Long Delayed Reopening Of Renovated Roosevelt Island Youth Center Building Delayed Once Again Due To 2 Separate Flooding Incidents Says RIOC - Parents Frustrated Youth Center Closed Since August 2018, Projected 6 Week Renovation Taking More Than A Year

Last October, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal reported that the Youth Center building at 506 Main Street,

closed for renovations since the summer of 2018, would re-open by the end of this month - November 2019.

But today, RIOC announced:

Due to two recent incidents causing water damage, the Roosevelt Island Youth Center at 504 Main Street will not open until Spring 2020. Youth Center activities will continue at Sportspark until Spring 2020.

The first bout of water damage was caused when the Center's sprinkler system was set off by a small fire in a trash container on Roosevelt Landing property. The second round of damage came from a flood caused by construction work at the new New York Public Library.

We know the Youth Center is an important part of the Roosevelt Island community. We are working with our contractor to repair the damage as soon as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience this delay will cause.

During the November 7 RIOC Public Safety Department Town Hall meeting, parents spoke about the role of the Youth Center in community life and expressed frustration that the Youth Center building has been closed since August 2018, despite being told that it would reopen in November 2018, as well as difficulties using the Sportspark facility as a temporary Youth Center location.



Here's a look inside the RIOC Youth Center

building

today.