“We told the buildings to shut down their AVAC access chute doors from this Sunday, June 9th, at 2 PM,” RIOC announced in a message. The AVAC shutdown might kick in earlier in certain places, depending on the staff available to sweep through the buildings. It’s best to plan for an hour or two earlier.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

About the AVAC Shutdown

The AVAC system serving residential buildings on Roosevelt Island has deteriorated significantly. At fifty years old, time is the enemy. The current work involves replacing the two main sections of pipe feeding directly into the facility, one for each side of the Island.

Assume this is the first of several necessary shutdowns.

Two years ago, the west side line closed after a section under Rivercross eroded, allowing seepage from the outside. There are other stress points throughout the system that must be addressed. This is just the beginning.

A taste of Manhattan…

During the AVAC shutdown, Roosevelt Islanders get a chance to immerse in a ritual that takes place on the big Island across the East River.

According to RIOC, “DSNY has agreed to pick-up each building’s garbage Monday-Saturday starting at 5 AM. There will be no pick-ups on Sundays.”

And, “We have requested that buildings put their garbage out for collection after 7 PM daily.”

Expect this as a minimum overnight…

 …at every building.

Unmentioned in RIOC’s advisory is an inevitable loss of building services as workers who normally clean hallways, change lightbulbs and clear drains are reassigned to nightly trash removal. Few if any buildings have enough personnel for this work without reducing other services.

• Update: Tram Shutdown. Without Warning, RIOC Does It Again
• Think fast. The Tram shutdown just got a whole lot worse
• UPDATE: The Entire AVAC System Is Down Again. But Now It’s Back
• Tram Maintenance, Partial Shutdown, Finally Announced
• THE AVAC IS FIXED, SAYS RIOC, BUT NOW REALITY TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY

Until…

“We anticipate the system to remain offline through Monday, June 24th,” RIOC advises. That’s two weeks and not a promise.

Support Indie Journalism at The Roosevelt Island Daily

As two separate pipes are involved, RIOC initially said there would be two separate shutdowns of one-week duration each. That changed without explanation, leading to speculation the scope of work is somewhat unknown.

It could be less. It could be more. In any case, be ready, starting now.

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