Saturday evening, a half-dozen emergency vehicles converged on Eleanor’s Pier jutting into the East River along Roosevelt Island’s West Promenade. Blue lights flashing, an NYPD boat checked the water. A large section of the pier had collapsed above the churning water. Fortunately, no one was injured, but it was the third collapse, heightening safety concerns.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
“A similar incident happened last year and our Maintenance Team handled those repairs,” RIOC Communications Director Bryant Daniels told The Daily.
“We’ll be testing all the other railings as we make these new repairs to ensure anything else that may need reinforcing is handled immediately.”
Eleanor’s Pier After Saturday Night’s Railing Collapse
By Monday, the site was better secured, using traffic cones and metal barriers, but no security officials patrolled the still hazardous location.
A continuing concern…
On February 21st last year, we reported on the most recent past collapse. As was their custom at that time, RIOC refused to answer questions or to reassure residents with safety concerns. But the extent of repairs exposed extensive underlying issues.
RIOC found enough damage along the adjoining pier that work included replacing much of the underlying platform. The latest collapse, though, was along the section immediately adjacent to last year’s repairs.
Because of rapid turnover at the state agency, reports from last year concerning any findings were not immediately available. But we asked for any documents on file that describe the 2023 project.
A History of Structural Failure
In 2014, the entire north section of Eleanor’s Pier was replaced after the first known collapse. At that time, the work was paid for by the owners of Riverwalk Bar & Grill who wanted to expand their Island presence with a waterside eatery.
That business, named for the location, failed after a single summer season. Jonathan Hoo, the owner, pointed his finger at the difficulties of dealing with RIOC. But the business had other problems: wine served in metal containers, for one; high prices and capricious weather.
As part of the deal, though, RIOC owned the weather-resistant tables and chairs, and after prompting by Rick O’Conor (The Roosevelt Islander), they were restored along the waterfront.
Residents as well as visitors enjoyed the seating, visiting, eating takeout and sipping Starbucks, but maybe, following a third collapse, more caution is warranted.
Eleanor’s Pier – named for the renowned First Lady – remains an ideal location for gatherings, if undervalued and not as safe as it should be. One resident has already suggested sprucing the site up and enabling other uses.
It’s a great idea that will require some review and more serious repairs. Unlike the 2023 experience, RIOC should not risk lives by employing insufficient caution. Nor should it let such a great space go to waste this time.
I Take the Tram Because I Have To
There are people on this Island you learn to recognize long before you ever learn their names. Like the real estate man with the blue goatee, the one whose name I keep forgetting, though I could pick him out of a lineup any time of day.
Good Evening David,
I just want to say I love your work! It’s great to have someone dedicated to keeping Rosevelt Islanders informed on current events that affect our daily lives.
With that being said I am a little frustrated with the deterioration of Elenor’s Pier. When my family and I first moved out to RI four years ago I remember seeing several tables and stools along the guardrails where people would come out and sit and enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, I can barely tell that the tables and stools were ever there. It just seems like that specific area of RI is literally falling apart. Is there anything we can do as residents to help restore Elenor’s Pier? Do you think it would be as simple as requesting funding form RIOC for new tables and stools and basic upkeep moving forward?
I just wanted to run this by you to see what you thought on the matter. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
With much respect,
Joshua
Making the pier more attractive and usable is a great idea and not expensive. However, with a third railing collapse a few days ago, RIOC needs to do some serious infrastructure work to assuage safety concerns first.