A group of some forty residents has formed "Roosvelt Islanders for Responsible Southtown Development" to demand a greater voice in the plan for new buildings in the area between the Tramway station and Blackwell House.

The group, whose steering committee is chaired by Rivercross resident Steve Marcus (212 486-5733), is unhappy about planned relocation of the present soccer field to the southeast corner of the Southtown site, near the Queensboro Bridge and across the roadway from the Island's power plant. The group wants the present soccer field to remain in place as a common, or greensward.

Some $3,000 was pledge for the fight at the meeting and before, and a fundraising effort has begun.

The group sights a series of complaints about the handling of the RIOC Board of Directors' "final designation" of The Hudson Companies and The Related Companies as Southtown developers; while it does not object to the selected developers, it says final designation status was given without adequate input from the community, and for a bad plan.

The group's newsletter cites a series of complaints about the plan:

• The first building planned for construction creates a "wall" across Main Street, blocking views between the old and new sections, says the group.
• It calls for revision of the order of construction, claiming that the only reason the building immediately south of Rivercross is to be built first is to accommodate the RIOC budget, which has limited funds for extension of infrastructure.
• It asks for better planning for noise and construction traffic during construction.
• It points out that no plans have been made for school space for additional children the new buildings will bring.
• Without specifying them, it says, "There are environmental problems."
• It claims the Blackwell "tot lot" and much of Blackwell Park are to be eliminated.