David Kraut

RIOC Board member David Kraut chaired the meeting calling it "the first scheduled meeting to introduce the developers to the community and listen to what you have to say." He turned the meeting over to the representatives from the respective firms to give background information about themselves.

David Wine

David Wine, Executive Vice-President in charge of residential housing at The Related Companies, told those attending htat his company has over twenty-five years experience in development of affordable housing.  "We want to hear your thoughts, concerns, suggestions, take all that information, work with it over time, and turn it into a plan for Southtown," he said.

Some of the other projects overseen by Related have included Ruppert Towers at 93rd and Third and a more recent project at Union Square.  "that development," Wine said, "taught us a lot about development in the 90's."  The neighborhood had great concerns about the design and look of that construction, according to Wine, and so "both sides worked together and responsively to build something of which all can be proud."

Kramer, Bell, Wine

The Hudson Companies representatives, Alan Bell and David Kramer, voiced some of the same desires for a cooperative relationship between them and the community.  "We want to start the collaborative process, so that what could and should happen, happens.  We have no grand preconceived ideas.  We want to work with the residents to do what makes sense financially and socially."

Bell said Hudson had been a leader in rowhouse/townhouse building running "the gamut from 80/20 to luxury... We want to deliver product at achievable cost."  He also said that diversity was a priority with them.

Robert Chira speaks; other residents await their turns at the microphone

Resident Comments

Robert Chira, who identified himself as a 15-year resident, kicked off public comments by calling the developers' attention to a Southtown plan developed by residents in response to the original Ramadi Plan, which served as a baseline for planners of Island development. Chira said the alternative plan had over 2,000 supporters: "a continuation of main street; more manhattan views; a park between blackwell house and the old nurses residence; and other changes."  Hudson's Kramer said after the meeting that his organization had seen the Ramadi plan, but had made no decision about new plans or Environmental Impact Study."

"We've been waiting for you a long time," announced Maurice Bleifeld from the Roosevelt Island Tree Board.  In a plea to save the site's tall trees, he said "Trees give us grace and ease our minds."

In the audience: Maury Bleifeld, Robert Chira, Guy Midkiff

Mary Camper/Titsingh told the developers' representatives that a Roosevelt Island Parks Committee had drawn up a checklist of things they would like to see integrated into any plan adopted.  Those items included: 1) no apartments on Southpoint; 2) 2,000 units maximum; 3) open space between the nurses residence and the soccer field; 4) no more than 20 floors and 6) no parking on site.

Armed with a handful of notes, 20-year resident Judy Berdy asked direct questions of the developers, pausing for answers.  "who are communicating with at rioc? It's embarrassing but rioc does not talk with the residents.  Have you been given all the pertinent facts?"  She asked if they had seen the Master Plan and Environmental Impact Study for the site.

"We have a blank slate.  We have seen the Ramadi plan and the alternative plan with the one Main Street," Wine answered.  "We're here to synthesize all the information." Berdy said the community expects to ba a part of the process and not function as "ghost members of committee.  I need to hear from you as developers that you will insist with RIOC that we be part of the development."

Related's Wine assured her she had been heard.  "we wouldn't be here tonight if we didn't feel that way.  I can't say what the shape of the committee might be... This is not a one time thing."

Ron Vass and David Kraut, resident members of the RIOC Board, listen to residents' views.

Jesse Rademaker introduced herself as "representing the Young Adult League," then continued, "I have two questions: do you have financing?"  The developers said financing depends on what kind of proposal they present.  Rademaker followed up with a statement concerning the population make-up of the residents of Southtown.  "This community would never envision a separate Section 8 building like Manhattan Park."

Wine pointed out that Section 8 funds are no longer available, adding that rules prohibit making identifiable separate subsidized housing.  He also said that he had been responsible for the adoption of that requirement.  Bell responded to Rademaker's query about the possibility of a Medical Center by saying it is a possible consideration.

"I am one of the first and oldest residents," Paul Gordato announced.  "When I moved here there were beautiful architectural drawings with pie in the sky." However, Cordato said, over the years myriad problems had developed, from elevators built from the cheapest materials to colored tap water filled with micro-organisms.  He advised the group to consult the older residents before construction.

Another 20-year resident, Sharon Bermon, pointing out that many residents maintain home offices, asked for Internet access in the new buildings. Wine responded by saying that all their buildings are built with a T1 (high-speed data) line. Bermon also referred to well-known problems on the Island, saying "You should avoid the screw-ups like the closed pool, and the Sportspark that is not used."

Wine told the crowd that Related does "the best we can. Because we're long term owners, we take more of day-to-day look at management. I have two titles: one, in charge of residential development, and the other, in charge of the management company. With this overlap, I take input from my experienced managers and input on plans and hopefully avoid mistakes." He added, "Our money is at risk."

Shirley Margolin, the Island's representative on Community Board 8, asked if the developers "expect to issue tax-exempt bonds." Hudson's Bell said that this was a not just a possibility, but "a high probability."

Margolin then asked how much the builders planned to dedicate to the infrastructure; including the AVAC System.  Bell said, "That's the toughest part: the infrastructure, tearing down the Nurses' building, getting material off the Island. We're going to have to work together."  It is believed that one of the essential points of disagreement between RIOC and the developers, who are so far only "conditionally chosen," has to do with who will pay the cost of creating the infrastructure for the new site.

Susan Whitaker of the Board of RICO (the Roosevelt Island Council of Organizations) made a brief request for a commnity center in any plan.

"When you draw up your blueprints, consider all the fire hazards, especially the escape routes," asked Virginia Granato from her wheelchair. "Please add specially-equipped units for disabled with doors."

Jeffrey Hochman, RIRA Common Council Member, a professional in development, asked the developers to call upon the pool of architects and planners who live here to serve as community advisors. "We would like to be a part of your process, to have a series of meetings. If you try to do the process alone, you may be in a glass bubble, but if you do it in combination, you will have a plan that works."

A speaker who considered himself unusual because he had moved away from Roosevelt Island and then moved back, said the residents were "curious and concerned about the type of individuals moving here."  He also had questions about the physical dynamics of the plan.  "Will there be retail?  Will it take away from our open spaces?  Our little parks, we take very seriously. Our trees, flowers, gardens, that are not being maintained to the quality that I was used to 20 years ago. We treasure that here."

Bell, Wine

Wine responded emphatically, "We need to be aware of what components attracted residents in the first place.  It is our job to put together an appealing product.  Our investment would be a failure and our legacy, too."  In answer to the question on retail sites, he said the new businesses "won't cannibalize the existing ones, but proximity to the buildings is certainly something to be thought about and key to the development." He said the retail components didn't necessarily need to be in the buildings, but nearby.

The returnee offered some thoughts on recent developments here. "People of this Island have lost their voice in what happens here. I would like to encourage anyone who builds here to incorporate either through the appropriate channels, or bypass those channels if they are uncooperative, that you seek the voice of the people, since we are the people who are living here." The crowd met his statement with applause.

Nneka Pope

Nneka Pope, RIRA Common Council member, offered her summation of the situation. "our frontier as a community is before us once again. Rioc, residents and the developer have the power to make roosevelt island a 21st-century community that raises the standard by which the best of communities are judged. Please don't take this responsibilty lightly."

Steve Delman

Steve Delman asked why some fund-raising events had been cancelled.  "I would like answers as to why in this very preliminary stage there was preliminary work, illusory to me, that had to be done on the site of Southown that necessitated prohibiting the nursery school from holding its circus, the carnival or from bringing tourists, and the cancellation of the 4th of July celebration?"  The crowd applauded at this.  Meeting Chair David Kraut ruled the question out of order for this meeting, despite vocal insistence by the audience that it be answered.

Joyce Mincheff, another Common Council member, said, "It's very important that we have a way of synthesizing our input [as residents], and RIRA [the Roosevelt Island Residents Assocation] is our way of achieving that. It's our way of listening to each and every voice here on Roosevelt Island, and bringing forth order and a united voice on the issues that confront the Island and the particular interests of the development company. We have petitioned Dr. Blue to ask for seating at the discussion table for certain people on the RIRA board... and we hope that you'll be adamant in standing behind our request to do so."

Describing a "newcomer" as a 7-year resident, Sherie Helstein recommended to the developers that they come take a walk, alone, on the Island.

Lisa Knox asked whether another Environmental Impact Study would be done. Hudson's Bell said "We're trying to avoid as much bureaucratic process as possible."

After the meeting: David Wine and Mike Gantsher chat with residents