Another committee meeting. Another disappearing piece of Roosevelt Island. On March 17th, 2025, the REDAC Committee watched in silence as L&M proposed replacing Roosevelt Landings’ iconic atriums with black awnings—and if history is any guide, no one will stop it. The main topic of the meeting was the L&M Development atrium removal.
Let’s be clear: REDAC is an advisory committee. But what does that even mean when no one advises anything? These meetings have become presentation drop-zones—third parties show up, talk at the committee about projects like the atrium removal at L&M Development, and vanish. No follow-ups, debate or public accountability. Just a PowerPoint, a smile, and a quiet retreat into policy fog.
These were the facts on the table::
- L&M Development Partners announced plans to demolish the glass atriums at 540 and 560 Main Street as part of the atrium removal project.
- The glass atriums are being scrapped for black fabric awnings—cheap, plain, and unremarkable.
- The stated reason: Fabric is “easier to clean” and “saves the Island money.”
- No design alternatives were discussed.
- No community engagement or preservation review was mentioned.
- The benches in front of 540 had already been removed quietly in previous months.
- The committee gave no feedback, made no recommendations, and raised no concerns.
- Though the meeting was streamed from RIOC’s Operations Office, the recording wasn’t made publicly available on YouTube until after we filed complaints with elected officials and RIOC. RIOC never responded—but the video appeared. Participation remains low, not because residents don’t care, but because most understand there’s no real mechanism to influence outcomes. These meetings have become rituals of public input without public impact which affects projects like the removal of the L&M Development atrium.
Once again, we watched a developer downplay the erasure of Roosevelt Island’s architectural character—and no one in the room challenged it. The benches vanished without a conversation. Now the atriums will follow. We’re told it’s cleaner, cheaper, simpler. But what we’re not told is how much more of the Island will be quietly shaved away next as L&M Development continues with the atrium removal.
Most residents won’t attend these meetings. And let’s be honest—governance is boring. But that’s exactly why The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse exists. To sit through the dull parts, document the important parts, and ask the questions no one else will. And when we need to feel the loss, not just log it, we hand the pen to Eleanor Rivers.
Her latest piece—“An Awning for Our Memories” by Eleanor Rivers —is now live. It’s the first in a two-part series that captures not just what was said, but what was lost.
Because sometimes, to understand how much is disappearing, we need to stop reading minutes and start reading stories.
Since January 14th, RIOC has had nothing to say. We’re still listening.
The Other End of the Leash
The first thing winter reveals when it loosens its grip is not green grass. It is honesty.
