Octagon's Homage to Amherst Sabrina Defaced

Local blogger "retro info!' from Populuxebooks has reported that the Sabrina statue which sits on the Octagon property facing the Western Channel of the East River and Manhattan has been defaced literaly and figuratively.

I forwarded the email sent to me by Retro Info onto Bruce Becker, the Octagon's developer and Amherst alumus extroadinaire for his comment and request as to what can be done to restore the beauty of this recasting of the original Sabrina statue which sat at Amherst.

One Very Upset Local Blogger - NY GULAG 10044

A local resident blogging under the title "nygulag10044" published on line today a letter written, in August 2008, to New York State Inspector General Joseph Frisch alleging corruption and more at all levels of state government involving Roosevelt Island.

Without knowing the specific facts backing up the blogger's claims it's hard to say if anything written has legitimate merit. I just know from the comments posted to the Roosevelt Landings post a lot of folks are very unhappy.

From Farm House to Town House

Ever wonder where the Blackwell family went after they left Blackwell (now Roosevelt) Island?

OK, so maybe that question never crossed your mind. But apparently one descendent Louis Blackwell was for a time a member of the New York Stock Exchange and lived in town house in what is now Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The blog "Save the Slope" has an interesting post about Louis Blackwell's residence at 99 Berklely Place and some historical facts about this Blackwell and his connection to now Roosevelt Island.

Even a Punk Rocker Would Settle Here....

It’s always very cool to read how visitors to Roosevelt Island find that they could see themselves settling down on the island. Blogger “Cruelty Free K”, when off duty from his “punkrockeracademyfightsongs” indicated he could see himself doing just that.

In his own words on his blog “I WON’T BE LEFT…”:

"I always enjoy venturing to Roosevelt Island after the dining for a brief moment with a swagger of character in its community. It intrigues the hell out of me. The parking is aweful, but it is mad peaceful. I would totally raise a family there….. Anyways, it is a cool pad, in a bizarre way. Gorgeous view of the waterfront near Manhattan that I could easily sit and think nearby for hours."

One Good Push Deserves Another....

Anne over at the blog "The Unemployment Benefits" tells the story of how she helped one Roosevelt Island wheel chair bound resident down Main Street all the way onto the subway and what she learned from her good deed.

It's a very nice story, now go read it, and Anne we thank you for your kindness.

RIOC's Abramson Speaks at "Meet the Construction Chiefs" Event

The blog Real Estate BISNOW reported that Rosina Abramson, RIOC's Vice President of Planning and Inter-Governmental Affairs, spoke last night at the event "Meet the Construction Chiefs" sponsored by the organization Professional Women in Construction.

According to a web report of the evening by "New York Real Estate Scene by GreenPearl":

"[Ms.] Abramson ... noted that a number of capital projects are underway there, including the rebuilding of the tram, the renovation of the Blackwell House and an educational playground–which will be made from the parts of the old tram to teach children about engineering! She also took a moment to praise Lenore Janis, PWC president, for her farsightedness in, among other things, hosting a meeting that underscored the importance of government during difficult economic times. "Government projects are (economically) counter-cyclical," she noted. She went on to encourage planners, despite the slowdown these days. "Plan, baby, plan," she said, "cause you’ll never know when you’ll be ready to go!""

Images: Basketball (not) on Roosevelt Island

The above image of a Roosevelt Island basketball net is from the blog Shattered Shattered. I am not sure how old the image is but I am sure the shooter could have found a better ball than this.

Overall I do have to say watching the kids and adults play ball on this island does provide some competitive games to watch. Apparently this game however was not one of them.

Blog Claims Development Plans Afoot to Demolish BOTH Coler & Goldwater

Update 3:30pm - Fri Jan 30th

It was noted by the Roosevelt Islander in an email to me that the guys over at Smart Growth removed not only the above and below renditions but all mention of the project name "Transforming Roosevelt Island".

Update 5:28pm

According to Ben Cuddy at Smart Growth, their source is someone working directly on developing the TRI Project ("Transforming Roosevelt Island") and cannot be revealed at this time as "its still a work in progress". Cuddy promises to update his blog as time goes on.

According to RIOC President Stephen Shane there are no new plans that he knows of to develope these sites (per the Roosevelt Islander this evening).

Original Post

The blog "Smart Growth" is asserting today that a plan called "Transforming Roosevelt Island" is being developed to demolish both Coler and Goldwater Hospitals. The gist of the blog post asserts the plan makes no sense. According to Smart Growth, Coler would be rebuilt but both locations would involve the construction of a total of 2400 new residential units.

No source for the statement that the plan is cited nor for the source of the renderings posted on their site and here.

From all indications we as residents have from NYC and NYC the City is not actively looking at this and this issue was closed (for the moment).

Per Smart Growth:

The State is calling this scheme “Transforming Roosevelt Island”(TRI). However, anything the State has done in regards to transforming RI has been shortsighted, only looking to increase "the potential to achieve 'best value' and increased returns on public investment." Again, in this case the State is shortsighted. Before adding two more developments to the Island the State should fix the transportation situation, which still is a problem, and fix the defunct commercial leasing practice that has plagued the island for to long. What they should not do, which they are, is claiming that RI is a good transportation oriented development that would help knit Queens and Manhattan together. Anyone with knowledge of NYC knows that RI is not the best way to connect the two boroughs. Rather, improved subway and bus service would connect the two boroughs better than new developments on Roosevelt Island.

Is Roosevelt Island the Sixth Borough?

In response to last Sunday's NY Times piece about NYC blogs one blog, Idealist in NYC, compiled a list of currently updated NYC blogs and for some reason elevated Roosevelt Island to its own borough and severed our connection to Manhattan. Amusing. Is that possible?

Like Washington Square Park I was caught off guard by this political developement. Has anyone notified Jessica Lappin (our City Council Member) that she has just lost a chunk of her voting constituency?

NYT: "You Talkin' to Me?" is Not My Style

Today's New York Times City Section includes an article titled "You Talkin' to Me?"about NYC bloggers by Gabriel Cohen. While I was happy to be recognized as a neighborhood blogger I had reservations seeing my blog listed. Other than transportation issues I have tried to limit my posts to my own views without being too controversial.

I will admit I see myself as the lighter of the two main blogs we have here on the island. The Roosevelt Islander, an excellent blog in my opinion, covers much more deeply many of the political and social issues affecting the island. I am just trying to have fun and only occasionally find myself getting deeper into the weighty issues. Perhaps this is a death knell to state this publicly but I did just start this blog for my own fun. I have come to hope you have kept coming back for that fun and occasionally to learn something more about our island.

It is apparent that our residents need increased access to public forums where they can express themselves freely and perhaps anonymously on issues they feel strongly about. Take in point the ongoing discussion / argument taking place on my post regarding the name change to Roosevelt Landings from Eastwood. As stated in the NYT article New Yorkers will when given the opportunity (granted sometimes not when it is applicable) find themselves arguing class wars, gentrification vs. affordable housing. The comments being left on my blog on this post almost daily reflects these feelings. Currently 40 comments have been left since the Octiber 14 publication of that post. I did nothing to inflame or encourage these posts. Although I admit they deserve further investigation and reporting. I would love to see an Eastwood based blog be created where these issues are examined from a residents point of view.

What was more amusing to me about being included in the article is that during the last several weeks I have not been able to devote as much time to this blog, due to work and other matters, and I admit I have felt some guilt about this. But then again it is only a blog right?

East Side Panorama

The above panoramas each include Roosevelt Island and are from the blog "New York Panorama". Go to theblog to see full size versions of each. The top half of the above image features the Queensboro Bridge with Roosevelt Island in the background and is the blog's header image and the lower half of the image features Roosevelt Island in the foreground with Manhattan in the background.

Additionally look for the night panorama in a future Main Street WIRE as Dick Lutz, the editor, appears interested from the comment and inquiry he left on the blog.

Roosevelt Island Dominoes

Ritwik over at Deydreamers Weblog took the above picture of the Riverwalk buildings on Roosevelt Island and has been waiting for that exact moment for two years. Ritwick is apparently a resident of the island up at the Octagon based on another shot of the Dayspring Church and the Octagon playground titled "From My Window". Cool shots and we'll be looking for future posts about RI.

Resident Profiles - The Roosevelt Island Faces Project

I happened upon the Misha Cohen Photography project blog quite by accident but was happily surprised to see that the 13 images posted thus far are all of individuals that either live here on Roosevelt Island or who work here. A nice opportunity to sit and meet a few of our island neighbors.

The Main Street WIRE has its own Faces project with many many more photos but without the detail that Misha provides about each of his subjects.

Three Dog Night – Island Style

First it was a documentary about a Neil Diamond cover band now it is Three Dog Night(s) on Roosevelt Island. No the band is not coming to Roosevelt Island but now dogs have three nights of playgroups at the dog run located just North of the Octagon on the Eastern side of the island just inside the grounds of the Coler Hospital Campus.

The Roosevelt Island Dogs blog announced this evening the addition of a second night of the "Small – Medium" playgroup, now on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In addition an "All Sizes" playgroup was announced for Mondays as well.

Perhaps they should play a little Three Dog Night / Joy to the World to celebrate.

The Last Straphanger

In this City we use the term "Straphanger" to refer to bus and subway riders but in truth the City's buses and subways stopped using real straps many years ago. The last place to see real straps in place today are on the Roosevelt Island Tram.

Jason Polan, an artist captured the above image as part of a project to draw "Every Person in New York". Check out his blog to see other images of individuals from around the City.

In the meantime for all you Roosevelt Island residents was this you?

New Orphans International Interns Blog

I had read on line and in the WIRE that Orphans International would be bringing a number of Summer Interns to Roosevelt Island. This evening I found that a new blog has been created, to be written it appears by the interns, and from the first post it promises to give another window into the work of this wonderful organization which is based on our island. Check out the first post HERE !

Sportspark Adds Additional Early Morning Swim Hours

Sportspark located on Roosevelt Island has apparently added additional hours to its early morning open swim program.

It's not the full open schedule the folks over at the blog "Swimming on Roosevelt Island" have been requesting RIOC, at least via their limited blog posts and comments, to grant but it's a start.

Walking Off the Little Apple: Roosevelt Isle

Over the last week the blog "Walking off the Big Apple" has been running a series of posts regarding a walking tour the author Teri had of Roosevelt Island. It is always interesting to see your home through another person's eyes and in this case feet. Today's post compared Roosevelt Island to the Île de la Cité in Paris. Each blog post is worth checking out as are the photos Teri has posted on Flickr.

The blog posts in reverse date order from today backwards include:

> A Comparison of New York's Roosevelt Island and Paris' Ile de la Cite: Pourquoi Pas ?

> The East River and Roosevelt Island Walk, Part Three: The Renwick Ruins, or, THe Smallpox Hospital

> The East River and Roosevelt Island Walk, Part Two: The Ride Over to the Island (Vertigo Slideshow)

> The East River and Roosevelt Island Walk: Part One, The East River, Manhattan, From 86th to 59th St.

Teri's Roosevelt Island set of pictures over on Flickr can be found HERE.

GTA IV Includes Renwick Ruin / Smallpox Hospital

Apparently Grand Theft Auto IV in addition to representing Roosevelt Island as Colony Island includes a recreation of the former Smallpox Hospital / Renwick Ruin. According to the "blah-blah-blahg" it is that recreation that is:

"officially my favorite location in the new GTA. they've even replicated ther planks supporting the window bays."

If anyone is able to snag an image of the recreated smallpox hospital or any other locations on "Colony island" I would love to post them here.

Revisiting the ENYA Mobile Art Park for Southpoint

In 2006, the Emerging New York Architects association held a competition titled "Southpoint: From Ruin to Rejuvenation (The Roosevelt Island Universal Arts Center)". One of the entries was titled Mobile Art Park which won third prize and was designed by New Yorkers Dominic Leong and Brian Price. Their design, as stated in an April 2006 Main Street WIRE article “builds out from the shoreline with art and gallery barges, and rooftop leisure-scapes and sculpture parks”.

I was reminded of this entry today when it was featured in the blog “Pruned” which is subtitled “on landscape architecture and related fields”. While I enjoyed and would support many of the concepts that emerged out of the ENYA competition I must admit this one always amazed me as it was very dynamic and allowed for constant adjustments and modificatons allowing for different themes to be established and conveyed to the public.

It is still unclear if the FERI endorsed Louis Kahn designed FDR - Four Freedoms Memorial will ever raise the funds needed to be built but if the FDR memorial does happen woudn't it be amazing if this Mobile Art Park concept could be added to the design. Would liven up the Kahn design immeasurably.