Sale Of Roosevelt Landings, Hudson Related Main Street Retail Presentation, Southtown Building 9 Lot & Southpoint Open Space Project On Agenda For Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Real Estate Development Advisory Committee Meeting Monday October 7 - Public Invited To Attend

Several very important local real estate issues will be discussed during the October 7 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee (REDAC).

According to RIOC:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Monday, October 7, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. at RIOC’s Operations Office, 680 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Amended Agenda:

• Discussion of Transfer of Roosevelt Landings
• Hudson Related Retail Presentation Regarding Main Street Commercial Spaces
• Discussion of Southtown Building 9 Lot Reapportionment
• Discussion of “RI” Sign
• Langan Presentation of Southpoint Open Space Revetment Project

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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.

More info here on:

• Roosevelt Landings sale,
• Hudson Related Main Street Retail and
• discussion of Giant RI sign.

During the September 5 RIOC Board of Directors Meeting Public Session, Roosevelt Island resident Janet Falk discussed the Giant RI Monument which residents were told was to be temporary and then voted upon by REDAC committee before a final decision to keep it permanently.

According to Ms Falk:

I am a representative of Southtown to the RIRA Common Council.

Believe it or not, I am here at the invitation of Susan Rosenthal.

You probably don’t remember, but we had an email exchange in May and the RIOC Board was copied on the correspondence. The subject was the re-installation of the RI Monument on Tram Plaza. I had believed it was a temporary installation, a three-month trial, starting on October 8, which would have ended on January 8 of this year.

But in fact, it was SEVEN months in May and is about ELEVEN months today.

In May, I asked Susan to report on the impact of the monument.

To my surprise, she could not provide ONE STATISTIC to prove that the monument had attracted
visitors, enticed them to stay longer on the island, spend more money, be more active on social media, or generate more favorable comments by residents.

NOT ONE DATAPOINT.

She could only cite anecdotal reports by tram operators (and herself) that tourists enjoy it and took photos. Then she said, “But feel free to speak to the Board during any public comment period if you wish them to take action.” So here I am.

Susan, I have anecdotal evidence, too. HUNDREDS of people IGNORE the monument, and thousands actively detest it. RIRA voted UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST the monument.

Residents submitted comments AGAINST the monument and copied Judy Berdy of the RIHS, comments that RIOC and the board NEVER saw. Many wonder how those comments were misplaced.

This is background. Now, here are my FIVE QUESTIONS:

​1. On what date did the RIOC Board decide the “temporary” RI Monument would become permanent?

2. What criteria were used to arrive at that decision of permanent installation?

3. RIRA, as you may recall, voted overwhelmingly AGAINST the monument. What input did the residents have in that decision of permanent installation?

4. When and how was this decision communicated to residents?

5. What criteria and what process would reverse that decision?