On July 30, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Advisory Committee (audio web cast of meeting here) received an update on Main Street leasing progress from Master Retail Leaseholder Hudson Related's David Kramer.
Image Of July 30 RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee Meeting (David Kramer On Far Left)
Earlier that day,
it was reported here that Hudson Related signed a lease with an urgent care medical facility for the space occupied by the St Cabrini Thrift Shop.
Mr. Kramer began the retail update with a summary of progress to date including:
- the new urgent care facility,
- possible relocation of the Thrift Shop to a smaller space,
- the soon to open wine store,
- Trellis renovation to begin in the Fall (hopefully in September),
- looking for a new hardware store tenant,
- frustrated with pace of RIOC's renovating windows for Public Library at 504 Main Ground Floor,
- does not want to break up 2nd Floor of 504 Main Street for two tenants, seeking one tenant for entire floor,
- Gallery RIVAA partnering with Cornell NYC Tech to share space and costs and
- difficulty encouraging Southtown Riverwalk residents to walk north to shop on Main Street.
Here's
Part 1 of Mr. Kramer's retail update.
Mr. Kramer then spoke about (Part 2) the waterfront concession at Eleanor's Pier, hoping to make it a more permanent concession for next summer and creating Roosevelt Island way finding signage
followed by questions (Part 3) from RIOC Directors about:
- a new bakery,
- pressuring Trellis to start renovation or evict them (Trellis is technically in default under its lease for not starting renovation yet. Hudson Related expects them to start renovation in the Fall).
Mr. Kramer said that Hudson Related has not lost one deal because of asking for too much money and was willing to do a below market, loss leader deal, for the right tenant.
Mr. Kramer then took questions from residents (Part 4) about:
- the Public Library,
- flyers and "crappy stuff" on store windows,
- cleaning up the stationary store (Mr. Kramer says they may be moved to another space),
- desire of some for a pet store, ( H-R almost signed 2 different Pet Stores but it did not work out) and
- Main Street restaurants (Rivercross will not allow restaurants needing ventilation in building).
and (Part 5):
- Roosevelt Island Islamic Society seeking space at 504 Main Street Second Floor for Mosque and
- co-working space for second floor of 504 Main Street.
And then the
meeting was over (Part 6).
Mr. Kramer said that he believes it will take another one or two years for the 4 -6 currently vacant store spaces to be leased.
... We're going to continue along at a semi-sluggish pace and then something is going to tip...
Mr. Kramer encouraged residents to be ambassadors for Roosevelt Island and to tell favorite retailers that Roosevelt Island was open for business. Mr Kramer emphasized that there will no longer be sweetheart deals for politically favored tenants but that new leases will be based upon "market transactions."
