You're invited to Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Town Hall Community Update October 1 - Report On Construction, Barging, Truck Traffic, Hearing Technology & More, Come Ask Your Questions

Image Of Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Construction Site

Cornell Tech and the Roosevelt Island Construction & Community Task Force will be holding a Town Hall Community Update tomorrow, October 1, at the Manhattan Park Theater Club (8 River Road) starting at 6 PM.

Things are happening on Roosevelt Island. 1st steel column of the Bloomberg Center is set! http://t.co/uPb9r594Sz pic.twitter.com/mTo8uP876C

— Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech) September 23, 2015

A Cornell Tech Spokesperson reports:

... in June Cornell Tech announced a $100 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies to fund construction of the campus. The first academic building on the campus was named The Bloomberg Center – in honor of Emma and Georgina Bloomberg. The Bloomberg Center, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis Architects, is a departure from traditional academic facilities with an open plan and extensive collaborative as well as private work spaces, adapting open plan offices from the tech world to the academic arena. Cornell is aspiring for the building to be among the largest net-zero energy buildings in the United States, with all of its power generated on campus.

adding:

Original commitment:

During ULURP, Cornell committed to:

• “reduce the number of construction vehicles along Main Street by approximately 40% from the numbers included in the EIS for the project.” (source: Letter to Council-member Jessica Lappin dated May 2, 2013)

Special commitments include:

• “Building Material not re-used on the Project Site will be removed by barge" -- All waste during demolition was removed by barge.
• “Nearly all bulk materials will be delivered and removed by barge” -- Delivery of bulk materials will be needed in 2016.
• “Heavy materials such as steel, curtain wall, and large equipment will also be delivered by barge" -- Steel deliveries for the Bloomberg Center to start in late September 2015, followed shortly thereafter by steel for the Bridge. Curtain wall deliveries for both buildings will start in late winter/spring 2016.

Images From Cornell Tech

Barging system:

• To facilitate deliveries of construction equipment and materials, a Roll-On/Roll-Off (Ro/Ro) barge and ramp system will be installed along the East Loop Road, approximately 725 feet south of the North Loop Road. Trucks will be able to drive directly onto a barge, travel to Roosevelt Island, and drive off. This is a different type of barging operation compared to the demolition barging operation, where containers of material were picked up by a crane and deposited onto the deck of a barge.
• Each barge can hold 4-10 trucks depending on the size of the truck and trailer (large tractor trailers of steel and façade panels vs. smaller box trucks).
• The system will be capable of handling up to three barge deliveries as part of a normal work day.
• The majority of deliveries can be made regardless of tides. The use of some trucks with particularly low clearances will require careful coordination, delivering within 2 hours before or after high tide.
• Generally speaking, barges with materials/equipment will arrive to Roosevelt Island around 7 a.m. to coincide with the start of the workday. There is an emphasis on early morning barge deliveries to reduce early morning traffic peaks.

Truck Targets:

• Approximately 6,350 trucks were eliminated through demolition barging operations, with 100% of demolition waste removed from Roosevelt Island by barge.
• As part of the new Roll-On/Roll-Off operation, a reduction of an additional 2,000 trucks is being targeted.

Schedule:

• Now that all projects are well underway, construction activity will start to increase in October 2015.
• Barging will begin in September in advance of the anticipated increase in deliveries in October 2015 so as to limit the burden on Main Street.

During July 20 Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Construction & Community Task Force meeting, Cornell Tech Director Of Capital Planning Andrew Winters described

Image Of Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Roll On Roll Off Barge

the roll on roll off barging process.



Also, Mr Winters discussed plans for hearing impaired technology to be utilized on the Cornell Tech campus using an Infrared System, not the Looping technology which had been advocated by members of the Roosevelt Island community.



Here's what happened at the June 16 groundbreaking ceremony for Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech campus.

Come to the Town Hall meeting tomorrow to learn what is going on and ask your questions.

UPDATE 10/1 - According to the Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Campus Project Construction Update:

September 28 - October 9 Look Ahead

Roadwork and Central Utility Plant – Underground utilities, including street tie-ins for the Central Utility Building will be completed in this period. Backfilling in preparation for the concrete slab on grade will be finalized leading up to the pouring of the slab on grade in the 2nd/3rd week of October. Utility installation continues in the southern section of the East Loop Road. At the North Loop Road, conduit will be installed for future Verizon service to Sports Park. Additionally at North Loop Road, all at grade utility access ports are being raised and building utility connections backfilled in preparation for asphalt base course which will be installed in the second week of this period. Construction Fence re-location is underway along the West Loop Road. Fence is being moved from the east side of the road to the west and is leading up to the closing the road to traffic in the middle of October. Authorized southbound traffic will be accommodated on the East Loop Road when the West Loop Road is closed.

Co-Location Building – The foundation is nearing completion and should be achieved by the end of this period. Underground utilities and street connections are ongoing and being coordinated with work along East Loop Road.

Residential Building – Utility connections in the street should be finalized by the second week of this period. The concrete slab on grade will be poured by the second week of October. The tower crane will be erected and first floor column forming will begin in the beginning of the next period.

Bloomberg Center – Erection of steel continues and will be supplemented with the mobilization of a second crane within this period. Pile caps are being finalized on the east side of the building. Steel clips and angles are being installed around the perimeter foundation in preparation for floor deck tie-ins.

Barge Operation – Barging is underway and deliveries have begun to feed projects on site. Enforced waterway restrictions will limit deliveries in the beginning of this period

Roosevelt Island NYC Council Participatory Budget Vote Starts Today Thru Saturday - Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof And Hearing Impaired Technology For Local Public Library Need Your Vote

Participatory Budget Voting began this morning on Roosevelt Island to help allocate $1 million in NYC taxpayer capital funds for Council District 5 which includes Roosevelt Island, the Upper East Side, Midtown East and El Barrio.

@benKallos is out today encouraging people to vote for NYC council participatory... https://t.co/YhtNEkIqwU pic.twitter.com/Vrs3oOBfRc
— Amanda Andries (@NYCFrugalMama) April 13, 2015

Great #ParticipatoryBudgeting crowd on Roosevelt Island this morning! Make a voting plan at http://t.co/EmXtLJyem0 pic.twitter.com/pGTAzYExxq
— Ben Kallos (@BenKallos) April 13, 2015

According to NYC Council Member Ben Kallos:

... you will be empowered through direct democracy to vote on how $1 million in taxpayer dollars get spent in our neighborhood.

Through participatory budgeting, you can vote on five projects that you believe in. Those with the most votes up to $1 million will win and receive funding. To participate, you must live in Council District Five and be 16 or older....

The Roosevelt Island projects eligible for District 5 Participatory Budget funding are:

Study of Sight and Sound $35,000 (#3 on ballot)

Audio/Visual equipment with audio induction looping for the New York Public Library Roosevelt Island branch.
504 Main Street (Roosevelt Island)

and:

Green Roof for PS/IS 217 $500,000 (#5 on ballot)
Build a green roof for environmental education at PS/IS 217.
645 Main Street (Roosevelt Island)

During the April 1 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council Public Session, Christina Delfico and Sharon Berman urged support for the Roosevelt Island Participatory Budget projects. Here's what they said.





More on the PS/IS 217 Green Roof and hearing impaired technology projects at this previous post.

District 5 Participatory voting will take place at​ d​ifferent locations between April 11-19, including these Roosevelt Island locations:​

MON, APRIL 13:​PS/IS 217, 645 Main St., 7​:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.

TUES, APRIL 14:​RI Senior Center, 546 Main St., 1​0 A.M. - 1 P.M.

WED, APRIL 15:​RI Public Library, 524 Main St., 3​P.M. - 7 P.M.

SAT, APRIL 18: RI Historical Society Visitors Kiosk Tram 11 A.M - 5 P.M.

Also, WEEKDAYS, APRIL 13-1​7: District Office, 244 East 93rd St. 9 A.M. – 6 P.M. WEEKENDS, APRIL 11/​12 & 18/​19: District Office, 244 East 93rd St. 12 P.M. – 4 P.M.

Here is the full list of District 5 Participatory Budget Projects.

Libraries
1. Cool Reading: $500,000 Upgrade the cooling system for the New York Public Library Webster branch. 1465 York Ave.

2. Bright Minds: $280,000 Replace and improve the exterior lighting on the New York Public Library East 67th Street branch. 328 E. 67th St.

3. Study of Sight and Sound: $35,000 Audio/Visual equipment with audio induction looping for the New York Public Library’s Roosevelt Island branch. 504 Main St. (Roosevelt Island)

Schools
4. Rooftop Recreation for PS 151: $500,000
Create a necessary outdoor play space on the roof with the opportunity to add a greenhouse and Edible School Yard for PS 151. 421 E88th Street (Upper East Side)

5. Green Roof for PS/IS 217: $500,000
Build a green roof for environmental education at PS/IS 217. 645 Main Street (Roosevelt Island)

6. School Stage for Eleanor Roosevelt High: $500,000 Upgrade the stage, seating, floor, lighting, audio with looping for hearing loss, in order to support more performance uses and an orchestra at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. 411 E76th Street (Upper East Side)

7. School’s Cool for PS198/PS 77: $500,000 Air conditioning renovation for building wide cooling in hot summer months at PS198/PS77. 1700 Third Ave (Upper East Side)

8. STEM Education for High School: $280,000 Laptop carts to provide Science Technology Engineering and Math(STEM) education for Title I High Schools serving low-income students at Vanguard and Life Sciences. 317 E67th St & 320 E96th St (Upper East Side & El Barrio)

Community
9. Security Cameras for Holmes Towers: $500,000 Add new security cameras for increased safety for residents of Holmes Towers. E93 & First Ave (Upper East Side)

10. Security Cameras for Lexington Houses: $500,000 Add new security cameras for increased safety for residents of Lexington Houses. E98th to E99th & Park to Third (El Barrio)

11. Community Garden for Lexington Houses: $385,000 New planters and gates so that residents can grow plants in a community garden with additional plantings throughout the grounds. E98th to E99th & Park to Third (El Barrio)

Our Parks
12. Full Court Press: $400,000 Renovate basketball courts at John Jay Park including new backboards, hoops and sports coating. E76 to E78 & FDR Drive (Upper East Side)

13. Irrigate the Esplanade: $300,000 Irrigation for the East River Esplanade to allow for increased access to water for trees and vegetation along walkway. East River Esplanade (District wide)

14. Esplanade Greenway: $200,000 Create and improve the tree beds along the East River Esplanade and complete construction of unfinished sites. East River Esplanade (District wide)

15. Fun Fountain at St. Catherine’s Park: $200,000 Replace the fountain and spray shower with new plumbing, interactive spray heads and sports-coating for children to play in at St. Catherine’s Park. E67 to E68 & First Ave. (Upper East Side)

Streets
16. Bus Bulbs on East 86th Street: $150,000 Bus bulbs with streetscape improvements to support pedestrian safety and off-board payment on E86th St at Lexington and Third Aves.

Roosevelt Island resident Frank Farance is critical of the PS/IS 217 Green Roof selection for Participatory Budget funds and the lack of funding for an air quality monitoring study. He writes a comment to this post:

... In short, someone should ask Council Member Ben Kallos why he wants to spend a half-million on the school when the real budgetary needs are elsewhere. We have many Island organizations that could use a fraction of that money, our neighborhood is still approximately 2/3 affordable housing. Meanwhile, the Upper East Side is swimming in money ... an extra half-million? No problem when there is money for everything else on the UES.

As a PBV delegate, on Roosevelt Island, we listed a variety of ideas. You'd recognize all the names and that we all have major differences, but there was one thing everyone agreed upon: Air Quality Monitoring, which would benefit our community and the adjacent communities of the East Side, Astoria, and Long Island City. We even added a sixth monitoring point to Lighthouse Park so we could include monitoring of the Upper East Side's Marine Transfer Station (an important AQ issue for East Siders)...

... our Councilmember should be more it touch with the Island's organizations and their needs, not an expensive shrine to the needs of a few.

And spend money on Air Quality Monitoring, a really important benefit to everyone.

Mr. Farance's full comment is here.

Roosevelt Island Brownie Girl Scout Troop 3001 likes the idea of a PS/IS 217 Green Roof



and asks for your vote.

UPDATE 4/14 - A spokesperson for Council Member Kallos responds:

Both rank and feasibility are the determining factors of what gets on the ballot -- and, in this case, the agency that would handle the project, DOHMH, was not in the pb process (and DEP was not the right agency to administer this project). We are happy that 2 of 16 proposals this year are from the Roosevelt Island delegates, so RI will be very well represented on the ballot!

The DOHMH is the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. DEP is the NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

PS/IS 217 Green Roof And NY Public Library Technology For Hearing Impaired Among Roosevelt Island Projects Eligible For NYC Council Member Ben Kallos $1 Million Participatory Budget Funding

Image From Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 PTA

A Green Roof for Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 and technology for hearing impaired people at the Roosevelt Island NY Public Library branch were among the projects showcased last Sunday at the Roosevelt Island Participatory Budgeting Info Expo presented by NYC Council Member Ben Kallos.

I spoke with Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts Emily and Lilly at the Info Expo who described the proposed PS/IS 217 Green Roof.



Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman adds:

In 2013, then Borough President Scott Stringer, awarded PS / IS 217 $35,000 for the School Construction Authority (SCA) to conduct a green roof feasibility report. The SCA met with school leadership and heard our wishes for 6,750 Sq. ft. of extended learning space for all curricula on our roof to serve K through 8th grade.

They considered structural work, safety, and design elements to include space for a green environmental science learning hub, an amphitheater for dance, art and theater and a place to explore renewable energy, and tech experiments. The SCA created a professional analysis and working budget and announced it is feasible for PS IS 217 to pursue funding for a green roof.

This was the first important step that allowed us to pursue funding. The SCA estimates $1.5 million and allows for two budget cycles to confirm funds which are historically a collaborative effort across city council and borough president.

In February 2015 we applied to Borough President Gale A. Brewer for capital funding, and now we are delighted that the Green Roof for PS / IS 217 made the Participatory Budget ballot for District 5 where city council member Ben Kallos allows his community to vote on projects important to them.

Only two projects from Roosevelt Island made the ballot so we invite every resident 16 years and older from District 5 to get out and vote. It is free to vote and with heavy competition from the Upper East Side and Midtown East projects more votes could help us make the green roof a reality and garner $500,000 for the project.

The other Roosevelt Island project eligible for Participatory Budget Funds will bring technology for hearing impaired people to the NY Public Library Roosevelt Island branch. Roosevelt Island resident Sharon Berman explains the project. (Sorry for the background noise in video).



Council Member Kallos

@YCS @p2pnyc @BenKallos carefully caring green roof project, created by students back to his office pic.twitter.com/EhXzc2pDPq
— Jill Eisner (@JillEisner) March 22, 2015

was at the Roosevelt Island Info Expo and provides more information about Participatory Budgeting and how to vote for your favorite project.



You can vote for up to 5 projects to be funded.

Here's the ballot with complete list of NYC Council District 5 eligible projects including

Green Roof for PS/IS 217 $500,000
Build a green roof for environmental education at PS/IS 217.
645 Main Street (Roosevelt Island) and

Study of Sight and Sound $35,000

Audio/Visual equipment with audio induction looping for the New York Public Library Roosevelt Island branch.
504 Main Street (Roosevelt Island)

Participatory Budget Funds Voting takes place:

WEEKDAYS, APRIL 13-17: District Office, 244 East 93rd St. 9 A.M. – 6 P.M.
WEEKENDS, APRIL 11-12 & 18-19: District Office, 244 East 93rd St. 12 P.M. – 4 P.M.

MONDAY, APRIL 13: PS/IS 217, 645 Main St., 7:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14: RI Senior Center, 546 Main St., 10 A.M. - 1 P.M.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15: RI Public Library, 524 Main St., 3 P.M. – 7 P.M.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18: RI Historical Society, Visitor Kiosk, 11 A.M. - 5 P.M.

and these other locations.

More information available from Council Member Ben Kallos here.

Status Of Current Roosevelt Island Projects, Community Programs, Hearing Impaired Remediation At Public Meetings & More On Agenda Of RIOC Operations Advisory Committee Meeting Today

 Image Of Captioning For Hearing Impaired At 12//14  Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Town Hall

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Operations Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Monday, February 9, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

AGENDA:

Review of Current Projects

Discussion of Community Programs

Discussion of Handicap Accessibility Issues (Hearing impaired remediation in meeting facilities)

Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee

***

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.

This Operations Advisory committee meeting was rescheduled from January 26 that was cancelled due to weather.

More on making Roosevelt Island public meeting accessible for hearing impaired people at this prior post.

An audio web cast of the meeting will be available here.

UPDATE 2/10 - The audio web cast of the meeting is here.

Status Of Current Roosevelt Island Projects, Community Programs, Hearing Impaired Remediation At Public Meetings & More On Agenda Of January 26 RIOC Operations Advisory Committee Meeting

Image Of Captioning For Hearing Impaired At 12//14  Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Town Hall

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Operations Advisory Committee meeting of the RIOC Board of Directors previously scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2015 has been rescheduled and will be held on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

AGENDA:

• Review of Current Projects
• Discussion of Community Programs
• Discussion of Handicap Accessibility Issues (Hearing impaired remediation in meeting facilities)
• Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee

***

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.

During November 2014 RIOC Board of Directors meeting Public Session, Roosevelt Island resident Sharon Berman discussed making Roosevelt Island public meeting accessible for hearing impaired people



and during the December 2014 Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Town Hall meeting, Cornell Tech's Jane Swanson thanked Ms. Berman



for her activism and efforts in helping to get captioning for the meeting.

2014 Year End Report From NYC Council Member Ben Kallos - Living And Breathing Roosevelt Island Every Single Day Says Mr. Kallos

Roosevelt Island and Upper East Side

Image Of NYC Council District 5 Including Roosevelt Island From Ben Kallos

NYC Council Member (CM) Ben Kallos reported December 23 on the end of his first year serving as our CM.
 

Image From Ben Kallos

According to Mr. Kallos:

It has been one year since I began serving as your City Council Member. I am deeply proud of the work we have done together and excited for the road ahead. Though there certainly have been difficult times, especially in recent days and months, it is time for our city to come together in mourning of those we have lost and with resolve to move forward.

I look forward to meeting you at an upcoming event--or perhaps my holiday party tonight, 12/23, from 4-7p.m. at my District Office at 244 East 93rd Street. You can RSVP at BenKallos.com/Events.

If you would like to compare my goals with actions over the past year, please have a look at my 2013 Policy Book. I am proud of these achievements--but I know there's much, much more to do. Thank you for your support this year. I am looking forward to the next three.

Sincerely,

Ben Kallos


Year One: By the Numbers

Residents served: More than 1,000
Legislation Passed: 3 bills and 2 resolutions
Land use matters: 2, with both passing
City Council attendance: 100 Percent (perfect attendance)
Governmental Operations Committee Hearing chaired: 14
Laws passed through committee: 7 Bills and 2 Resolutions
First Fridays and policy nights: Nearly 20
Funding Secured for East River Esplanade: $35 Million
Community Meetings: More than 100
Money allocated to projects the community voted on through participatory budgeting: $2.7 million

Table Of Contents

1. Fighting the Marine Transfer Station
2. Safer Streets
3. Revitalizing the East River Esplanade
4. Supporting Education
5. Affordable Housing
6. Healthier Communities
7. Open Office
8. Government Reform
9. City Council Rules Reform
10. Participatory Budgeting
12. Technology
12. Improving Elections
13. Starting off and Moving Forward

Mr. Kallos spoke at the December 8 Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island Town Hall meeting. He discussed accessibility for hearing impaired at public meetings, new Roosevelt Island NYC Public Library visioning session, $1 million Participatory Budgeting process, Cornell Tech construction barging and constituent services.



Mr. Kallos has mobile Roosevelt Island constituent service office hours on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 4-7 PM at the Roosevelt Island Seniors Center (546 Main Street) and his Roosevelt Island Director, resident Joe Strong, can be stopped on the street to discuss issues as well.

Mr. Kallos ended his remarks at the Cornell Tech Town Hall meeting saying:

... by having someone on Roosevelt Island, we make sure every single day, morning, evening, afternoon, we're living and breathing Roosevelt Island.

More information about NYC Council Member Ben Kallos is available at his web site.