It's Getting Cold, Roosevelt Island Winter Coat Drive Now Thru December 28 - Please Drop Off A Gently Used Winter Coat At RIOC Public Safety Department

The weather is starting to get cold and winter is coming soon. Snow is expected tomorrow.

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department:

The Public Safety Department is hosting its annual NY Cares Coat Drive. This program has brought warmth to many needy families during our frigid winters and it is with this thought in mind that we ask the Roosevelt Island Community to step up to the plate once again by dropping off a gently used winter coat.

Donated coats will be accepted at the Public Safety Department
550 Main Street
24 Hours a day.
Now until December 28th

We thank you and your family for your continued generosity.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

For more information, please call 212-832-4545

It's Getting Get Cold - Time For Roosevelt Island Geese To Start Heading South

From the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse

About time to go south, boys and girls. @ Roosevelt Island https://t.co/GU87SGGyL0

— JoelCanfield (@JoelCanfield) November 24, 2015

About time to go south, boys and girls.

A photo posted by Joel Canfield (@joelcanfield777) on Nov 24, 2015 at 10:32am PST

So Cold At Roosevelt Island F Train Subway Station That Ice Stalictites Formed On Ceiling

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports:

Was pretty cold at @Rooseveltisland station today. #stalactites #stalagmites pic.twitter.com/KVGogAxvpd
— Stephen Ward (@Traintheworld1) February 21, 2015

Here's more on NYC subway stalictites.

Roosevelt Island Community Update From RIOC - Severe Winter Weather, Manhattan Tram Station Elevators, Community Cultural Center, Motorgate Lighting & Contact Info

Below is the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Community Update,

 Image From RIOC

formerly known as the Report from the RIOC President.

During the past few winter storms, RIOC’s Operations team has worked into the night to remove snow and ice, lay down salt, and plow the roadways on Roosevelt Island. In addition to thanking them for their tireless efforts, I would like to thank those residents who moved their cars promptly off Main Street and the East and West Roads to allow preparations for snow removal to take place. Your cooperation helps us make travel safer on Roosevelt Island and is much appreciated.

If you would like to receive notifications in case of severe weather or emergencies, please visit rioc.ny.gov and click the “RIOC Advisories” link. RIOC Advisories is a community and emergency alert system that allows subscribers to receive notifications and important information via email, text message, and even phone calls if they so choose. While you may sign up for additional categories, we encourage all residents to sign up to receive at least Emergency and Severe Weather alerts. Remember, if we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you.

Manhattan Tram Station Elevators

Last year, it became clear to many that the elevators at the Manhattan Tram Station were becoming unreliable. As the elevators themselves are due for an overhaul, the most efficient way to deal with the issues is through a replacement of the current system. After rating and ranking responses to a Request for Proposals (RFP) to design two new, larger ADA-accessible elevators, RIOC has selected a contractor. The new elevators will replace the current smaller elevator as well as the red accessible lift, improving the station’s accessibility. A kickoff meeting will soon be held, where the elevator’s designers will present their proposals. The design is scheduled to be completed within 90 days. Once the design is complete, RIOC will seek a qualified contractor to build the elevators to specifications. We will continue to make any repairs necessary to the current system while the new system’s design and build period continues. The work will be conducted on a schedule that causes the least amount of disruption possible to travelers and commuters.

Community Cultural Center

Now that only a few items are left on the punch list, spaces in the newly renovated Community Cultural Center will soon be available by permit. As our community grows, many entities on this island have grown alongside it and are in need of meeting and activity space. Offering a fair and reasonable booking fee to all local organizations is a matter of ethics and impartiality, and it’s important to us to make the space available to as many local groups as possible on an equitable basis.

Lighting at the Motorgate Garage

Last year, lighting inside the Motorgate Garage was upgraded to brighter, more energy-efficient LED lighting. RIOC is currently getting proposals together for LED lighting to be installed near the Motorgate Garage Atrium and underneath the Helix Ramp. In addition, Con Edison is currently working to repair a power issue affecting the lights underneath the arcade near the Roosevelt Island post office. Once they replace the transformers supplying the area and the power issue is resolved, improvements to that area’s lighting can also be taken into consideration.

Contacting RIOC

Do you have questions or concerns about Roosevelt Island? If you’re looking to contact RIOC, there are a variety of ways to get in touch. RIOC’s Facebook page offers a contact form for you to submit questions, comments, or concerns. You can also visit our page for event photos, announcements, news, and more at www.facebook.com/RIOCNY, or send an email to information@rioc.ny.gov, or call the office at 212-832-4540. To access publicly available meeting records and other documents, please visit our official website at rioc.ny.gov.

Very, Very, Very Cold Temperatures In NYC This Weekend - Call 311 For Roosevelt Island Heat Or Hot Water Problems

It's really, really cold in New York City today and the rest of the weekend. It's probably even colder on Roosevelt Island because we're in the middle of the East River.

NYC Mayor de Blasio has some tips for staying warm and urges you to call 311 if your heat or hot water is not working.

It’s going to be very, very cold this weekend. Here are some tips from @NYCHealthy: http://t.co/kf5tp4t63z
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) February 13, 2015

It’s going to be a very cold weekend. If your heat or hot water isn’t working, report it now: http://t.co/KWVl7F5fvH pic.twitter.com/NasSOyZNs4
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) February 13, 2015

Stay warm and safe.

Roosevelt Island Community Update From RIOC - Winter Weather Emergency, Safety Tips, Staying Informed & Corporate Transparency

Icy but picturesque walk to the #RooseveltIsland subway station https://t.co/MjxQgWTFED pic.twitter.com/VssJKtnpqD
— NamelyNorm (@NamelyNorm) February 2, 2015

Below is the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Community Update, formerly known as the Report from the RIOC President.

RIOC Community Update: 2/2/2015

Early last week, the entire city of New York experienced a state of weather emergency due to Winter Storm Juno. While the snowstorm was of shorter duration and severity than originally predicted, many essential city services were limited or unavailable for its duration. I would like to thank both the Roosevelt Island residents and our Emergency Response staff for their cooperation and swift response to the forecasted heavy snows. Quickly removing cars from all street parking spaces allows for preemptive and continuous salting and plowing of the roadways around the Island. In addition, our Public Safety, Grounds, Facilities, Bus, Tram, and Community Relations departments worked through the storm to coordinate our response, prepare the Island, provide services and keep the public informed. Thank you all for helping make us one of the best prepared neighborhoods in the city.

Winter Tips from Public Safety

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department offers the following suggestions to residents who are looking to stay safe during severe winter weather:

• Preparedness – In the first hours of a storm, grocery and corner stores are often flooded with customers looking to stock up on necessities at the last minute. Don’t get caught in the rush – make sure you have a sufficient supply of necessary items well before the storm! Visit prepare.ny.gov for preparedness tips, lists of items you should own, and a list of training events in your area.
• Travel Safety – During cold or inclement weather, residents are urged to use caution while driving, walking, or otherwise traveling. Dress in layers, wear shoes with good traction, make sure the tires on your car are winter-ready, and fill your gas tank.
• Parking – In preparations for heavy snowfall, RIOC issues “No Parking” regulations requiring drivers to remove their cars from Main Street and the East and West roadways. During this time, we will attempt to make free parking available in designated locations, including inside the Motorgate Garage and underneath the Helix Ramp near Capobianco Field. Keep an eye out for signs and electronic notifications advising when these regulations go into effect.

As a reminder: While our Grounds and Facilities departments work around the clock to remove snow and ice from roads and pathways in our community, some areas are prone to consistent icy conditions. If you see any areas that require extra attention this season, please contact the RIOC offices via email at information@rioc.ny.gov, or call 212-832-4540.

How to Stay Informed

During the storm, RIOC issued electronic alerts about closures, citywide warnings and parking changes. Did you know that many city agencies, including the NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), issue their own electronic advisories? If you have not already signed up, we strongly encourage all residents to take advantage of these valuable services. The more informed you are, the better you can prepare yourself and your family for any unexpected situation.

• RIOC Advisories – Roosevelt Island-specific community and emergency alerts, including traffic, bridge, public transit, facility closures and more. Sign up at rioc.ny.gov
• Notify NYC – Official New York City-wide notification and emergency alert system, operated by OEM. Sign up at nyc.gov/notifynyc
• MTA Alerts – Official NYC subway, bus and other transit alert system provided by the MTA. Sign up for customized, line-specific advisories at mymtaalerts.com

Transparency and Accountability

As a New York State agency, RIOC is constantly looking for ways to improve transparency in its operations. Many documents, such as the Corporation's budget, PARIS reporting, Board meeting agendas, and other materials, are available to the public via our website. Requests for materials not posted on our website must be submitted by means of a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request online at rioc.ny.gov.

In addition, members of the public are invited to observe at organization's Board and Committee meetings. A meeting schedule is available on our website, and notifications are posted regularly at our offices and through the RIOC Advisories system. Before each Board meeting, a public comment period is available for those who wish to speak. Interested individuals may sign up to do so at rioc.ny.gov.

Tips For Keeping Your Roosevelt Landings Apartment Warm During Cold Roosevelt Island Winter Weather

Last November, some residents of Roosevelt Island's Roosevelt Landings building complex

complained about cold temperatures in their apartments. For example:

• They only allow us to set heat to 72 degrees, no higher. That is not enough to heat the living room area, as it's an open room,
• the heat still goes on when windows are opened! What are the contraptions they installed under the windows for if not to tell them no heat when the windows opened?
• I have elderly parents who are always cold, l had to buy them 2 portable heaters because l don't want them getting sick. They don't want us to do that, then allow us to bring the heat up to at least 77 degrees, and. For the equipment to operate better,
• the thermostats are giving false readings.we are going to freeze again this winter unless they raise the max temperature, which ... is 72 degrees, Many of us have large open living rooms, the insulation in our apartments is probably non existent, the new windows are horrible and those of us with staircases lose heat, too.

At that time, November 2014, I asked Roosevelt Landings owner Josh Eisenberg of Urban American:

... getting complaints from some Roosevelt Landings residents about their apartments being cold and thermostats not being accurate.

Any comment on issue from Urban American?

 Image From Urban American

Mr. Eisenberg replied:

The thermostats work very well, are accurate and the vast majority of residents at Roosevelt Landings know how to use them. They maintain the required level of heat in each apartment and last heating season, the thermostats and comprehensive air sealing saved a lot of electricity and significantly reduced the amount of carbon emissions generated by the building. As always, if residents have issues with the equipment they should call or visit the main office and someone will visit their apartment as soon as possible to check it out.

Mr. Eisenberg invited me to take a tour of Roosevelt Landings and speak with Urban Greenfit's David Davenport who is managing Roosevelt Landings energy program. Mr. Davenport described how to stay warm in your Roosevelt Landings apartment.



Mr. Davenport adds:

Roosevelt Landings Heating Season Update

The heating system at Roosevelt Landings, has been active since October 1st.

Baseboard Heaters:

While City code requires buildings to maintain temperatures of 55F+ degrees at night and 68F+ degrees during the day, Roosevelt Landings maintains temperatures between 68-72F+ degrees through management of baseboard heaters and air sealing of resident apartments and corridors.

The heating management system at Roosevelt Landings is designed to keep the cold air out, maintain warm temperatures indoors, and prevent heated air from escaping. Residents who were used to turning their baseboard heaters on and off manually have commented that their thermostats and heaters do not work.  The key to understanding that the system is working is not whether the baseboard heater is ON, but observing central indoor temperatures of 68-72F or more while outdoor temperatures are below 55-40F degrees and below.

Important Thermostat / Safety Facts:

• The heaters come on automatically when the central room temperature is below 68F degrees.
• Residents can adjust the temperatures up to 72F degrees by pressing the up button on the thermosets.
• The baseboard heaters cannot be turned on manually.
• The thermostats automatically setback to 68 degrees at 10pm and 6am.
• When the thermostats setback, residents must manually raise the heat by pressing the up button to resent the temperature up to 72.
• Refrain from using space heaters which will disable the baseboard heating system.
• Use of ovens to augment heating is a safety hazard and will disable the baseboard heating system.
• Use of ice or cold towels over the thermostat will damage and make the thermostat inoperable.

There are a number of actions that residents can take to help keep the cold air out, maintain warm temperatures indoors, and prevent heated air from escaping.

• Prevent cold air draft infiltration by keeping apartment and hallway windows closed. Hallway windows have been fitted with locks to retain conditioned temperatures. If hallway windows and apartment windows are opened –cold air will come into the building and flow from apartments into the hallways, and from the hallways into apartments.
• Make sure air-conditioner sleeves containing air conditioner units are sealed airtight around the edges. Also make sure that conditioner sleeves containing air conditioners have covers over vents to prevent cold air from coming in and baseboard heat from escaping. If you have an air conditioner sleeve with no air conditioner in it, make sure it is sealed with an air tight cover. If you notice drafts from your closed windows and air conditioners contact maintenance to schedule a winterization a service appointment to address these issues.
• Don’t Block the Flow of Air: A baseboard heater heats as cold air is drawn into the heater and hot coils heat this air. As the air is heated, it rises to the top of the heater and then draws the cooler air from the room into the heater, and the cycle repeats. In order for your heater to function properly, it is important that nothing be placed in front of the heater to block the flow of air. In fact, you should place furniture at least 6 inches away from the heater. Furniture can block the baseboard heaters from heating the room and absorb heat. 

Corridor Windows:

Hallway corridor windows will be locked during the heating season to prevent cold air from flowing through the corridors into resident apartments and to prevent heated air from escaping from hallway heaters and resident apartments. Ventilation to ASHRAE & building code standards are supplied through trickle ducts and mechanical ventilators in each hallway.

Please keep corridor windows closed and report open hallway windows to maintenance so that they can be secured. Vandalism of corridor window locks affects your building’s thermal heat loss and compromises the ability of neighbors to regulate the heat in their apartments.  

More information on Roosevelt Landings new energy program at previous post.

Stay warm.

High Monthly Electric Bills Worrying Roosevelt Island Manhattan Park Residents - Building Agent Grenadier Realty Says Cold Weather Only Part Of Explanation For Increased Costs

Understanding Your Con Ed Electricity Bill from NY Times

Have you experienced a large increase in Con Ed electricity bill for your Roosevelt Island apartment recently? Some Manhattan Park residents answer yes. Earlier today, Manhattan Park building management sent the following notice to their residents concerning increases in monthly electricity charges:

Notice to 10, 20, 30, 40 River Road Residents

Re: Electricity Charges

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As you are aware properties serviced by Consolidated Edison, including Manhattan Park, have experienced an unexpected and significant increase in monthly electric charges. However, there may be some misconceptions about the causes of these increases.

Management and ownership are concerned about the impact of these rates on our residents as well as our own electric charges for the Property’s common area. We purchase electricity directly from Con Ed at a bulk rate, which is cheaper than the rate that would be charged to individual residents by Con Ed on a direct meter. The Con Ed billing then is passed on to residents based on submetered individual unit usage. We are prohibited from making a profit on submetering by applicable legal requirements, but we are permitted to charge an administrative/service fee. It is important to point out that our submetering authorization policies and procedures have been approved by the New York State Public Service Commission (the “PSC”).

The Northeast has had an extremely cold winter, exacerbated by what is called a polar vortex. As a result, demand for heating has been very high. The cold weather, however, only tells part of the story of the increased electric bills. Con Ed recently significantly increased their billing by 54%+ in January, purportedly because of its increase in costs of purchasing electricity, that Con Ed passes on to its customers.

These increases are not unique to Manhattan Park, but rather apply broadly to Con Ed customers and would have been even higher if Manhattan Park did not purchase electricity at Con Ed’s bulk rate.

According to a March 7, 2014 article in the Albany Times Union, New York State regulators, including the PSC, have formally requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) to investigate the reasons for these increases. We intend to monitor the FERC complaint closely and will consider involvement to the extent it would be productive. For your information, a copy of this article is enclosed.

Finally, we would like to remind all residents to review the annual Home Energy Fair Practices Act (HEFPA) Notice that was distributed to the Tenants and the HEFPA Submeter Rider attached to all leases, which provide for a billing dispute resolution process that was required by and approved by the PSC, and also calls for a level billing option if requested by a resident or a deferred payment agreement based on a means/needs test on the terms provided therein.

High electric bills are of great concern to our residents, as well as to us. We are taking all necessary steps within our power to support the efforts to reduce electric costs. We will share useful information about these efforts with our residents.

Sincerely,

Grenadier Realty Corp. as agent for

Roosevelt Island Associates

A group of about of about 20 Manhattan Park 2-4 River Road residents recently met with with a representative of NY State Senator Jose Serrano to express their concerns about the recent high electricity bills and fears that they would be evicted from their apartment for not being able to afford the increases. The Serrano representative said that his office would look into the matter.

More on Manhattan Park electricity charges from previous posts and here's September 2013 Manhattan Park submetering filing with the Public Service Commission.