An eldercare facility is being planned for the Island.

It appears to be positioned on designated park land.

Plans were announced April 7 at a sparsely-attended noontime "President's Meeting" called by RIOC.  RIOC President Jerome Blue proposed "conditional selection" of the developer at RIOC's Board meeting Thursday, April 9, but no action was taken.  The plans will be presented again Wednesday evening (April 22) at 7:00 at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd in a meeting open to the public.

The building envisioned by the developers and their architect, 75 by 285 feet at its base, would occupy land described by Blue at the RIOC meeting as "north of the Boat House and west of the Octagon."  A member of his staff, Michelle Goodwine, has answered questions on the site with the words, "Octagon Park."

As described by the architect, David Lawrence Mammina, the 25-story facility would provide 150 assisted-living units on its first six floors, and 300 independent-living units on the balance of the floors.  Rental rates were not discussed.

At Thursday's RIOC Board meeting, a member of Assemblymember Pete Grannis' staff asked Blue whether the General Development Plan (GDP) – the basis of an agreement between New York State and the City under which the State controls Roosevelt Island -provides for housing for the elderly, and whether the GDP would have to be revised for the site in question.  Blue responded only that the GDP does call for senior housing.

The Vice President of the Island's Historical Society, Judith Berdy, told The WIRE she plans to oppose conversion of the park land for such a development.  "Construction there is totally unsuitable," she said, adding, "Such a facility should be built in the Southtown area, where public transportation is close at hand for the senior population."  She also suggested that construction on the site might prove a danger to "the fragile, landmarked, Octagon building."

The proposed developer, Engel/Burman, built the Meadowbrook Care Center, a 280-bed nursing home in Freeport, Long Island.

A member of the company's staff, Steven Straight, described the proposed Roosevelt Island facility in a telephone conversation with The WIRE, as "subject to further market studies."  He said that pending those studies, the 300 units of independent-living housing will have a common dining area, a private dining area, a library, a parlor, a cafe, meeting rooms, an arts and crafts facility, a beauty and barber shop, a greenhouse, billiard rooms, a woodworking facility, and a wellness center.

Straight said the assisted living section will also have a wellness center and many of the same features (though separate) as the independent living section.  In addition, plans call for a nurse station, with a nurse on duty to assist with medications, and a "country kitchen," in which 15 to 20 residents on a wing can have breakfast together.

Straight emphasized that all aspects of the plan are subject to market studies.

When asked about the apparent site of the facility being on designated park land, Straight indicated he would check into the matter.