ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NYC
Research: Demographics and Housing
Eastwood (Mitchell-Lama
Housing Program)
LA702 CAPSTONE CLINIC, CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Rivercross (Mitchell-Lama Housing
Program)
Manhattan Park (section 8)
The Octagon
(Silver LEED
Certification)
Island House Demographic Data from the 2000 Census:
(out of a population of 9,520)
Compared with the whole of the New York City
Metropolitan Area, Roosevelt Island contains a nearly
identical racial mix of residents, and a greater
number of foreign-born. The median household
income on Roosevelt Island is about $7,000 higher
than that of New York City.
Many residents work for the United Nations, located
just across the river, and PS/IS 217 contains a high
proportion of international students. Other residents
work for the Coler-Goldwater Hospital or are
outpatients there, and some faculty from Columbia
University and NYU are also housed there.
Riverwalk and Riverwalk Place
Housing changes have affected the demographic
data recorded in the 2000 census. The United
Nations Development Corporation issued a report
in 1989 that led to an amendment in the Roosevelt
Island General Development Plan, opening the door
for higher income developments like The Octagon
and Riverwalk. Eastwood, designed specifically to
house disabled, elderly, and hospital employees,
has left the Mitchell-Lama Housing Program and is
privatizing its units as current residents vacate.
Three other subsidized buildings are moving towards
privitization as well, although current residents are
still protected.
. Eden Gallanter . Chuijing Kong . Su Jung Ham .
 ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NYC
Research: Pedestrian and Bicycle Access
Originally, the Motorgate garage located next to the
Bicycle Access
Roosevelt Island Bridge was meant to contain all the
cars on the island; vehicular access was at first only
for public transit, emergency, and hospital vehicles.
Today, there is car access on the island, restricting
pedestrian and bicycle circulation.

Riverfront paths remain pedestrian, bicycle, and

wheelchair-only. Sidewalks along main street in
the center of Roosevelt Island are arcaded for extra
shelter, and to maximize space for housing units.

The Coler-Goldwater Hospital Recreational Therapy

department includes a program where wheelchair-
bound patients are driven around the promenade by
staff on modified bicycles.

Pedestrian Access:

Primary Lengthwise Pedestrian Movement

Primary Crosswise Pedestrian Movement

Pedestrian Gathering Nodes

LA702 CAPSTONE CLINIC, CORNELL UNIVERSITY . Eden Gallanter . Chuijing Kong . Su Jung Ham .
 ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NYC
Research: Public Transportation

Roosevelt Island is served by several options for

public transit.

The Red Bus service consists of hybrid-electric

buses that shuttle residents to on-island locations.
They are ADA-accessible, and provide discounts to
elderly and disabled people.

The MTA Q10 bus line connects Roosevelt Island

with Astoria in Queens.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway was

constructed in 1976 along the Queensboro Bridge,
and provides access to Manhattan. The tram is
currently down for maintenance, scheduled to reopen
on September 3rd, 2010.

In 1989, the New York City Subway created a

station on Roosevelt along the F line. The Roosevelt
Island subway station is one of the deepest in the
metropolitain area, lying 100 feet underground.

LA702 CAPSTONE CLINIC, CORNELL UNIVERSITY . Eden Gallanter . Chuijing Kong . Su Jung Ham .
 ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NYC
Research: Ecological and Green Energy Programs

(left) A Living Library project with the PS/IS 217 public

elementary school in 2003, showing students helping
to prepare and plant a garden on their own playground.

(right) Bonnie Sherk of A Living Library created a

design for Southpoint Park which focused on ecology,
education, multicultural resources, and technology.
Although the plan will not be implemented at South
Point, the plan contains many ideas with great potential
for the Roosevelt Island community.

Several programs in community ecological

education have taken place on the island. These
programs have been a part of A Living Library, an
organization belonging to Bonnie Sherk, and which
advocates community-based, educationally oriented
garden projects that include school and hospital
programs.

Roosevelt Island was also the site of a tidal

energy project in the East River. Funded by the
New York State Energy Research & Development,
two turbines were placed into the channel between
the island and Queens. They provided feedback
about water turbine viability, and supplied both
Motorgate and Greistedes supermarket with energy.

In 2006, The Octagon was completed. The building

boasts a Silver LEED certification, in part for lower
energy consumption. Many of the buildings systems
and appliances are energy efficient, and the system
is partially powered by rooftop photovoltaic
panels.

(above) turbine being lowered into the East River (above) rooftop solar panels on The Octagon

LA702 CAPSTONE CLINIC, CORNELL UNIVERSITY . Eden Gallanter . Chuijing Kong . Su Jung Ham .
 ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NYC
Research: Existing Surveys
Hunter College Short-Term Solutions Main Street Retail Survey Recommendations
(left) a drawing of a student's hopes for Roosevelt
-Board Development -Create a public/ private partnership to lease and/or help Island, facilitated by the Hunter College Study
-Service Request Tracking System manage Main Street
-Master Leaseholder for Main Street Retail -Pursue specific streetscape interventions and create
-Streetscape Improvements & Design Guidelines appearance standards and design guidelines for Main
-Non-Profit Incubator Street retailers
-Bike Share Program -Revive the Roosevelt Island Chamber of Commerce to
-Infrastructure Conditions Report be the steward of Main sStreet Success
-Traffic Calming -Re-organize existing non-profit uses to maximize
-Bike Volunteer Repair Program available marketable space, and cluster appropriate non-
& Abandoned Bike Removal profits into space more suitable to function
-Activate Public Spaces -Make Good Shepherd Plaza the "town square" of
-Wayfinding System Roosevelt Island
-Beautification -Create a "Gateway to Main Street" at the southern
enterance point to Main Street

Hunter College's Department of Urban Affairs

and Planning produced an accessibility study of
Roosevelt Island in 2008-2009, at the request of
state Senator Jose Serrano. The studio examined
transportation, parks, and commercial access
for island residents, and also conducted an online
interactive survey to determine community needs
from the standpoint of residents. Their study and
surveys provided our team with valuable information
and ideas for improved access to open spaces
and neighborhood destinations.

The Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail Study,

prepared for RIOC by Phillips Preiss Shapiro
Associates, Inc., Planning & Resl Estate Consultants,
and MJB Consulting in 2009, included a survey.

Additionally, our team conducted a survey, gathering

responses to our preliminary plan from residents.
This step brought us insights into details we had
overlooked, and brought specific concerns of
community members to our attention.

(above) Cornell team's presentation to the (above) ground floor retail analysis from the (above) a presentation by the Hunter College Study
Roosevelt Island Residents' Association (RIRA) Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail Study
presentation on April 7th, with the survey
following

LA702 CAPSTONE CLINIC, CORNELL UNIVERSITY . Eden Gallanter . Chuijing Kong . Su Jung Ham .
 ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NYC
Site Analysis:Connectivity
Pedestrian Connections and Disconnections

disconnections along the promenade

poor paving conditions
primary lenthwise pedestrian circulation
primary crosswise pedestrian circulation
primary pedestrian gathering nodes

Analysis: pedestrian access is in high demand,

and has been increasingly marginalized by vehicular
circulation.

Additionally, many sidewalks and portions of the

promenade do not meet ADA requirements, a fact
that merits special attention in the Roosevelt Island
community.

Residents do not find Main Street as pleasant to walk

due to lack of greenery and to the dark, canyonlike
quality created by the high streetside buildings.
Bicycle circulation is impeded along the northern
Queens side promenade.

project goals:
•• provide a plan for fixing disconnected and
broken paths, connecting major destinations, and
beautifying the central Main Street area.
•• create a greater focus on pedestrian circulation, to
entice residents and visitors away from vehicles
•• keep ADA accessibility a priority

LA702 CAPSTONE CLINIC, CORNELL UNIVERSITY . Eden Gallanter . Chuijing Kong . Su Jung Ham .