Invites You to the Opening Reception for the Exhibit
Autopsy of a Hospital: Photographs by Charles Giraudet
at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
Sunday, May 22, 2 pm-4 pm
From 2013-2015, photographer Charles Giraudet documented the final days of Goldwater hospital on Roosevelt Island, before that institution was demolished. Giraudet took some 15,584 photos inside the sprawling 2,106-bed hospital. He photographed every nurses' station, kitchen, corridor, bedroom, and even the morgue.
Now, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, with the assistance of the Architectural League of New York, is sponsoring a show of selected photographs from Giraudet's collection. The images range from serene and beautiful to dark and disturbing. The opening reception takes place on Sunday, May 22 at the Coler canteen, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, 900 Main Street, Roosevelt Island. The show continues at the Coler canteen from Monday, May 23 through Saturday, May 28 from 10 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4 pm daily.
About the Photographer
Charles Giraudet‘s earliest memory takes place in his father’s photo studio in Paris, France. After completing his architecture studies, he moved to New York and worked on projects large and small for over 15 years. Giraudet came back to photography when he started to look at the camera itself as an architectural artifact—a room that captures light and fragments of life. A small camera collection ensued with which he has taken images around the globe. His interests revolve around concepts familiar to architects—perception, identity, memory, scale, transformation, the body in space, etc.—and the documentation of the human experience as it is manifested in space. From 2013 to 2015 he documented the de-commissioning and demolition of Coler-Goldwater Hospital on Roosevelt Island, NY, selections of which were published in the “Album” section of The New York Times.
The reception and show are FREE and open to the public.
DIRECTIONS: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island. After leaving either the tram or the subway station, take the Roosevelt Island red bus to the last stop and walk west (toward Manhattan), then north to the main entrance of the hospital.
Department Offerings for May 20 - June 2 (Pages 1-4) and Perishable Items for May 27 - June 2 (Pages 5-6).
Gristedes representative Bob Capano invites Roosevelt Island residents to check out their various product departments for all of your shopping needs.
Also, don't forget the 10% Roosevelt Island Seniors Discount on Tuesday and Wednesday and Sign Up For Gristedes Bonus Cards online or in person at the store.
All Roosevelt Island residents are invited to join the Manhattan Park Swim Club.
Hot Summer Cool Pool
Manhattan Park’s amazing 60’ pool, swim club and sun deck opens on May 28th and any Roosevelt Island resident can join the island’s most talked-about summer scene.
UPDATE 5/26 - The Manhattan Park Pool Membership Fee Schedule is revised below. Fees are the same for Roosevelt Island residents. Non-Roosevelt Island residents pay more.
Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA representative Erin Olavesen reports:
PS/IS 217 is hosting their annual International Dinner on Saturday, May 21st, from 4-7pm.
For those who've never been it's a huge, all you can eat feast! Our families cook up dishes from all around the world. Kids and parents will be performing. We'd love to see the Island Community join us in celebrating the diversity of our 217 Community.
Mr. Bloch and Ms. Miltimore spoke with members of the Roosevelt Island community at the Farmers Market last Saturday about possible future uses at Southpoint Park
What do you think of Southpoint Open Space? Would you like to see it enhanced for the community?
We want to hear from you. We want to know what you think.
In light of tomorrow's forecast for a rainy Saturday, our second Pop-Up Outreach Meeting has been rescheduled. Please note the new day and time below.
Come to Bike New York's Helmet Giveaway Event on Thursday, 5/26 from 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM, located in Good Shepherd Plaza (543 Main Street).
We will be at a project booth where you can tell us what you think about the Southpoint Open Space and the Smallpox Hospital, a New York City Landmark.
Can't make it? We'll also be at Roosevelt Island Day to host our third and final Pop-Up Outreach Meeting. Make sure to stop by our booth to tell us what you think!
Roosevelt Island Day
When: Saturday, June 11, from 11 AM to 3 PM
Where: Good Shepherd Plaza (543 Main Street) & Blackwell Plaza (500 Main Street)
For more information and to learn about more opportunities to get involved, visit the project website by clicking here: www.SouthpointCommunityPlan.com
This Tony Award-nominated hilarious, roller skating, musical adventure about following your dreams despite the limitations others set for you, rolls along to the original hit score composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Based on the Universal Pictures' cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, Xanadu is hilarity on wheels for adults, children and anyone who has ever wanted to feel inspired....
Here's a snippet from the MST&DA Teen Theater Group Xanadu rehearsal singing Magic.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) and Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) hosted a 40th Anniversary celebration of the first Roosevelt Island Tram ride
The festivities began with a performance by the Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 band
followed by introductory remarks by Acting RIOC President Susan Rosenathal. Ms Rosenthal noted that she:
... is a true Tram lover...
and the Roosevelt Island Tram is:
... the first commuter tramway in North America...
Currently, the Tram carries 5500 -6500 riders daily.
RIHS President Judy Berdy told the assembled crowd:
Welcome to the anniversary of the tram and 40 great years of serving the island.
Thank you to Susan Rosenthal, The RIOC, and Tram staff, the community groups who have cooperated with us, especially the members and teachers of the PS/IS 217 band, and Gallery RIVAA for our upcoming display window.
Thanks also to the great groups of Island kids who decorated these trams: CDM, RIPN and Eva Bosbach, Island Kids, PS 217, RI Explorers, and also Arlene Jacoby and the RISA senior artists. Thanks to Adib Mansur for helping design today’s logo and banner.
Thanks to Lynne Shinozaki, a human whirlwind of ideas and accomplishment. Thanks to the Roosevelt Island Historical Society’s great kiosk staff who daily meet, greet and tell visitors everything about our island.
Thanks to Gristedes and Riverwalk for refreshments.
Way back in 1972, an architect of this soon to be community discovered that the MTA subway would not be completed in time to be ready for this new community. An alternate mode of transportation had to be developed.
The architect's name was Bill Chaffee, and apparently he was a ski enthusiast, who envisioned a gondola-style car connecting the two islands of Roosevelt and Manhattan.
Manhattan streets were surveyed to determine where to build a temporary tram station. East 72 St was a possibility, because it was wide and could accommodate a station in the middle of the road.
Luckily there was a vacant lot at East 59th Street, opposite the entrance to the Queensboro Bridge. This spot was the stage upon which the tram station would be built.
The tram, then called an aerial gondola, was ready in less than 3 years.
The history of the tram has been interesting; consider some of these highlights after it opened in 1976:
It was the site of many movies and TV shows
Night Hawks
Fear Factor
City Slickers
Turk 183 And, of course,
Spiderman !
In the 1980s, it seemed to run out of insurance and closed down for two weeks.
The first system was counterbalance, requiring both cabins to shut down simultaneously every week for maintenance.
In 2003, it finally accepted Metrocards.
Our new Poma system opened November 30th, 2010, on time.
While the tram was being re-built, the Roosevelt Island Historical Society’s Visitor Center kiosk was restored and our garden was planted to enhance the “neighborhood.”
The Tram is people, the professionals who daily climb the towers at 5 a.m. to check conditions, the cabin attendants who drive the cabins and deal with every kind of person, packed into the cabins, thankfully for just 4 minutes at a time.
The tram is Roosevelt Island. No matter who came with the message to cut or shorten service; that leader learned that our tram is sacred – and that person is gone.
The tram is here. It is curiously romantic, at all hours of the day and night. It is the site of marriage proposals, engagements and even weddings. One recent Sunday morning, 100 people cheered as their friends disembarked from the cabin, she wearing a new ring on her finger.
The tram brings us the world, dozens at a time. Since 2007, the Roosevelt Island Historical Society has welcomed thousands of people at the kiosk, from every state, country and continent. The tram is the attraction. Every week, Manhattanites tell us they are here out of curiosity. Some come into the kiosk, walk up Main Street, become enamored of our community and soon are our neighbors.
Many residents say the Roosevelt Island Historical Society’s Visitor Center kiosk is for tourists, which is partly true. Really, the visitor Center kiosk is for all of us.
Our staff complements the tram and makes every visitor welcome.
The history of Roosevelt Island emerges from the people who ride the tram and tell us their stories, their families, the who and why of a community.
The secret is long out. The tram is it.
Its loyal staff and riders make it part of our being.
Here's the full Roosevelt Island 40th Anniversary Tram Celebration.
More scenes from yesterday's 40th Anniversary of the Roosevelt Island Tram festivities.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Governance Committee will meet tomorrow in Executive Session to discuss status of search for a new President. According to RIOC:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a special meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at The Cultural Center Roosevelt Room, 548 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York for the purpose of transacting such business as shall come before the Board.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. New Business
1. Chair’s Motion for Executive Session to Discuss Status of Presidential Search for RIOC
IV. Adjournment
* * *
The Open Meetings Law of the State of New York requires that all public bodies conduct meetings, convened for the purpose of officially conducting public business, in a manner open to attendance by the general public to observe and listen.
... a public body may conduct an executive session for the below enumerated purposes only, provided, however, that no action by formal vote shall be taken to appropriate public moneys:...
f. the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation;...
To date, the RIOC Board of Directors have not interviewed any candidates for the position of RIOC President.
Image Of Roosevelt Island's Vacant 503 Main Street
RIRA's MSTRAC Chair Anne Kanninen provides the following summary of the meeting. According to Ms. Kanninen
Summary:
Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) is negotiating a lease regarding the space at 501 Main St. with a light food/coffee shop operator. C&W feels very positive and under the best scenario if the deal is successful the operations would start in the beginning of next year.
Nisi (new name of Trellis Diner) is expected to open in June. There was a discussion about possible price increases and Mr. Azarian told us that Nisi is supposed to stay as a diner meaning huge price increases are not expected. He also informed us that the company (Nisi) appears to have deep pockets and can easily carry the one and a half year losses from the renovation/construction.
Mr. Azarian also told us that there are several companies interested in coming to the island but many of them are not financially sound or do not have successful track records, thus cannot be considered as tenants....
... 544 and 548 Main St. spaces are marketed as good sites for food business. Now when Trellis became clearly Mediterranean Nisi (Island in Greek) maybe some other than Mediterranean food restaurants would be attractive thus expanding the variety of food offerings on Roosevelt Island.
The CDM Kids pre-school continues to operate on a reduced schedule because the required window screens are still missing.
It was explained by both Ms. Kaplan and Mr. Azarian that the delays which for example the Urgent Care has experienced are very typical right now in the city due to high number of buildings constructed affecting Con Edison’s and the Department of Building inspections and certifications.
It was mentioned by Anne Kanninen who visited the Urgent Care site today that there appeared to be a dentist’s chair in the premises. It seemed that Ms. Kaplan did not know anything about a plan that included a dentist in the urgent care operations since the island already has a dentist.
The Urgent Care space consists of several treatment rooms which were already partially furnished with treatment tables. The clinic is a major investment for the owner(s).
According to Ms. Kaplan and Mr. Azarian the clinic will open any day now.
Ms. Kaplan told us that the directional signs are under discussions with RIOC.
There was a request once again to place the benches to the walls of the buildings on the Main St. so that people could face Main St. Ms. Kaplan promised to look at the issue and maybe something could be done.
There was a complaint about the lights which are out in the arcade. Ms. Kaplan promised to take care of the issue.
The wall next to the subway entrance has become a messy bulletin board which could perhaps be better organized and cleaned. There was some opinion differences regarding this issue.
The rotting cement walls under the windows on the the Roosevelt Landing side will be taken care according to Ms. Kaplan.
There was a question of a temporary art gallery filling the empty spaces on the Main St. Both Ms. Kaplan and Mr. Azarian thought it as a good idea but did not elaborate further except that they are discussing with the person who wants to do it.
Wholesome Food is doing very well which we all can easily verify just visiting the always packed store. According to Ms. Kaplan the Subway store, Deli, Liquor store and Ice cream parlor are performing well as well. However, Ms. Kaplan’s analysis is based only on paid rents which tells only the partial story of a company’s performance. H-R does not have access to the lessors’ financials.
H-R and RIOC have started discussions about the two new buildings which will be built on the east side of Southtown. Both of the buildings are going to be rentals and building no. 8 is planned to have large number of affordable apartments. These discussions typically take a year or two. The next building’s start up will be in two to four years according to Ms. Kaplan.
Cynthia Ahn had been talking with Ms. Kaplan earlier about some kind of leaflet to be distributed to the Southtown residents to promote the businesses in the Northtown. This issue was not really discussed in the meeting despite the fact that Cynthia tried to take it up with Ms. Kaplan.
It was decided that the quarterly meetings with MSTRAC, Hudson-Related and Cushman - Wakefield will continue but timing will be switched to 9 am.
Following up on the Roosevelt Island retail meeting discussion, Cushman & Wakefield's Michael Azarian reports about the renaming of Trellis to Nisi:
Hudson Related spoke to Trellis. It has yet to be confirmed that they are changing their name to Nisi, but it is presently being discussed. Also, Trellis' lease states that they must remain a "first class diner." Trellis is finalizing their new menu now, but they are maintain the position that they will be an "upscale diner" with quality options.
And:
Hudson Related spoke with the Urgent Care tenant. That chair you saw is not a dentist chair. It is for sutures and people with broken arms!
Resident Frank Farance reports on Roosevelt Island traffic jam this morning stretching from Main Street, the Helix Ramp, Roosevelt Island Bridge and into Long Island City. Mr. Farance share this email message and photos below sent today to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC). According to Mr. Farance:
Con Ed has one lane 24 hours a day, this does not work. You need to have them take two 2-hour breaks: 6:30-8:30 in the mornings, 2:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon. There is so much traffic in the morning, everything was blocked on the Island, including emergency service vehicles, and blocked into LIC back to 34 Ave and out to 11 St. Furthermore, Cornell trucks are delayed (which causes more problems).
Here are the details:
6:30-8:30
- Hospital shift change at 7 AM
- Other school buses on Main Street at 7:20-7:45
- Child school buses around 8 AM
- Inflow of school kids and drop-offs at 8:00 to 8:30
2:30-4:30
- Hospital shift change at 3 PM
- Child School buses around 2:45 to 3:15
- PS/IS 217 pick-ups around 3:00-3:30
- Other school buses around 3:30-4:30
The photos show the massive traffic jam. If Con Ed says they need 24 hour access, tell them they need to take 2-hour coffee breaks and put the plates back during that time.
Really, too much congestion and, already, hazards with emergency vehicles getting through (see photo of ambulance having difficulty).
Full view, showing traffic jammed on top of Helix and down on Main Street (inset: Main Street at construction)
Ambulance with sirens on, having difficultly making way through congestion, which was on both sides of street
Congestion complicated be school drop-off just before construction
Congestion complicated by school bus drop-off at Child School
Looking north on Vernon Blvd and 36 Ave, traffic congested
Congestion on Vernon Blvd continues as far as 34 Ave
Looking west on 36 Ave, traffic congested as far as 11 St
Looking west, traffic not moving on RI Bridge
Looking east, traffic congested from Vernon Blvd to Helix upper level
Looking south, traffic not moving down Helix ramp
Looking south from Motorgate, upper level Helix is congested
Cornell delivery truck delayed
I asked Mr. Farance:
When were these pictures taken?
Was today's traffic problems typical during the Con Ed construction or just a one time problem?
Mr Farance replied:
This morning between 8:00 and 8:30.
There are three phases of work. The first phase, which is already completed, was laying the pipe in the street. This was done during daytime, but not during rush hours. This did not cause too much of a problem.
The second phase, connecting the riser, has always been done at night, typically 8-9 PM or later. There have not been issues at night. The third phase is energizing the new gas main and switching over service in the buildings (not yet started).
Today is the first day they were doing construction during the AM/PM rush hours. I don't expect this to be a one-time problem because we (people like me and others) have already studied the traffic patterns and these rush hours are really bad times. I think DOT has a study, too, on bridge traffic which is consistent with my reporting on the peak hours. I expect the same problems tomorrow morning.
RIOC issued the following parking and traffic advisories for this week.
Due to continued Con Edison Gas Main Riser work on Main Street, for the week of Monday, May 16th, 2016 through Friday, May 20th, 2016, there will be “No Parking, No Stopping or No Standing” in front of 591-625 Main Street (Westview Buildings) beginning 12:00AM, Monday, May 16th, 2016 through 11:00PM, Friday, May 20th, 2016.
Vehicles parked in this area during this time will be summonsed and/or towed.
Further, the sidewalk on the East side of Main Street, in front of Capobianco Field, will be closed to pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians may cross over to the West side of Main street either at the crosswalk near 591 or 625 Main Street.
Con Edison will continue to provide RIOC with a projected work schedule, which will be made available to residents and merchants in future Everbridge Advisories.
Thank you for your cooperation during this time.
And:
Urban American Management has advised that due to building facade work, Main St. will be reduced to one lane of traffic between 575 Main St. (Island House Bldg.) and 599 Main St. (Westview Bldg.), DAILY beginning Monday, May 16th, 2016 THROUGH Friday, May 20th, 2016, from 8AM to 6PM.
In order to facilitate this work, there will be NO PARKING, NO STOPPING, OR NO STANDING on the West side of Main St. between 575 Main St. (Island House Bldg.) and 599 Main St. (Westview Bldg.), Monday THROUGH Friday from 7AM - 7PM.
Flag persons will be on site to redirect traffic during these times.
Further, during this work, from 8AM to 6PM the crosswalk at 580 Main Street will be closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic; please utilize the crosswalks at 560 or the temporary crosswalk located opposite 595 Main Street.
Thank you for your cooperation during this time.
I asked RIOC for comment on the matter earlier today. Have not heard back yet but will update with any response from RIOC. Will also ask Con Ed for comment as well.
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.
