Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail Update From Hudson Related, Good Shepherd Plaza Revitalization Plans, Proposed Southpoint Park Korean Pavilion & Cultural Center Refurbishment On Agenda For July 30 RIOC Real Estate Board Of Directors Meeting

A reader noted:

The three-year anniversary of Hudson/Related taking over the Main Street retail corridor is coming up. The agreement was signed August 11, 2011 retroactive to August 1, 2011....

and asked:

... if residents are generally happy or not with the progress in the last 3 years (renovation of the corridor, the opening of 3 new establishments, the upgrade of Gristedes, the closing of the hardware/video store, other stores that were rumored but never came to be, etc.). Also, if residents believe that Mr. Kramer's prior comments about "shock and awe" regarding the corridor have been realized.

 Hudson Related's David Kramer Pointing Towards The Future Of Roosevelt Island Retail In 2011

We may learn of new Main Street retail stores later this week when Hudson Related's David Kramer provides an update on leasing progress to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Of Directors 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 be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. at Child School Gymnasium, 566 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

1. Discussion Regarding Main Street Retail and Update by Hudson/Related. (Certain portions of this update may
concern current negotiations and will be held in Executive Session);
2. Review and Discussion of Good Shepherd Plaza Revitalization Plans;
3. Discussion Regarding South Point Open Space Park Use and Features, Including Proposed Korean Pavilion;
4. Update on Cultural Center Refurbishment; and
5. 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.

Here's Mr. Kramer updating the January 12, 2014 RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee



and video from the 2011 Retail Town Hall Meeting.

Roosevelt Island Residents Association Monthly Meeting Tonight, You're Invited - New President, Public Purpose Funds Report, Reopening Korean Pavilion Discussion, Council Ethics & More

 Image From February 2014 RIRA Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) will be meeting tonight, 8 PM, at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a public session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.

This will be the first RIRA Common Council meeting following the very contentious efforts to expel Planning Committee Chair Frank Farance. That nonsense failed resulting in the resignations of several supporters of the expulsion motion and others sick of the circus atmosphere.

Let's hope that RIRA returns to addressing the serious issues facing the Roosevelt Island community.

Good luck to the new RIRA President, Jeff Escobar.

Below is the Meeting Agenda.

UPDATE 11:05 PM - Just left tonight's RIRA meeting and am happy to say the Circus has left Roosevelt Island. This RIRA meeting under the leadership of President Jeff Escobar was efficiently run, productive, civil and informative. It provides hope for the future of RIRA as an organization.

After the meeting, the overwhelming consensus of those present was that Mr. Escobar did a great job. Some RIRA members even came over to me and said they now understand why Roberts Rules Of Order is a good framework for conducting meetings.

Hopefully, this will continue going forward in the future.

Will have more on the meeting in coming days.

UPDATE 4/6 - More here including video of Mr. Escobar's President's Report and reaction from Common Council Members.

Roosevelt Island Southtown Korean Pavilion Proposal, Four Freedoms Park Usage, Ferry Service, Air Quality And Cornell Campus Subject Of RIRA Planning Committee Meeting On Monday, January 6 - You're Invited To Learn And Share Information On These Subjects

Are you interested in learning more about the future of  Roosevelt Island development and providing input on important issues involving your community?

If the answer is yes, Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Planning Committee Chair Frank Farance invites you to attend the next RIRA Planning Committee meeting tomorrow evening. According to Mr. Farance:

There will be a RIRA Planning Committee Meeting on Monday, January 6, at 8 PM in the Island House (555 Main) Community Room. Given the length of the agenda, attendees should expect the meeting will last 90 minutes, I will do my best to keep it as short as possible.

The following is the proposed agenda.

1. Opening Remarks

2. Information Sharing On Korean Pavilion

- Note: Personally, I have been asked to provide input to the Korean Association on questions/info about RIOC and their process. I don't feel comfortable having a private meeting because I am also Chair of the RIRA Planning Committee. As I said at the December Common Council meeting: I believe the community needs an open and transparent process towards long-term features of Southpoint Park, and I believe that organizations (such as the Korean Association) need to be treated fairly and consistently with their proposals. By having such an open discussion, I feel that addresses both goals.

3. Development of a RIRA Position On Four Freedoms Park usage policy
- Note 1: We (RIRA Planning Committee) have determined that FFP Conservancy is not a leaseholder on the property, thus RIOC controls its operations. The purpose of developing the RIRA position is (1) to acknowledge that RIOC is in control and it should take charge, (2) to express the desire that RIOC develop a use policy, with input from the community, on the kinds of uses are permitted/prohibited, such as what can/can't be brought into the park (e.g., presently, children are not permitted to juice/milk in the park), and (3) all use/permits be coordinated through RIOC.

- Note 2: We might also develop a position on a proposed ferry stop at FFP. In short, I believe it is the position of Common Council members (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that putting a ferry stop at FFP might deter the Island getting a ferry stop next to the Subway/Pier (which was the most desirable spot, according to a RIOC study).

4. Prepare Request For Long-Term Monitoring of Air Quality by City/etc.
- Note: There are increasing concerns about air quality with the decades long construction of Cornell, and other industrial work around us (e.g., power plant). Rather than a piecemeal approach, we seek a coordinated strategy with appropriate data/analyses sharing such that the air quality on Roosevelt Island can be monitored and, if necessary, appropriate actions can be taken to address short-, medium-, and long-term concerns. In addition, we might find other neighborhoods (Sutton Place, Queens West, LIC/Ravenswood, Astoria, etc.) who might want to partner, collaborate, and/or support our efforts. Such a nested grid (data fusion) approach might help reduce False Negatives (air quality problems that exist, but go undetected) and False Positives (e.g., air quality problems attributed to activity on Roosevelt Island, but are in fact broader problems in our area).

5. Investigate, Analyze, and Make Recommendations on RIOC Seawall work.
- Note: I've heard that RIOC is starting a new project. There have been several seawall projects on Roosevelt Island in the past several decades, we (RIRA) need to provide community input/review on RIOC's proposed work.

6. Recent Cornell Agreement With City
- Note: We need to discuss this, understand it better, and provide analysis and commentary.

See you there.

Temporary Ferry Dock, Cultural Center Renovation, Proposed Southpoint Park Korean Pavilion & More To Be Discussed At November 6 RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee Meeting - Also Update On Cornell Negotiations In Closed Executive Session

 Former RIOC Officials At Oil Dock in November 2009 Watching NY Water Taxi Ferry Boat Pass

According the the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

1. Temporary Ferry Dock;

2. Cultural Center Reconstruction Status;

3. Southpoint Park Pavilion Update;

4. Good Shepherd Plaza Developments;

5. Historic Lamppost Donation Location;

6. Updates on Rehabilitation Projects in Lighthouse Park and Westside Pier;

7. Updates on Projects in Process, including Blackwell House;

8. Chair’s Motion for Executive Session for Update on Current Negotiations Regarding Cornell NYC;

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

The audio web cast of the meeting will be available a few days later.

During recent Aspen Institute Building the Digital City Conference, Cornell NYC Tech's Dan Huttenlocher described the intent for their new Roosevelt Island campus as being a:

...  hot spot for tech kind of activities and not just for academic activities...

with plans for:

...  companies right there on campus as part of what we do every day...

Full video of panel is here.

Roosevelt Island Residents Association Meetings Most Dysfunctional In 17 Years Says RIRA Planning Committee Chair Frank Farance - Examples Include Island Shakespeare, Korean Pavilion And Meeting Procedures

 Image Of September 2013 RIRA Meeting

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Planning Committee Chair Frank Farance reports:

As a RIRA Common Council representative from Island House, I am reporting the very sad state of affairs in RIRA. We are half-way through our RIRA term, the meetings have been the most dysfunctional in my 17-year recollection. Our monthly Common Council meetings start at 8 PM, there is a 15-minute Public Session, and then we get onto the business (President's report, committee reports) and conclude around 10 PM. Our September meeting was the worst ever: Roll Call started at 10 PM. At our October meeting, in reaction to a year's worth of poor meetings, we spent much of the time trying to change procedures, e.g., taking away our right to speak and debate at RIRA meetings. The procedural change failed (another a waste of time), yet we were still prohibited from discussing committee reports.

For the decades history of RIRA, the main purpose of our monthly meetings is information-sharing: the public sharing with us (the Public Session), and us Building Representatives sharing among ourselves in reports, progress, etc. from each of our committees. The monthly meetings are our main governance event where we make decisions. This is all dysfunctional now.

The solution to our problems is not more rules, the solution is following the rules we already have: the RIRA Constitution and By-Laws, and Roberts Rules. The most important and most visible function of the RIRA President is to conduct those meetings properly and efficiently. With four years prior as RIRA Vice President, and years as a CB8 representative, one would have expected Ellen Polivy to be prepared for this role. Unfortunately, she has done a terribly poor job as RIRA President. About a half dozen of us with deep experience have tried to coach her (myself a former RIRA Parliamentarian and RIRA President), but with little success. Her reactions are thin-skinned, emotion-laden, and avoid the topics of substance, e.g., suggestions/feedback from Common Council members she frames as "character assassination".

Sure, a new leader might need some help, but rather than embrace the organization's culture and procedure, she sees this essentially as "Ellen's Meeting": not a meeting of equals in an atmosphere of fairness (we're treated equally), openness (everyone has a right to speak), and transparency (information should be revealed, not hidden).

Rather than learn the basics of running a meeting by Roberts Rules, a year later, she still is unable to competently take a vote. Some suggest getting rid of Roberts Rules, which devolves into chaos. Our October meeting saw the first time a Public Safety Officer was guarding our meeting, presumably Ms. Polivy (as RIOC permit-holder for the space) was ready to eject anyone she thought was unruly.

These problems have had significant negative effect upon our community. Just to highlight a few, at the September meeting, thanks to Ms. Polivy's poor actions, our community has lost the Island Shakespeare (IS) organization -- they have decided to move off of Roosevelt Island. IS was looking for a more permanent home for their temporary productions, but rather than Ms. Polivy moving this topic to (say) the RIRA Planning Committee (as RIRA Presidents Matt Katz, Steve Marcus, and I have done the decade prior), Ms. Polivy allows a free-for-all discussion, including members of the public to participate in ganging up on IS, with Ms. Polivy worrying out loud "I'm worried that you'll burn down Motorgate" (the outdoor steps area on the East Promenade between Motorgate and the bridge was a possible temporary site). Ms. Polivy's comments were inflammatory (no pun intended), and furthered this pile-on mentality.

What should have happened was: IS would present their suggestions to the Planning Committee, there were some concerns/suggestions about their prior use/permits, the issues would have been vetted and resolved with related organizations and appropriate RIOC staff, and then the Planning Committee would come back to the RIRA Common Council with a package of information, options, and recommendations -- all presented in a civil manner. Ms. Polivy is resistant to that approach. In departing, the head of IS described the September RIRA meeting with the words like "blindside pummeling", "extreme exaggerations", and "invective lies". Ms. Polivy, your concern about Island Shakespeare's Burning Down Motorgate is now moot, but the Island has lost an important organization.

Another example was the UN development committee to present an expansion project that would be constructed in the UN area (visible from the southern tip of the Island). Because one of the presenters happened to be Peter Krokondelas (who consults on a variety of projects, including the Cornell effort), RIRA members who are also in Ms. Polivy's other organization (RICC) focused upon Mr. Krokondelas' involvement and they could not seem to think past the Cornell effort: complaints about Cornell ("Why can't you give the community $70 million?") were lobbed at the UN. The UN people looked truly perplexed in that some RIRA members could not think clearly and could not keep separate in their mind: the Cornell project HERE on the Island versus the UN project OVER THERE on 42nd Street in Manhattan. Again Ms. Polivy should have delegated this to the Planning Committee where Common Council time would have not been wasted on free-for-all discussion.

Another example is the Korean Pavilion (a large, 500-sq-ft gazebo) to be built in Southpoint Park, see video at http://bit.ly/1fgFNiD. Even after the September RIRA meeting, and myself (as Planning Committee Chair) arranging for the Korean association to address a variety of important community concerns (e.g., Where might this large structure be placed?, and What about other community organizations that would request their own structures in Southpoint Park?), Ms. Polivy was Gaveling Through her own proposal in RIRA to approve this organization's request without the normal RIRA review. In our October meeting, motions were made to prohibit the rights of members to express their points of view during this debate.

As a last example, RIRA representatives to RICC were to be elected the beginning of our term in December 2012, but Ms. Polivy delayed their election until the after the main City planning activities were over with Cornell. Now, a year later and without notice, Ms. Polivy gives us a half-dozen nominees for these RIRA representatives to RICC: the nominees' names are embedded in her Presidents report, there was no open call for volunteers or nominees, just Ms. Polivy's selections. She needed immediate approval for her selections and, again, they were Gaveled Through.

For whatever reason, Ms. Polivy is unable lead the Common Council in a fair and competent manner -- her resistance to improvement has resulted in its ongoing dysfunction in countless ways. RIRA members (that's all of us residents, not just the Common Council), you have a stake in this, you need to advocate to your building representatives that you want this fixed right away. We can't have another year of dysfunctional meetings, of community organizations abandoning the Island, and ill-conceived resolutions.

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Meeting Tonight 8 PM - Land Use Discussion Of Proposed Korean Pavilion At Southpoint Park and Island Shakespeare Theater Home

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) will be meeting tonight, 8 PM, at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

 Image Of September 2013 RIRA Meeting

As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a public session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.

Below is the Agenda for October RIRA meeting.

RIRA Common Council Agenda

Date: Wednesday October 2 , 2013
Time: 8pm-Finish

Place: Good Shepherd Community Center, 543 Main Street

1. Public Session:

2. Roll call

3. Approval of minutes

4. Approval of agenda

5. Treasurers Report

6. Presidents Report

7. Seat Southtown representative Article III, Section 6, Vacancies "If a district has no alternate, one may be appointed pursuant to b), c), and d) above.

8. Elect RICC representatives

9. Volunteers for the Public Purpose Fund Committee

10. Rules of order proposal / bylaws review of rules of order proposal

11. Land use discussion:

Korean pavilion,

Island Shakespeare,

UNDC

12. Committee reports:

Constitution/ By laws

13. New business

During the RIRA September 11 Meeting Public Session, Roosevelt Island resident Sonia Jang made a presentation seeking the support of RIRA for building a 500 (20x25) square foot Korean Pavilion at Southpoint Park facing the United Nations. The estimated cost of the project was stated to be three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) and would be raised by the Korean community.

Preliminary Rendering of Proposed Southpoint Park Korean Pavilion Shown At 9/11 RIRA Meeting

Ms. Jang stated that she hoped RIRA's support for the Korean Pavilion at Southpoint Park would encourage the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) to approve the project. When asked if another site outside of Southpoint Park would be satisfactory for the Korean Pavilion, Ms. Jang said no because it was important to the project to face the United Nations. Here's the September 11 RIRA discussion on the Korean Pavilion.



The Korean Pavilion Proposal was previously discussed (watch video) during July 13 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Committee meeting.

In addition to the land use discussion of the Korean Pavilion Proposal, tonight's RIRA meeting will also discuss a proposal by Island Shakespeare to find a more permanent home on Roosevelt Island for their theater company. Island Shakespeare produced two wonderful theatrical events on Roosevelt Island recently, Much Ado About Nothing outdoors at the Eastwood Amphitheater

 Image Of Island Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing At Eastwood Amphitheater

in the summer of 2012 and Measure For Measure at the Good Shepherd Community Center last January - February.

During the September 11 RIRA meeting, Island Shakespeare sought the support of RIRA for a new stage home. In response to Island Shakespeare's request, questions were raised by some regarding the condition that the Good Shepherd Community Center was left in after the Island Shakespeare production of Measure For Measure. Island Shakespeare vehemently denied that the Good Shepherd Community Center was damaged by their production. Here's video of the Island Shakespeare presentation to September 11 RIRA meeting and subsequent discussion.



The Korean Pavilion at Southpoint Park and Island Shakespeare stage land use issues are scheduled to be discussed further at the RIRA meeting tonight.

RIOC President Charlene Indelicato Appearing At Roosevelt Island Residents Association Meeting Tonight - Also, RIRA Presentation On Southpoint Park Korean Pavilion, Island Shakespeare Renovated Pier & More - Come Learn What Is Gong On

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) will be meeting tonight, 8 PM, at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

Image of June 2011 RIRA Common Council Meeting

As always, prior to the start of each monthly meeting there is a public session in which residents can come and address the Common Council Delegates on any issue of concern.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato will be making her first appearance at a RIRA meeting tonight during the Public Session. Also speaking during the RIRA Public Session will be:

• Sonia Jang President of the Korean Association presenting a plan to place a gazebo at Southpoint Park and
• Island Shakespear's Kristi Artinian presenting a proposal to renovate an unused pier

RIRA President Ellen Polivy invites all Roosevelt Island residents to come and attend tonight's RIRA meeting. Ms. Polivy reports:

The endless tug of war over land

As I write this, the RIRA Common Council is preparing for it’s first meeting of the year. I am urging everyone to come to the Good Shepherd Community Center on Wednesday September 11 at 8pm. RIOC President Charlene Indelicato will be there. It will also be a public session filled with organizations presenting good ideas about use of land on the Island and in Manhattan.

Land is at a premium in New York City. How it is used and how that use affects everyone else creates an endless tug of war.

We recently had a presentation by OEM about our evacuation zones. Did you know that our evacuation center, the Julia Richman Educational Campus on 67 Street between First and Second Avenue is a sturdy old building with excellent mini schools cooperating in the sharing of common resources. Among other resources, the school has an acoustically perfect auditorium a pool and an atrium room used as an art gallery. In 2008, it was in danger of being demolished in a land swap to make way for the badly needed updated Hunter College School of Nursing and a large science research center. This plan was halted by a vote of my class of Community Board 8.

To find alternate space, Hunter College created an alliance with Memorial Sloan Kettering to build its updated nursing school and a Cancer treatment and research center. They located the site of a long vacant former sanitation garage off the FDR Drive and 73 Street. We Roosevelt Islanders will be able to watch the construction from our windows.

The proposed construction project is working its way through the New York City land use process (ULURP) just like the one Cornell just completed. One might think it is a no-brainer to put vacant property to this good use. Think again.

The community near that project is angry over the prospect of years of construction in their back yard and then future of living with the behemoth Hunter-MSK will create. The project’s developer is asking for a larger “floor to area ratio” (FAR) than City code usually allows for that zone. In return for an allowance of this bigger, denser building, the developer has agreed to provide funds to complete a long-awaited park a mile away. The community near that park is happy. Both communities are part of Community Board 8. This vote divided our Community Board in a very close vote during our part of the ULURP.

To make everyone happy over a land use project is an impossible dream

Hope to see you at our RIRA meeting.

Best regards, Ellen

Below is the Agenda for tonight's RIRA meeting:

Common Council Meeting

Please arrive a half hour early to help set up tables and chairs

RIRA Common Council Agenda

Date: Wednesday September 11, 2013
Time: 8pm-Finish

Place: Good Shepherd Community Center, 543 Main Street

1. Public Session:
RIOC President Charlene Indelicato
UNDC-East River Greenway- Frances Huppert,

Vice-President of UNDC
Korean Association presents their gazebo proposal for Southpoint Park- Sonia Jang President
RI Shakespeare presents proposal to renovate unused pier
Kristi Artinian

2. Roll call

3. Nomination for open seat

4. Approval of minutes

5. Approval of agenda

6. Treasurers Report

7. Presidents Report:

Request for approval as in report

9. Committee reports:
Public safety

By laws
Island services
Government relations
Social cultural educational
Housing
Planning

10. Old business
Rules of order proposal / bylaws review of rules of order proposal

11. New business

Disposition of items from public session and president's report

and here is discussion on the proposed Korean Gazebo at Southpoint Park during July 16 RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee meeting.



Come learn what is happening on Roosevelt Island at tonight's RIRA meeting.