If anything emphasizes the schism between RIOC and how Roosevelt Islanders want to live, it’s the landscaping. The contrast is raw and inescapable in the community’s most active shared space: Riverwalk Commons.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Anyone getting a prescription filled, using the F Train Subway Station or simply wishing to sit quietly on one of the benches in the closest thing to a village green in New York City can’t miss it.
City landscaping is an oxymoron, but in Riverwalk Commons, RIOC has lost the plot, figuratively and literally.
Urban landscaping can bring several benefits to city dwellers, including:
- Improving air quality
- Reducing noise pollution
- Providing green space for recreation and relaxation
- Increasing property values
- Attracting tourists and businesses
But although there are great examples nearby, RIOC seems almost unaware of its surroundings. Litter has been cleaned up, but raw earth where flowers should cheer passersby isn’t the best alternative.
When contrasted with the artful beauty cycling through the season around Hudson-Related’s Southtown buildings, the reason may dawn on you.
Hudson-Related collects rents, counts on an upbeat community. They’re invested in fulfilling a satisfying mission for tenants daily.
And RIOC?
Well, they collect over $25 million in taxes from residents without consent, and they never consult with the community about anything. And they’re cheapskates when it comes to investing in the community.
That’s about all you really need to know.
Please toss in a couple of bucks to help us with expenses.
Thank you.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- Roosevelt Island Weekly Recap: Community Life, Local News, and Everyday ConnectionsOur Roosevelt Island weekly recap covers local news, community events, and the threads of daily life connecting neighbors on and off the island.
- Queens News Highlights and Roosevelt Island Community ConnectionsExplore the week’s Queens news highlights and Roosevelt Island community connections, from public safety to housing, historic places, and local events.
- How Queens News Shapes Life on Roosevelt Island This WeekExplore how Queens news shapes life on Roosevelt Island, from major fire responses to local court cases and housing initiatives, reflecting the rhythms and routines of our shared city life.
- Queens Community Updates: Transit Projects, Public Safety, and Neighborhood EffortsQueens community updates including transit projects, public safety developments, and neighborhood efforts, with special relevance for Roosevelt Island residents.
- How Roosevelt Island Responds to Change and Challenge Across the East RiverExplore how Roosevelt Island responds to change and challenge across the East River, reflecting on community adaptation, safety, transit, civic life, and neighborhood rhythms.
AVAC: Where the Pipe Curves
This is the final installment in my notes from the December 2nd, Operations Advisory Committee meeting, following “An Emergency, Apparently” and “Rust Is Funny Until It Isn’t”.
