Saturday, September 1, 2012

Roosevelt Island Waterfront Comedy Night At Pier NYC Last Thursday

Roosevelt Island resident Jonathan Kalkin shares this photo from last Thursday's Comedy Night at Pier NYC


and adds:
I actually saw @dzoldan from @standupny tweet about Roosevelt Island a year ago and asked him about having a comedy night here. I got him in contact with the Hoo brothers and the rest is history. Comedy night on the water at PierNYC has been very successful. It is great to see businesses on Roosevelt Island starting to become destination spots for food and entertainment.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Grand Larceny At Roosevelt Island Gristedes Last Night By Unknown Employee Reports RIOC Public Safety Department

Roosevelt Island Gristedes Image From Roosevelt Island 360

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report for 8/30 - 31 indicated:
8/30/12 - 21:00PM - 686 Main St - Grand Larceny - By UNK employee at Gristedes. N.Y.P.D/P.S.D present.
In response to my inquiry to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Director Keith Guerra:
Please provide additional details as to what was the subject of the Grand larceny, time of day, was a weapon used,  as well as any other relevant information. Also what does the abbreviation UNK stand for.
RIOC's Press Spokesperson replied:
The incident occurred on 8/30 at 9:00PM. There were no injuries. UNK stands for "unknown".
According to NY Theft and Larceny Lawyers:
In New York, all theft crimes eventually come back to either Article 155 of the New York Penal Law or Article 165 of the New York Penal Law. That is, if you steal property valued in excess of $1,000 - money, cars, antiques, clothing, etc. - through Embezzlement, Extortion, false promise, trick or any other scheme, you will be charged with Grand Larceny...

A Modernist Dance For Roosevelt Island At Southpoint Park And A Song From The Tram For The Labor Day Weekend

Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend everybody.


You Tube Video of Southpoint Park Modernist Dance


You Tube Video From Thomas Oboe Lee

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Con Ed, RIOC and Roosevelt Island Building Representatives Meet To Discuss Future Energy and Gas Service Needs, Here's What Happened - Also, Verdant Power Installs New East River Turbine Yesterday


Reported on August 7 that:
... representatives from Con Ed, Cornell, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) and various building representatives met to discuss future Roosevelt Island energy usage including the possibility of Con Ed providing high pressure gas service to Roosevelt Island. (high pressure gas service was discussed at this April 16 RIOC Operations Committee Meeting). Although originally invited to attend this meeting by RIOC, the press was subsequently denied permission to attend the meeting by Con Ed. Hope to have more on what happened at this meeting soon....
It's taken some time to obtain any information about the meeting but below are the minutes of the meeting prepared by a Con Ed representative and shared with the Roosevelt Island community by one of the participants from the meeting:
Meeting Purpose
Con Edison has received a number of requests for new or upgraded gas service on Roosevelt Island. The existing gas infrastructure on Roosevelt Island is not capable of supplying all the requested gas without reinforcement. Con Edison seeks to ensure it is aware of all proposed gas projects on the island for the foreseeable future in order to make efficient plans for upgrading the gas infrastructure.

Discussion
Con Edison reviewed the list of addresses for which load letters have been received. The fire station is expected to submit a load letter for gas service. Apart from the fire station the attendees did not identify any other additional expected load letters.
Locations for which load letters have been received
• Applied Science Campus
• Coler Hospital
• AVAC building
• Motorgate (including retail spaces)
• Sports Park
• South Town Towers 7, 8 & 9
• Eastwood Building retail spaces: 504-570 Main Street
• Rivercross Building retail spaces: 503-527 main street
• Westview building retail spaces: 591-619 main street
• Island House building retail spaces: 549-571 main street.
• PS217
• Rivercross Building residential heating
• Child School

Based on the submitted load letters to-date, Con Edison will be able to supply all proposed by performing upgrades to the medium pressure system in two phases.

• Phase 1 (by July 2013): Install 1880 feet of 8” piping at the northern end of the island.
• Phase 2 (to be finalized): Install 3,286 feet of 8” piping at the southern end of the island.

All infrastructure upgrades will avoid main street where possible, in preference for walkways or unpaved surfaces. It may be necessary to cross streets at certain locations. The current infrastructure improvement plans noted above should take approximately three months each phase to complete.

The Rivercross building stated that plans have been completed and capital allocated for their proposed electric to gas conversion of residential heating. If gas is available Rivercross would like to make the conversion in advance of the 2013 heating season. Rivercross stated it will remain on interruptible service after their conversion to gas heating.

The load letter submitted by the Rivercross building includes retail spaces and building residential heating. The Hudson Companies has separately submitted load letters for the retail spaces in the Rivercross building. The Rivercross load letter will be revised to omit the retail spaces and to indicate which equipment is installed for redundancy.

Cornell University representatives stated that they are planning to proceed with the geothermal heat pumps. Cornell University indicated that a second phase is planned in 2027. Previously Con Edison was only informed of a two phases, 2016 and 2037. Cornell University will provide additional details on the phase two loads.

The load letter for the Eastwood building (dated 7-23-12) submitted by the Hudson Companies contained loads for the Child School. The separately submitted load letters for the Child School (submitted 8-3-12) have different values that differ from the Eastwood Building load letter. The loads in the Child School specific load letter are to be used, instead of the loads submitted by the Hudson Companies to Con Edison for evaluating service needs.

In the event additional load letters are received requiring a significant volume of gas, it may become necessary to upgrade the gas system on Roosevelt Island to high pressure. This may include the installation of a new gas pipe from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island in the existing utility tunnel, upgrading all pressure regulators on Roosevelt Island, and upgrades of couplings. This process would me much more extensive and may take as long as a year and will be more expensive that the currently proposed medium pressure upgrades. If an upgrade to high pressure is required, a capital contribution may be required for the customers on Roosevelt Island as per the PSC tariff.

Action Items
  • Rivercross to resubmit load their load letter omitting the retail spaces and indicating which equipment is installed for redundancy.
  • Cornell University to resubmit their load letter indicating they will be pursuing the geothermal heat pumps and including 2027 loads.
  • Con Edison to follow up with PS 217 to confirm their service date and plans to install equipment by the desired service date.
  • Con Edison to finalize the completion date for phase two of the upgrade based on confirmed service date for all projects.
More information on Con Ed High Pressure gas issues available, including video of RIOC Operations Committee meeting discussions, here and here.

Con Ed's spokesperson added that the Roosevelt Island energy/ natural gas discussions are still in a very preliminary stage. RIOC declined any comment on the meeting.

In other Roosevelt Island energy news, Verdant Power installed its latest prototype water turbine in East River next to Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket yesterday afternoon. The new turbine will undergo tests for the next two weeks.

Here ere are some scenes from yesterday's Verdant Turbine East River installation.

A barge brought the turbine to its location just north of the Roosevelt Island Bridge



the turbine was then lifted by crane


and placed in the East River.


Will have more on this next week, including video interview with Verdant President Trey Taylor who discusses future Roosevelt Island energy plans.

More on Verdant Power's Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy project from their web site here and from previous post.

UPDATE 9/6 - More on Verdant Power turbine installation including interview with Verdant President Trey Taylor here. 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Major Rodent Extermination Project To Begin In Tramway Plaza By East Midtown Partnership, NYC Parks Dep't and Roosevelt Island Operating Corp - Do Not Remove Dead Rats

Image From Catherine Shells

Received a report last June that:
Coming home from Manhattan this evening, my daughter & I spotted this large collection of rats feeding, openly in the park near the tram station (manhattan side). It was still quite bright out & many people walking by but that did not stop them.

I spoke to the tram attendant and he told me that one lady comes every day to leave bread for the pigeons. I have seen her myself. It's obvious the pigeons are staying far away!!
Here's the latest on Tramway Plaza Rat invasion. According to the East Midtown Partnership:
Beginning in the next few days, the East Midtown Partnership - in cooperation with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp - will be undertaking a major rodent extermination project in the Tramway Park. This effort will continue until the infestation is substantially under control.
  • To ensure the safety of you and your pets, please use caution in the park area when signs are posted.
  • Make sure all your trash is secured in a receptacle before you leave the park.
  • Do NOT feed the pigeons. It is both illegal and provides food for the rodents.
  • Do NOT attempt to remove dead rodents. We will make several sweeps through the park each day to keep it clean. However, if you see a dead or dying rodent immediately call:
East Midtown Partnership: 212-813-0030
or call 311
Over the past few weeks, we have also been increasing Tramway Park sanitation, security, and homeless outreach efforts. Working together with the NYC Parks Department and the RIOC, we look forward to great improvements in the very near future.
and a flyer I received yesterday at the Tram Plaza from the East Midtown Partnership:


More on the Tramway Plaza Rat invasion from previous post including this video from My FoxNY.


Remember, don't pick up any dead or dying rats.

Historical Preservationists Are Happy - RIOC Starting Work On Roosevelt Island's Good Shepherd Roof Replacement Returning It To Original Condition Using Slate Material

Image of Roof Replacement Work Beginning At Good Shepherd Plaza

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Please be advised that work has commenced on the Roof Replacement project for the Good Shepherd Community Center. The scheduled work will include the replacement of the roof tiles, facade repairs and installation of a new drainage system. A fence will be installed around the plaza that will include an opening for access to the Community Center throughout the duration of the project. The project is estimated to be completed in 6 months.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group
Also from RIOC:
Please be advised the Good Shepherd Community Center will be closed Tuesday, August 28th to Friday, August 31st due to an asbestos abatement. It will re-open on Saturday, September 1, 2012.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group
As reported in this March 2012 post:
... the issue of the Roosevelt Island Good Shepherd Chapel roof repair is a balance between the cost of using slate to return the roof to its original condition, delighting historical preservationists, or a less expensive synthetic slate/asphalt material that some budget minded RIOC directors wish to consider....
Preservationists are happy - the decision was made to repair the Good Shepherd Roof with  slate.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

How Many New York City Republicans Live On Roosevelt Island?

Image From Forbes

With the 2012 Republican Presidential Convention starting today, here's an interesting map showing the percentage of Republican voters in New York City neighborhoods including Roosevelt Island.

According to the map 14.7% of registered voters living in the southern portion (62 of 421 registered voters), 9.3% of registered voters living in the middle (87 of 939 registered voters) and 11.2 % living in the northern portion (38 of 340 registered voters) of Roosevelt Island are Republicans.

Click on the Roosevelt Island section of the map to increase size for better viewing.



More information on the study from WNYC and a response on Twitter:

Monday, August 27, 2012

Lights Out For 3 Weeks At Roosevelt Island Octagon Tennis Court For RITA Lessons - Why Is Tennis Court Fence Covered Blocking Views Of Play?

Image of Octagon Tennis Courts

Received the following message from a Roosevelt Island tennis player on Saturday:
For more than 3 weeks, TWO lights are out on tennis court no 4, the one used by RITA for tennis lessons in the evening.

I reported this issue TWICE on SeeClickFix, it was acknowledged by RIOC engineering, than closed with the answer that the lights will be replaces the week of 8/20.

The week is now over, the lights were NOT replaced.

This is NOT acceptable, and RIOC should be told that. Not to mention this year price increase for the tennis courts permits.
RITA is the Roosevelt Island Tennis Association. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) has more information on Octagon Tennis courts at their web site.

Does anybody know why the fence surrounding the public tennis court is covered blocking anyone from watching those playing?

Image Of Octagon Tennis Court Fence

That's not the case for the baseball or soccer fields, why the tennis court?

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Astronaut Neil Armstrong, First Man To Step On The Moon, Died Yesterday At Age 82


You Tube Video Of Neil Armstrong Dead At 82

I will always remember hearing these words from Neil Armstrong after landing on the moon:
Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.

You Tube Video of First Moon Landing

The NY Times has more on Neil Armstrong - a True American Hero.