SATURDAY - 9:30 to 3:30PM Food Scrap Drop Off next to Wengerd Farmer's Market.
In 10 Saturdays, the Roosevelt Island food scrap drop off has welcomed 576 drop-offs and collected 2,874 pounds of organics. Well over a U.S. ton of waste diverted from landfill. Keep spreading the word.
Food scraps will be composted into healthy soil and available for community projects.
It is simple, every Saturday from 9:30 to 3:30 residents can drop food scraps like vegetables, fruit, bread, rice, egg shells, coffee grinds, paper tea bags, flowers and plant leaves beyond their prime. No meat, oil or dairy please. Store in the freezer or frig and drop every Saturday. Paper bags can go in, not plastic bags, you can reuse those.
Tram Elevators – The design of the new elevators is continuing. We have no estimate from RIOC on when the design will be finished or when an RFP will be issued. RIOC is still maintaining that the new elevators will be in operation by the autumn, 2016. ISC’s estimate is that the elevators will not be in operation until winter, 2017. We hope we are wrong.
Meanwhile, the old elevator experienced only some minor interruption of service in the last two months, improving on the performance in the prior months.
Sportspark – ISC met with the RIOC staff responsible for Sportspark to review our latest report (December, 2015) on the conditions of the facilities and programs. It was a good meeting with a free exchange of the various issues ISC cited. Many of the problems with the facilities will be corrected. However, a number of major problems will require projects to remove the problem. Most of the needed projects are in the 2016‐2017 RIOC capital budget. However, so far, only the Sportspark HVAC and pool projects have been authorized by the RIOC Board.
Commercial Trash in Southtown – We’ve achieved about 95% of what we tried to accomplish. A substantial improvement in how the trash is handled came in November when Related assigned a porter from 425 Main St. to clean and straighten out the trash yard on a daily (7 days) basis. We don’t believe we can or need to do much more. So, ISC has deactivated this issue.
New Public Library – The NY Public Library held a public meeting with residents on 1/14/16 to give a detailed update on the new library project. Most of the information was featured in the 1/23/16 WIRE. The new library is expected to open in late 2017 or early 2018.
Enhanced Services at Senior Center – ISC is compiling a comprehensive list of possible services and programs that could be made available to the Senior Center. After the list is completed, ISC will meet with Senior Center officers.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aaron Hamburger, ISC Chair
RIRA ISC members provides a brief review of what they characterize as a very good meeting with RIOC Staff about Sportspark conditions
during the February 3 RIRA Common Council.
Full coverage of the NYPL plans for new Roosevelt Island branch, including video of January 14 Public Meeting, available at this previous post.
license agreement thru the end of December 2016 during RIOC's January 28 Board of Directors meeting. (full web cast of RIOC Board meeting here).
Below is excerpt from RIOC staff memo to RIOC President Charlene Indelicato and the RIOC Board in support of the RIGC license extension for one year.
In March 2015, RIOC extended the following agreements with the Roosevelt Island Garden Club (RIGC):
Permit for Limited Activities on Roosevelt Island License
Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement
Revocable License Agreement
Waste Removal Letter Agreement
These agreements will expire December 31, 2015.
To that end, RIOC wishes to extend the Agreements with RIGC for one (1) additional year. In addition to the agreements that are already in place, the RIGC agreed to: 1) design, install, and maintain a garden property that includes plants and fixtures such as benches, fences, planters, and tables; 2) open the garden facility to the public as well as community residents; 3) keep the property in a safe and ordinary condition in accordance to all regulations, orders, terms, and conditions, as set by RIOC; 4) keep the garden open for a minimum of twenty hours per week during the specified time periods; 5) reserve the garden space for gardening-related activities; 6) regularly dispose of any garbage generated on the premises; and 7) maintain insurance as required by RIOC, among other things.
RIOC’s extension of these terms until the end of 2016, will allow RIGC to continue its operations at Octagon Park and sustain the continuity of the garden space....
During the RIOC Board meeting, President Indelicato described the good relationship developed between RIOC and RIGC and recommended that the License Agreement be extended. RIOC Director Michael Shinozaki raised safety concerns regarding standing water within the Garden Club and other Roosevelt Island open fields attracting mosquitoes that could spread disease.
Mr Shinozaki was seeking assurance that measures are being taken to prevent the accumulation of standing water at the Roosevelt Island garden.
Ms. Indelicato replied that the standing water safety concerns are being addressed.
Gallery RIVAA presents its Annual Black History Month Exhibition "Afrocentric Images" from Saturday, February 6, 2016 to Sunday, February 28, 2016. Please join us for the opening reception on Saturday, February 6th, 2016 from 6-9pm at Gallery RIVAA.
Theme: 'Expressing the artists' diverse range in the modern arts' including a unique exhibit of the Rutongo women embroiderers.
The exhibition is curated by Lorraine Williams and the Guest Curator Andrew Nichols.
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 6th, 6-9pm
Exhibition Dates: February 6, 2016 - February 28, 2016
Location: 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York
website: http://rivaa.com/event/afrocentric-images
THE STORIES OF THE SUITCASES: Lecture on Roosevelt Island
When Willard Psychiatric Center closed in 1995, an employee discovered a large collection of suitcases in storage in an attic. Many of these pieces of luggage contained the personal belongings of former patients. Jon Crispin has photographed the suitcases and their contents; his images offer a window into the lives and personal stories of patients admitted between 1910 and 1960.
Image Of One of the Willard Suitcases. Credit: Jon Crispin
He will share the photos in a lecture at the New York Public Library Branch on Roosevelt Island, on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Crispin has become fascinated by the more than 400 suitcases, seemingly frozen in time. The fact that the cases remained in storage, long after their owners were deceased, speaks to the close relationships between patients and staff and between members of the staff themselves, many of whom lived in the small town of Willard, some 45 miles northwest of Ithaca, where the asylum was the largest employer.
Learn about the suitcase project and view the stirring photographs in Crispin's lecture, sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, and supported by Amalgamated Bank.
The event is FREE and open to the public. It is the second in a series of spring lectures sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society.
DIRECTIONS: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island. Take the red bus (no charge) or walk eight minutes north to 524 Main Street.
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society promotes awareness of our Island’s unique story and pursues preservation of its landmarks and artifacts. For more information, please visit www.rihs.us.
Image of Cornell Tech Campus Construction Seen From Queensboro Bridge From 1/25 Presentation
The Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Construction & Community Task Force quarterly meeting took place January 25.
Image From Cornell Tech January 25 Presentation
Cornell Tech Director of Capital Projects Andrew Winters provided the latest update on Roosevelt Island campus construction including status of:
Utilities infrastructure and Roadways,
Bloomberg Academic, Residential and Co-Location buildings and
Executive Conference Center and Hotel,
Mr. Winters took questions from the Task Force on:
Plans for hotel,
Landscaping Eastern Esplanade - will investigate Cherry Trees for area,
Job Opportunities for residents and
Air Quality monitoring
Followed by Cornell Tech's Jane Swanson describing an upcoming round table discussion between Cornell Tech and Roosevelt Island's Coler Hospital staff and patients to discuss how mobile technology can improve life of disabled population using mobile and wearable devices.
Here's the January 25 Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Community & Construction Task Force presentation slides.
Roadwork and Central Utility Plant – Work inside the Central Utility Plant continues with mechanical fit out and painting of the transformer vaults. Primary electrical distribution at the main feed from the street is underway. On the roof, screen wall posts are being installed and grouted in place. Roof flashing work is also ongoing. Enclosures for the rooftop mechanical units will be installed toward the end of this period. In the vault, cable racks and conduit installation work is ongoing. Utility infrastructure continues in the West Loop Road.
Co-Location Building – At CoLo, the first floor deck is being poured in the beginning of this period. Spray on fireproofing will also commence at the basement level. Steel erection continues and is currently on the 6th floor.
Residential Building – The superstructure will reach the 25th floor by the middle of the second week and form work will be underway for the 26th floor by the end of the period. Masonry in the interior continues as does mechanical and electrical sleeve installation throughout. Drywall for the Residential Building is being delivered via barge.
Bloomberg Center – At the Bloomberg Center, temporary lighting is being installed on the 3rd floor. Primary steel for the photo voltaic panel system is underway and will continue through this period. The second floor concrete deck will be prepped and poured in this period, and prep work for the 3rd floor deck will commence towards the end of the second week. Spray on fireproofing in the cellar will begin in this period.
We are looking forward to seeing you Thursday, February 4th, at 9:30am for the RI Parents' Network's free RI Moms on the Move (RI MoM) walk and bootcamp exercise!
Parents with children of all ages are welcome.
Renate will be picking everyone up at the tram kiosk for the walk and Amy will lead the bootcamp exercise in the 405 Main Street playroom at 10:00am.
Due to popular demand we are meeting twice a week at the moment, mostly on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30am at the Tram kiosk and later around 10am in the playrooms. Not a problem at all if you are late, join us at any time!
How RI MoM works: We meet at the Tram kiosk and go for a walk if everyone is up for it first. Moms (dads are welcome, too!) bring strollers and children of any age. After the walk we go to one of the playrooms where the kids can play and we can chat and/or exercise. All for free.
Image Of September 2015 RIRA Common Council Meeting
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council will meet this evening, February 3, at 8:00 PM in the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).
As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a Public Session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.
Here's the Agenda.
AGENDA
If at all possible, please arrive a half-hour early to help set up tables and chairs
Date: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016
Time & Place: 8:00 pm, Church of Good Shepard, Basement
1. Public Session (please sign-in to be placed on the Public Session Speaking List)
2. Call to Seat Marie Luarca-Reyes, Rivercross, as Treasurer
3. Call to Seat Cindy Wilkerson as Octagon Delegate
4. Roll Call of Common Council Members
5. Adoption of Agenda
6. Approval of Minutes
a. November 11, 2015 Common Council Special Session
b. January 6, 2016 Common Council Session
7. President’s Report 8. Committee Reports
a. Planning Committee Report
b. Island Services Committee Report
i. Main Street Retail Advisory Sub-Committee Report
c. SC&E Committee Report
i. SC&E Pay-It-Forward Sub-Committee Report
d. Public Safety Committee Report
i. December 30, 2015 Committee Report
ii. January 27, 2016 Committee Report
e. Public Purpose Fund Report
9. Old Business 10. New Business
You're invited to come to tonight's RIRA meeting and learn what's happening on Roosevelt Island.
We are making progress and continue to tour the island with tenants on a regular basis. We have received a proposal from an interested tenant who we are in the process of qualifying their stability. They fall in the above mentioned categories.
Tenants see that the Island is growing. They are curious to see how the Cornell Tech development will create points of sale for their businesses. Most tenants who are interested continue to conduct their due diligence visiting the Island at various hours of the day on different days of the week. Most interested tenants are service driven and have a personal connection to the Island either through friends, family or previous residential tenancy.
The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Main Street Retail Committee met January 27 with Hudson Related representative Pedram Mahdavi for an update on Main Street leasing progress.
Mr. Mahdavi was asked by members of the RIRA Retail Committee to explain what the problem was in renting the Roosevelt Island Main Street stores. Mr. Mahdavi replied that it was not the asking rents for the premises nor the lack of foot traffic that was holding back potential tenants from signing leases. Mr. Mahdavi said the main hurdle expressed by potential tenants for signing new leases was the scope of construction work needed for the vacant spaces.
Mr. Mahdavi described potential Main Street retailers feedback received from Cushman & Wakefield
A frustrated Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy said of Main Street that it:
... is so damn dead. There's no reason to tell people to come to Main Street...
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Member Margie Smith was skeptical that store construction difficulties was the main obstacle to leasing the stores but she thought it was the lack of Main Street foot traffic as compared to other areas of NYC. Other residents noted that the Wholesome Factory Organic Market does very well and is always crowded. The question is what other types of stores will draw a crowd on Roosevelt Island?
Here's the full January 27 RIRA Main Street Retail Committee discussion with Hudson Related representative Pedram Mahdavi.
Part 1.
Part 2.
Part 3.
RIRA Main Street Retail Committee Chair Anne Kanninen summarized the meeting as follows:
1) It was recognized that only one lease was signed during 2015 (the Child Care Center)
2) A new realtor Cushman & Wakefield (C&W), was hired by Hudson Related in 2015.
3) According to Mr. Mahdavi from Hudson Related (HR) they did not give any guidelines for the new realtor (Michael Azarian) and the the realtor receives his income only based on the signed leases.
4) HR is in charge of the Main St. properties and according to Mr. Mahdavi pays the leases from the empty spaces.
5) Union Medical will open at the end of February. The Child Care Center is currently operating on a limited capacity while waiting for the Department of Health inspection approval.
6) Trellis construction continues but, no specific estimation of the completion of the project was given.
7) All tenants on the Main St. are current with their leases.
8) It was asked what is the reason for the delays in leasing? Is it too high $/sf or something else? Mr. Mahdavi assured us that it is not the $/sf but declined to give us the amount while mentioning that the there is always a range for negotiation for the price. The delay in Union Medical was caused by the utility company.
9) Mr. Mahdavi told us that there has been several client visits on the island looking for the available spaces, some have come even several times but, no commitments so far. One problem appears to be the unfinished interior spaces. HR provides the basic infrastructure consisting of water, gas electricity and heat but there will be a start up investment consisting of finishing the interior floors, walls, doors, lightning, cabinets etc.
10) We were told that the companies the realtor tries to attract to the island include a hardware store, some kind of food related store, possibly a pet store and a diner/bakery/coffee shop
11) It was mentioned that Trellis had a very important function for the community. Residents had their social/professional, connections/meetings there. The community needs some sort of diner/coffee shop ASAP. It was mentioned by a participant of the meeting that the new Trellis when it is completed will become a white table cloth restaurant thus with much pricier menu. The question remains is Trellis ever going to be able to fill in its neighborhood diner function again?
12) There will not be any food operators this summer on the Southtown river front and even the food trucks, according to Mr. Mahdavi, were not profitable.
13) Other issues:
The benches on the Roosevelt Landings side are wrongly positioned and unkept. HR is responsible for their maintenance. Mr. Mahdavi did not show any interest in relocating the benches. (A simple thing to understand this issue is, do you want your back to face a door in your office? Try it, does it feel comfortable? or do you rather face the door? That feels more comfortable, right? Same thing with the benches, your back is facing the street where all the activity happens. For humans it feels more comfortable to protect your back.)
The longstanding issues of the missing direction signs was taken up again without any resolution.
The Catholic Church which,will take the floor above the new library space, is still in the drawing board. There will be no thrift shop, possibly some other kind of arrangement.
There was a complaint of the liquor store using ugly looking cardboard pieces on its window facing the Main St. Mr. Mahdavi will contact them.
Summary:
Year 2015 achievements: Child Care Center lease.
We have to start operating in a better way and we surely can. I am suggesting that we start setting goals in each of our quarterly meetings and then we discuss in the meetings how to reach them and divide the work among us.
Our first goals are:
I simple direction signs, contact with RIOC
II bench maintenance, contact HR
III flower pots on the arcade, contact Roosevelt Landings
These are very small goals but, when achieved, will give us energy to tackle bigger ones.
The January 28 RIOC Board Of Directors meeting public session including a discussion of Main Street retail as well.
RIOC Director Michael Shinozaki said that despite the slowness in leasing Main Street Stores by Hudson Related, the process is much better than it was when RIOC controlled the retail space.
Roosevelt Island Parents' Network Coordinator (RIPN) Eva Bosbach reports:
Dear all,
Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a celebration observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it is not a public holiday in most of them.
When it comes to making fun crafts with our children, Valentine's Day is one of our absolute favorite holiday crafts. There are endless possibilities of what to do but since our children love animals we thought of choosing something fun that involves them. So please join us just a day before Valentine's Day for the next event in the free "Crafts with Kids" series and let those tiny hands make some fun craft.
"Be Mine Valentine Craft" by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network will take place on Saturday, February 13, 10-11am at the Senior Center, 546 Main Street.
The children will be creating a perfect card for a special friend or to give to their loving mom or dad. Adorable Bee Mine Valentine bumblebees consist of little hearts, are easy to make, and do not take much time. Children old enough to use scissors can practice their scissor skills, too!
We thank Dolores Green, Barbara Parker, Wendy Hersh and Marylin Atkins from the Senior Center for letting us use their space for the event. Another thank you goes to HOPE RI Church for sponsoring the event supplies and to Neha, an Island mom of two and our "Crafts with Kids" organizer!
Please RSVP to eva.bosbach@gmail.com by Sunday, February 7. Please let us know if you can bring books about Valentine's, love or friendship for the story time or for our little kids book shelf during the event.
And as always: If you have craft event ideas you would like us to include in the "Crafts with Kids" series, or if you have other ideas for activities of the RI Parents' Network, please get in touch with me.
Stay warm :),
Save the date for our upcoming events:
March 19, 10-11am, Easter Craft
April 16, 10-11am, Spring Craft and
May 7, 10-11am, Mothers Day Craft.
We are looking forward to seeing you and your little ones! :
Amanda, Christina, Neha and Eva
"Crafts with Kids" is a free workshop series for children organized by the Roosevelt Island Parents' Network. The monthly events included "Tram art and necklaces", "Matisse for Kids", "Valentine's Craft", "St Patrick's Craft", "Earth Day Craft", "Easter Craft", "Mothers Day Craft", "Fathers Day Craft", "Summer craft - a lady bug", a "Back to school craft", a "Halloween craft", a "Lantern making workshop", a "Thanksgiving Craft" and a "Holiday Craft".
... The Roosevelt Island St Francis Cabrini Catholic Church signed a lease for a new home on the second floor of 504 Main Street, including a thrift shop and chapel (1st Floor will be new home of NYPL Roosevelt Island branch)...
Apparently, St. Cabrini no longer wishes to operate a thrift shop in their new space at 504 Main Street when it opens.
During the January 26, 2015 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Main Street Retail Committee meeting with Hudson Related Main Street Master Leaseholder representative Pedram Mahdavi, I asked about the status of the new Roosevelt Island St.Cabrini Church premises and Thrift Shop.
Roosevelt Island St Cabrini Church parishioner Linda Heimer confirmed that the St Cabrini Thrift Shop will not reopen but that there will be a monthly flea market set up for donated items delivered to the St Cabrini Chapel at 564 Main Street.
More on Roosevelt Island Main Street retail status later today as update or tomorrow.
MST&DA Board Member John Dougherty described its mission, programs and services offered during an October 2014 presentation to the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Purpose Funds (PPF) Committee seeking a $35,000 grant. Here's what Mr. Dougherty had to say.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
