Street Renovation
As you may know by now, we are working with Hudson/Related Companies to improve the vibrancy and appearance of Main Street and help increase the retail services and products offered to the community. We signed the contract for the commercial redevelopment with Hudson/Related in the beginning of August. If their name sounds familiar, it’s because they developed the beautiful buildings and commercial space in Southtown.
Hudson/Related has already begun speaking with residents and community leaders about possible ideas for renovation. They issued a survey to island residents that should conclude in early September and has already garnered an enthusiastic response from over 1,000 residents. While opinions have varied, most people would like to see the addition of retail spaces including a new bakery, an Asian restaurant, a health food store, and a wine/liquor store. Other suggested additions include a new bank branch, book store and yoga/pilates studio. Hudson/ Related is currently talking with potential vendors, many of whom have expressed interest in opening new retail stores. They will continue to collect feedback to make sure that the wants and needs of the community are well represented.
In the meantime, developers are working with architects to discuss improvements to Main Street with the concept of creating a bright, vibrant new look. Some of the ideas in discussion include new lighting and signage for the streets along with new street furniture, bike racks and benches for convenience. This should make the area more appealing to look at and easier to navigate. In addition, developers are working with contractors to cleanout old stores in anticipation of the renovations.
The revitalization of Main Street will be an on-going process but residents can expect to see improvements throughout 2012 with initial construction beginning in the spring. I am truly excited at the prospect of reenergizing Main Street by improving the landscape and by bringing in retail tenants that will offer quality services to the entire community. I will be sure to keep you updated as plans progress.
Southpoint Park
I am so excited to see so many residents enjoying the new Southpoint Park, which officially opened to the public at a ceremony on August 2nd. Since 2003, we have worked very hard with the New York State Homes & Community Renewal (HCR), The Trust for Public Land (TPL), the Empire State Development Corporation, and elected officials to raise the necessary funds to bring this project to fruition. I’m particularly thankful to Councilmember Jessica Lappin for securing $4 million for the creation of the park.
At the grand opening event, I had the opportunity to thank everyone who participated. I’d like to again recognize and congratulate RIOC’s Vice President for Operations Fernando Martinez and RIOC’s Engineer Department for a job well done. I was glad to see residents come out with their families to enjoy all the activities that we set up including face painting, balloon art, relay races & games and a kite flying workshop.
The new 7.25 acre park has amazing waterfront views of Manhattan, Queens and downriver toward the Brooklyn Bridge and features the newly renovated landmarked ruins of the James Renwick Smallpox Hospital, which underwent a $5 million stabilization after a major portion of the north wall collapsed in December of 2007. The park is also the gateway to the FDR Four Freedoms Park which is currently under development and will open in late 2012.
Southpoint Park is now open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and I encourage everyone to enjoy the beautiful open space and incredible views that the park offers.
Good Shepherd Community Center
After a delay due to the contracting process, work on the Good Shepherd Community Center plaza began in July.
When completed – which we estimate will be in October – the plaza will be safer and nicer. We’re replacing the unattractive lighting, benches, and repairing all the brickwork, although the pavers design will remain the same. The biggest difference to the plaza will be the replacement of the z-bricks on the sidewalk with concrete. Unfortunately, there are no z-brick manufacturers left that can make the exact type of z-brick that currently serves as the plaza surface. Therefore, we cannot continue to replace all the beautiful, but broken brick we have throughout the Island.
But, perhaps the greatest change to the area will be the replacement of the roof. At the August 3rd RIOC Board Meeting (yes, we meet in August too), the Board approved replacing the asphalt roof with slate. This is a great development. It will restore the center to its original, beautiful look. The work to replace the roof will likely begin in the fall of 2011, and I’m looking forward to the day when I’ll be able to look up at our beautiful landmarked building and see it as it was, as it is meant to be. I’m thankful to the board for their decision.
Coming Up
As fall kicks in, so too will our great community events. Stay tuned for more information about our Fall for Arts event, our Halloween Parade, and much more.
Enjoy the last week of summer and have a great Labor Day.
If you have not yet taken the Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail Survey, please do so by clicking here.
