Friday, April 6, 2018

Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossoms Starting To Bloom, They Will Be Gorgeous - And A Cherry Blossom Dress Too

The Roosevelt Island Cherry Trees are just starting to bloom.

Here's one at the Starbucks patio today


and Blackwell Park basketball court.
The best viewing of Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossoms is on the West Promenade next to the Cornell Tech campus. They are not yet in bloom but will be soon. Here's what they looked like last April 8



and:

StreetEasy Says Roosevelt Island Is The Perfect Compromise Place To Live If Undecided Between Upper East Side And Astoria/LIC - Maybe Or Maybe Not?

Can't decide whether to live on the Upper East Side or Astoria/Long Island City? According to an advertising campaign by the online real estate site Streeteasy, Roosevelt Island is the perfect compromise place to live.

Some disagree.

But, common ground was found by adapting Deep Blue Something's Breakfast At Tiffany's lyrics for Roosevelt Island


More thoughts:

Good News, Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend - New NYC Ferry Roosevelt Island Astoria Route Schedule For Spring, NYC Ferry Jobs Available Too

According to the MTA, there will be Roosevelt Island F Train service


to and from Manhattan this weekend.

And, NYC Ferry has a new spring schedule.

Roosevelt Island weekend ferry service to Wall Street is 40 minutes after the hour starting at 6:40 AM until 9:40 PM.  Roosevelt Island weekend ferry service to Astoria is 46 minutes after hour starting at 7:46 AM until 9:46 PM

Click here for the NYC Ferry Spring daily and weekend Roosevelt Island Astoria route ferry schedule.

Also, jobs available with NYC Ferry.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Roosevelt Island Fresh Sushi & Poke Bowl Now Available From New Vendor At Gristedes Cafe - Give It A Try

A new Roosevelt Island food option opened for business this week


at the Gristedes Cafe offering fresh sushi and poke bowls.


Take it home or eat at the Cafe.


Give it a try.

I'm told they will soon have delivery service.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Roosevelt Island Center Of Community Development & Beacon Program Free Little League Baseball Season Begins April 15 - Still Time To Register And Play Ball, Volunteer Coaches Needed Too

Roosevelt Island Hope Church Pastor Dan Sadlier reports the Roosevelt Island Center of Community Development (RICCD) Little League baseball season begins it's third season on April 15.


This spring, the Roosevelt Island Center of Community Development will host our third year of island wide little league.

In partnership with Beacon, the league will include 3 different age groups; minors (5-6), majors (7-9yrs old) and seniors (10-13yrs old), with the intent of expanding to other age groups in the coming years.

Children and their parents can expect a well-planned, 10 game season. The RICCD little league will include an opening day parade, a pre-season parent's gathering, an all-star game, and the league will finish strong with a playoff and little league championship game. Little League opening day and parade are on April 15th.

In addition, the league has focused on recruiting high character parents, young professionals, and others leaders from the community who are ready to invest much of their spring into launching this new neighborhood little-league. Register online at http://www.riccd.com/recreation/
So far, over 160 kids have signed up to play. There is room for about 10 more players and 2-3 more volunteer coaches too.

Register here.

Have fun Playing Ball



on



Roosevelt Island's Field of Dreams.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Mark Your Calendars - Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival April 21, Japanese Cultural Performances, Fair, Food, Tea Ceremony & Picnic

Stay tuned for more info.

Here are some scenes from 2017 Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival.

$25 Million For Roosevelt Island Capital Improvement Projects Included In NY State Budget Fulfilling 2013 Cornell Tech Land Swap Agreement - Money To Be Used For Aging Island Infrastructure And Public Facilities Says RIOC

The NY State Budget passed and signed into law last Friday by Governor Cuomo included the long waited for $25 million payment


to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) in fulfillment of 2013 agreement for the transfer of RIOC controlled land incorporated into the Cornell Tech Campus.

A spokesperson for NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright reported:
$25 Million in Capital Appropriation for Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) Included in Budget

$25 million for Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) to fund a multi-year capital improvement program on Roosevelt Island as agreed to by the State in relation to the Cornell Tech development.

“I am happy to secure this funding for my Roosevelt Island constituents.” said Seawright.
Yesterday, I asked RIOC:
When will money be received and how does RIOC plan on spending it?
RIOC Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson replied today:
With last Friday’s passage of the State of New York’s FY 2018 State Budget, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation will receive a $25 million payment to supplement its existing capital infrastructure improvement program.

The payment is the tangible result of a unique 2013 land-swap agreement - regarding a 2.62-acre parcel to help facilitate the Cornell-Tech campus development - between the State and RIOC.

The money, according to the budget law, “is to be used in support of the comprehensive, multi-year capital program for capital improvements on Roosevelt Island.”

RIOC plans to add the funds to its existing five-year $40-million major improvements schedule, an aggressive plan that works to immediately address aging island infrastructure and public facilities that have had neither improvements nor significant repairs since their original construction 40 years ago.

Some of those items include: the 59th Street tram station elevator construction, island-wide seawall railing replacements, Southpoint Park seawall construction, repairs to the AVAC sanitation system, Sportspark and youth center renovations, Motorgate parking garage repairs, Blackwell and Al Lewis playgrounds renovations, and Octagon and Firefighters field improvements.

“This budget appropriation helps RIOC continue the progress we have achieved to improve the quality of on Roosevelt Island,” said RIOC President and CEO Susan Rosenthal.
Here's more on the land swap agreement and Cornell Tech.



Also, more on the NY State budget.

Monday, April 2, 2018

Resident Asks RIOC Not To Mar View Of East River Waterfront From Roosevelt Island Pier With A Royal Flush Porta Potty

Roosevelt Island resident Adina Grunn reports:

As you can see this porta-potty placement is extremely unfortunate.


 I doubt it was deliberately placed to mar the view over Eleanor’s Pier.


So, could you please ask Royal Flush to move this unit close to the end of the sea-walk (perhaps by the Starbucks garbage enclosure). I’m sure a dire need for Royal Flush could definitely be addressed by walking a quick couple of yards south.
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer Alonza Robetson replies:
Thank you for forwarding your reader's question. The portasans belongs to our seawall railings contractor who dropped the unit off Friday in preparation for work in that area. Back on site today, after the weekend, the contractor moved the portasans inside the barricades of their approved work area at the Southtown West location.

Roosevelt Island Rivercross Arbitration Settlement, Westview Privatization & Southtown Riverwalk Buildings 8 & 9 Development On April 3 RIOC Real Estate Committee Meeting Agenda - In Executive Session Closed To The Public

Very important Roosevelt Island real estate issues


will be discussed tomorrow, April 3, during the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Advisory Committee. According to RIOC:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will now be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 5:30 P.M. at the RIOC Warehouse, 680 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

1. Chair’s Motion for Executive Session to Discuss:

a. Rivercross Arbitration Settlement

b. Southtown 8 & 9 Environmental Assessment and Zoning Overrides

c. Westview Ground Lease Negotiations

2. Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee.
The meeting will be in executive session, closed to the public.

There is no indication that I can find on the RIOC web site about this meeting.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 3/3 - The agenda has been amended to have the Southtown discussion in public session.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will now be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 5:30 P.M. at the RIOC Warehouse, 680 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Amended Agenda:

1. Discussion of the Southtown 8 & 9 Environmental Assessment and Zoning Overrides

2. Chair’s Motion for Executive Session to Discuss:

a. Rivercross Arbitration Settlement

b. Westview Ground Lease Negotiations

3. Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee.

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