Steel Pillars Holding Up The Roosevelt Island East River Boat Prow Completely Eroded Away, Seen In Picture Only Visible At Low Tide - Is It Still Safe For Photo Ops And Weddings?

On April 12, Sven Claus reported to the Roosevelt Island Friends Facebook page:

I've noticed this morning that the steel pillars holding up the 'ship' on the west side of the island have completely eroded away.. which is only visible during low tide. It's inevitable this thing will come crashing down sooner or later.

On Monday, April 17, I asked Mr Claus if he received any response from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) about the eroding Boat Prow pillars and he replied that he had not.

Later on Monday I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and Communications VP Akeem Jamal

Does RIOC have any comment on the apparently unsafe conditions at the Roosevelt Island Boat Prow sticking out into the East River near The Sanctuary Events space?

No answer from RIOC to my press inquiry but Mr Claus reports yesterday that RIOC answered him with:

I did receive a message from RIOC stating they are exploring options on how to alternatively stabilize the structure since the original support has eroded away.

As reported in 2012:

... RIOC will begin a Boat Prow Restoration project to remove the graffiti from the prow and to repair eroded Corten Steel damage to the base of the Prow caused by the East River salt washing up against the prow. Mr. Martinez added that RIOC has not found any type of material that can be used to prevent graffiti from being placed on the prow so RIOC will have to be vigilant and remove the tags as soon as they are placed on the prow....

This NY Times FYI column from 2000 provides more information on Roosevelt Island's Boat Prow

which has recently become a popular wedding destination site offered by The Sanctuary events space.

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Community Report From RIOC President Susan Rosenthal - Roosevelt Island Drinking Water Fountain Contaminant Study, Motorgate Garage Repair Plans, Helix Ramp & Tram Platform Additional Work May Cause Travel Delays, Boat Prow Graffiti & More

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal reports to the community:

WATER FOUNTAINS

Healthy Building International Inc. has been retained by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) to conduct water sampling and analysis at several drinking water fountain locations in parks and playgrounds across Roosevelt Island, RIOC President and CEO Susan Rosenthal said Tuesday.

The tests are designed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the water and to confirm its acceptability for consumption. The samples will be compared with the relevant federal Department of Environmental Protection (EPA) contaminant levels of microbials, metals and inorganic substances.

A plumbing engineer selected from RIOC’s newly formed A&E (Architectural and Engineering) Services committee (a panel of qualified, multi-disciplined architects and engineers) will help RIOC officials interpret the results, draft and consider potential solutions. The water analysis and a downstream review is focused on each specific point of water line connection to each actual fountain or public use spigot or valve.

RIOC announced last Friday that it was immediately shutting down water fountains after concerns, raised by Roosevelt Island resident Frank Farance about potential water source lines, prompted the agency to schedule the analysis.

“As-built drawings” – the final set of drawings a contractor files to document work, changes, construction processes and the location of all elements of the work completed and maintained - were not archived for work at all the parks and playgrounds built in the early 1970s and maintained thereafter. Those drawings document whether the playground fountains are connected to the irrigation lines or domestic water lines in the area. Without the “as-built” drawings for the other drinking fountains on the Island, RIOC cannot be certain about the connection source of all the other fountains.

RIOC had the “as-builts” for Southpoint Park’s drinking fountain from 2010 and can verify that the water is from its domestic line not the park’s irrigation system.

It was revealed during a recent water use disagreement with Wildlife Freedom Foundation (WFF), which runs cat sanctuaries on the Island, that the WFF water hose was using an irrigation line connection for its Southpoint sanctuary. (WFF has since said it was willing to continue to use “not potable,” irrigation water for their Southpoint sanctuary).

In addition to this project, The A&E services committee is expected to help RIOC manage capital projects, infrastructure maintenance and repairs – including the Sportspark renovations, the FDR Hope Memorial, the Firefighters Field comfort station/bathroom construction, future Lighthouse renovations, elevator consultant and Motorgate repairs - more efficiently and simply put, “get things done more quickly,” Rosenthal said.

MOTORGATE

At our June board of directors meeting, another group, Architecture and Engineering Group, P.C. (AEG); was awarded a contract to re-inspect the entire Motorgate facility, conduct a parking analysis and prepare documents for the plans to repair the garage. More details will be forthcoming.

WORKLISTS for the Tram Platforms, HELIX ramps and graffiti at the Prow

While major construction on both the Tram platforms and the Helix is complete, you may have noticed workers completing a series of additional tasks which include some additional asphalt and materials finishes.

The additional work – which includes concrete finishing work on the platforms and on the Helix’s upper ramp (the return ramp to Queens from Motorgate), repaving and repair of the Flat Plaza (where the RI flagpoles are located), undersides work, installation of guardrails on the lower ramp; and lane, asphalt and crosswalk striping at both ends of the ramp – also includes fixes to incomplete or incorrect installations or incidental damage to existing finishes, material, and structures; and must be completed by the contractor prior to final payment.

“We have been informed some of this work may cause travel delays on the Helix or at the Tram stations at Roosevelt Island and midtown Manhattan during the next couple weeks. As soon as we have more details, we will advise,” Rosenthal said.

Graffiti removal at The Prow, the metal dingy-like boat structure that juts out into the East River near Octagon Park has begun. RIOC crews are using Prosoco-brand paint remover which is environmental friendly and works well on metal.

After application, the product “cures” for up to an hour, before the surface is brushed and then power-washed with regular water. This step may have to be repeated several times to remove some of the Prow’s toughest graffiti spots.

Once the surface is free of graffiti, RIOC grounds crews will apply a wax-based product as a protective layer to make any new graffiti easier to remove with just a power washer as the layer of wax (and the new graffiti will “melt” away. A new layer of wax is then reapplied.

The work on the Prow and other graffiti-defaced areas around the Island is expected to continue through September.

Fourth of July Activities

RIOC is proud of have hosted more than 8,600 visitors to our Fourth of July Family Fireworks viewing event last week.

Many thanks to our partners at Cornell Tech and FDR Four Freedoms State Park, NYPD, FDNY, RIOC’s grounds, facilities, and other staff members especially our entire cadre of PSD officers, most of whom worked on foot, bike, car and from aerial viewing spots – vetting incoming car traffic at the Roosevelt Island bridge, handling crowd control from Lighthouse to Southpoint parks; and manning designated security posts from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.

“I’d also like to extend a special shout-out to Erica Spencer-EL and Jessica Murray, the director and manager of our Community Affairs Department for leading the event coordination task group and their diligent contributions to what became a record-breaking, memorable day,” Rosenthal said.

“We’ve scheduled debriefing meetings this week with our teams to review the event’s logistics to see how we can improve for next year,” she said.

MORE OUTDOOR MOVIES

Be sure not to miss RIOC’s ongoing slate of outdoor movies in Southpoint Park this summer, next up include:

• Friday, July 20: Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi; (rain date July 27)
• Saturday, July 21: The Fifth Element; (rain date July 28)
• Friday, August 3: Black Panther; (rain date August 10)
• Friday, August 17: A Wrinkle in Time; (rain date August 24).

Shakespeare Tags Roosevelt Island Boat Prow - He's Pretty Good

According to the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

This Shakespeare guy is an amazing tagger. pic.twitter.com/cIXLponvU5

— Nick Turner (@SFNick) November 26, 2015

Report From Acting RIOC President Don Lewis - Roosevelt Island Playground Safety, Preparation For New Public Library At 504, Boat Sculpture Renovation, Maintenance At Southpoint Park And Tram Station Canopy Installation

 Image Of Acting RIOC President Don Lewis From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Don Lewis sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.

Old Man Winter has indisputably arrived. As we all know, it has been absolutely frigid the last few days and current forecasts are calling for potential for heavy snow accumulation starting Friday. RIOC is well-prepared to keep the streets and sidewalks clean and our residents, business owners and visitors safe. Sign up at http://rioc.ny.gov/advisorybody.htm for our advisories concerning the weather and other important Island information.

Playground Safety

We were recently notified that the gate to Blackwell Playground was broken and that the swings were also in need of repairs. While we endeavor to timely provide requested repairs, when public safety is at stake, we act immediately. By the following day, the gate and swing were fixed and we had conducted an inspection of the entire playground.

If you see something that requires our attention – be it a pothole, z-brick, or park clean-up, please use our see-click-fix app at rioc.ny.gov/RI311.htm. In the event that safety is at stake, please call us immediately at 212-832-4545.

504 Main Street to Get Interior Upgrade

Over the next few months, we will be conducting interior demolition at 504 Main Street, getting the space – both lower and upper floors – ready for new tenants: The Child School and the relocated New York Public Library.

Boat Sculpture Restoration

In 1995, a beautiful boat sculpture was installed just northwest of The Octagon. The sculpture opened to the public in 1997. We are in the process of conducting repairs to the exterior of the sculpture. We expect the work to be completed in the Spring.

Southpoint Park Gets Ready for Warmer Weather

Although it is the dead of winter, we are already preparing for the warm months ahead by making sure our parks and green spaces look better than ever for our residents and visitors. In furtherance of this objective, we are currently pruning, cleaning and conducting general maintenance at the seven-acre Southpoint Park.

Canopy Installation – Tram Service Disruption

As noted in RIOC's advisories, we recently commenced work on the canopy installation for the Tram Enclosure Project.

The work is being done on weekdays during off-peak hours from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday- Friday, and is expected to be completed on February 6th. During these times, Tram service will be suspended; however, Red Bus service will be provided from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. The Tram will operate on a normal schedule during the weekend.

RIOC Operations Committee Meeting Today - Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Park , Boat Prow, AVAC, New Library Premises and Parking Meters On Agenda

 Image Of 504 Main Street, Future Home Of Roosevelt Island NYPL

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Operations Committee will be meeting later today. Here's the Agenda:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Operations Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

1. Change Order to Contract with Scientific Electric Company, Inc. for the Lighthouse Park Electric & Lighting
Repairs Project;
2. Change Order with Meli Contracting Corp Inc. for the Steel Boat Sculpture Restoration Project;
3. Contract with Quintal Contracting Corp. for the AVAC Piping Repairs;
4. Contract with Steve DiSisto General Contractors, Inc. for the Resetting Z-Brick Pavers;
5. Contract with Shawn Construction, Inc. for the 504 Main Street Interior Demolition Project;
6. Chair's Motion for Executive Session to Discuss Negotiations with Streetline for Parking Meters; and
7. Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee

RIOC will provide an audio web cast of the meeting soon thereafter.

UPDATE 1/10 - Here's the audio web cast of January 9 RIOC Operations Committee meeting.

Roosevelt Island Hurricane Sandy Response, Ferry Study, FDR Park Maintenance, Parking, Red Bus, Cultural Center Flooding & More Subject Of RIOC Board Operations Committee Meeting Tomorrow November 15

Image of Hurricane Sandy Roosevelt Island Flooding From Brian Dorfmann

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 Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

1. Discussion of RIOC's Response to Hurricane Sandy
2. Presentation of RI Ferry Landing Study
3. Discussion of Four Freedoms Operations and Maintenance Agreement
4. Discussion of Four Freedoms Park Fence
5. Presentation of FDNY Special Operations Boat Launch
6. Update on Smart Parking Solutions Project
7. Discussion of Red Bus Stops and Proposed Bus Lane
8. Update on Cultural Center Repairs
9. Update on Prow Restoration Project
10. Update on CCTV Wireless Infrastructure Project - Phase II
11. Discussion of Octagon Composting Area
12. Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee

A webcast of the meeting will be available soon thereafter.

UPDATE 11/16 - Below is the audio webcast of the RIOC November 15 Operations Committee meeting.

Roosevelt Island Boat Prow Dock Eyesore Getting A Long Awaited Restoration and Facelift - Graffiti To Be Removed, Eroded Corten Steel Base To Be Repaired But Solution Still Needed To Prevent Future Graffiti

Image Of 2008 Roosevelt Island Boat Prow Dock Graffiti

Reported way back in April 2008:

While walking towards the Octagon Park this past weekend, I passed by the West Promenade dock shaped like the prow of a boat and was disgusted by the amount of graffiti plastered all over it. The graffiti strewn dock, both inside and out, is quite an eyesore and has been like that for years. It should be cleaned up....

At the time, Steve Shane was President of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC). Mr. Shane responded to the post:

The prow has always been an attractive grafitti spot, has been cleaned many times. Gets done on summer list.

and in response to a suggestion to hire local kids to clean up the graffiti on the boat prow, a philosophical Mr. Shane replied:

We do hire local kids.
Clean up of prow only creates tabula rasa. We will do it, again.

(Yes, there was a time when the RIOC President actually engaged with the Roosevelt Island community through the media.)

It's now August of 2012 and the Roosevelt Island Boat Prow Dock is still an eyesore plastered with graffiti.

However, during the July 30 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors meeting (full webcast is here), RIOC Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez reported that RIOC will begin a Boat Prow Restoration project to remove the graffiti from the prow and to repair eroded Corten Steel damage to the base of the Prow caused by the East River salt washing up against the prow. Mr. Martinez added that RIOC has not found any type of material that can be used to prevent graffiti from being placed on the prow so RIOC will have to be vigilant and remove the tags as soon as they are placed on the prow. Here's the presentation by Mr. Martinez:



and July 24 RIOC Operations Committee meeting discussion of the topic (audio webcast of full meeting is here)



There is also an interesting exchange between RIOC Director David Kraut and Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy regarding when the public is allowed to participate in RIOC committee meetings. Mr. Kraut explains to Ms. Berdy that public participation is solely at the discretion of RIOC Board members.

I recently took a walk around the Boat Prow Dock. Join me



and look forward to a time when the area is not filled with graffiti.

It is not hard to believe that a Roosevelt Island public space formerly dirty with pigeon poop and graffiti could be cleaned up and revitalized. Just look at what happened to the Subway Pier area that is currently an outdoor restaurant for this summer, Pier NYC, and how that was cleaned up by the Riverwalk Bar & Grill owners.



Sustaining Your Heritage Blog has more information on removing graffiti from steel structures similar to Roosevelt Island's Boat Prow Dock:

... One of the major challenges we face in the conservation of public art is dealing with human impact on the artwork. And of course, graffiti epitomises the negative impact that comes from some members of our society.

Graffiti removal is almost always problematic. Often, the marker (paint or pen) penetrates the pores or surface roughness of the materials used for the sculpture, and cannot be easily removed. At other times, the process required to remove the graffiti causes damage to the substrate....

This NY Times FYI column from 2000 provides some more information on Roosevelt Island's protruding rusty old ship's prow:

It's a performance stage and observation platform, built over an old boat landing in 1997 and designed to look . . . well, like a ship's prow. It projects about 50 feet out into the West Channel, and consists of a flat, unadorned concrete wedge clad with rusty plates of steel. Two small slots near the tip -- presumably for imaginary anchor chains -- are the only real nautical embellishment, though a few heavy mooring posts have been placed nearby.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Of Directors MeetingToday, Island House Ground Lease Extension Removed From Agenda -Budget, Restoration Of Boat Prow, Bus Garage Among Items Still On Agenda

Image of Roosevelt Island's Island House Entrance

Below is the Agenda for today's Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors Meeting. The Ground Lease Extension for Island House was originally on the Agenda for this meeting. According to this July 26 notice from RIOC:

We note that “Authorization to Enter Into Amendment to Ground Lease with the North Town Phase II Houses, Inc. (Island House)" has been removed as we are working to finalize the necessary agreements.

Not know at this time how the removal of Island House Ground Lease Extension Agenda Item from tonight's RIOC Board Meeting effects the privatization/affordability plan for Island House's exit from Mitchell Lama program.

Here is the Agenda for tonight's RIOC Board Meeting.

AMENDED AGENDA

JULY 30, 2012 MEETING OF
THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE MANHATTAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER,
8 RIVER ROAD, ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NEW YORK
5:30 P.M.1

I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
1. June 28, 2012 Board Meeting (Board Action Required)
IV. Old Business
V. New Business
1. Presentation of the FY 2011-12 QTR1 Procurement Report
2. Intentionally Omitted
3. Authorization to Enter into a Contract with Nelson & Pope Engineers & Land Surveyors, PLLC for the Bus Garage
and Warehouse Renovation Project (Board Action Required)
4. Authorization to Enter into a Contract with Meli Contracting Co. Inc. for Restoration of the Steel Boat Sculpture
(Board Action Required)
5. Authorization to Enter Into a Contract with Quintal Contracting Corp. for Motorgate Ramp Drainage Improvements
(Board Action Required)
6. Authorization to Enter Into a Contract with Quintal Contracting Corp. for Pothole Repairs (Board Action Required)
7. President�s Report
8. Committee Reports
a. Audit Committee
b. Governance Committee
c. Operations Advisory Committee
d. Real Estate Development Advisory Committee
9. Public Safety Report
VI. Adjournment

The RIOC Board Meeting will commence following a public comment period. The public comment period is not part of the meeting.

 Image of Roosevelt Island Boat Prow

The Roosevelt Island boat prow could certainly use some restoration and graffiti removal.

Graffiti Arrests on Roosevelt Island And 47 Cans of Spray Paint Confiscated

Image of Roosevelt Island Public Safety Officers from RIOC

From the July 16 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident Report:

Graffiti- 5 Subjects arrested by PSD. 47 cans of spray paint also confiscated by PSD.

Public Safety Department Keith Guerra provides some more details:

5 people (males & females) between the ages of 17-28 were caught spraying the front of the ship by our Plain Clothes Unit Officers. They were all apprehended and charged with Criminal Mischief. They were processed at the 114 Pct. and their spray cans were vouchered as evidence.

I believe the ship referred to is the boat dock prow near the Octagon and subject of these post regarding the need to clean up it's existing graffiti. Good job by the Public Safety officers in the Plain Clothes Unit.

Graffiti Removed from Riverwalk Trees - Will Boat Prow Dock Be Next?

As can be seen from the picture below taken yesterday by Roosevelt Island 360, the graffiti defacing trees on Southtown's Riverwalk lawn has been cleaned up and removed. According to RIOC President Steve Shane:

We arranged for management in Southtown to do it.

Good job by RIOC and Riverwalk management in cleaning up the trees so quickly.

Image of Graffiti free trees from Roosevelt Island 360

As to the graffiti on the boat dock prow and a suggestion to hire local kids to clean up Roosevelt Island graffiti, a philosophical Mr. Shane reports:

We do hire local kids.
Clean up of prow only creates tabula rasa. We will do it, again.

Update on Octagon Boat Prow Dock Graffiti

From this post concerning the graffiti at the Octagon Boat Prow Dock:

While walking towards the Octagon Park this past weekend, I passed by the West Promenade dock shaped like the prow of a boat and was disgusted by the amount of graffiti plastered all over it. The graffiti strewn dock, both inside and out, is quite an eyesore and has been like that for years. It should be cleaned up.

RIOC President Steve Shane responds:

The prow has always been an attractive grafitti spot, has been cleaned many times. Gets done on summer list.

I hope they do something about the dog droppings as well!

Graffiti and Dog Dropping Eyesores at Octagon Boat Prow Dock

While walking towards the Octagon Park this past weekend, I passed by the West Promenade dock shaped like the prow of a boat and was disgusted by the amount of graffiti plastered all over it. The graffiti strewn dock, both inside and out, is quite an eyesore and has been like that for years. It should be cleaned up. Is this the responsibility of RIOC, the Octagon owners or someone else? Whoever is responsible has neglected this area for a very long time and should clean the area immediately. There is also plenty of dog droppings in the grassy area surrounding the dock. It is obvious that dog owners are not cleaning up after their pets and should start to do so or the Public Safety Department should start issuing some tickets.

The NY Times FYI column from 2000 provides some more information on Roosevelt Island's protruding rusty old ship's prow:

It's a performance stage and observation platform, built over an old boat landing in 1997 and designed to look . . . well, like a ship's prow. It projects about 50 feet out into the West Channel, and consists of a flat, unadorned concrete wedge clad with rusty plates of steel. Two small slots near the tip -- presumably for imaginary anchor chains -- are the only real nautical embellishment, though a few heavy mooring posts have been placed nearby.

Today's Metro reports on how graffiti problem was eliminated in the subway system:

“We had to put in place not only clean trains, but the means to keep them clean,” he said. “We also decided that once you put out a clean train it would never go out dirty. If we could keep them clean, we could make a projection as to when the last train with graffiti would run.”

...In a train yard at 132nd Street, the graffiti was sophisticated. With the same trains laid up every evening, taggers could take their time: one night for an undercoat, the next for an outline and the third for color.
“These kids worked three nights, all night long, until they had something they were proud of,” Gunn said. “Just before the train would go into service ... we’d have cops dressed as car cleaners come in to slosh paint all over it. The kids would be in hysterics, literally, crying and begging you to let it make just one trip.”

Let's get the Octagon boat prow dock cleaned up!