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Once a destination for the crazed, contagious or criminal, this island in the East River was home to several hospitals and a prison. “Welfare Island” (as it used to be called), in name and circumstance, was not exactly the place families wanted to move and raise their children. In attempts to clean up the island’s image, the city moved the prison to Rikers Island upstream, sealed off some of the old hospitals and gave the space a new name: Roosevelt Island.
Seemingly quiet and tranquil, there has been a slight uproar regarding the island’s finances. Anticipating the eventual arrival of 20,000 multi-racial, mixed-income residents, developers created a civic plan based on the best of modern conveniences. Jogging paths, playgrounds and high-rises were all built with hopes of expanding upon them later. Residents were lured by relatively cheap rents and a promise of solitude with spectacular views of Manhattan (to the west) and Queens (to the east). This was before the State Legislature cut the neighborhood’s funds in half and closed its capital budget account. Unable to complete its original civic plan, with its population resting at 8190, the island had grown dependent on state assistance to maintain its standard of living. Today Roosevelt Island residents may have to learn to cope with rising prices, fewer services – or both. The $.25 minibus, parking rates and tram prices may be the first cost increases, while services such as the public safety force and grounds maintenance may be decreased. With seawalls needing to be repaired, and special parts for the tram having to be shipped in from Switzerland, this neighborhood finds itself facing issues that others in the area do not.
Because the island was only developed recently, the buildings here are all modern high-rises: there are no brownstones or tenements. Regardless, a small-town feel has evolved, and everything is family oriented. Because of its tiny population, tenants have difficulties tracking down much outside of life’s sustaining staples…dry cleaners and pharmacies, yes, but exotic spice shops and hip clothing boutique, no.
Seemingly void of human life on weekdays, Roosevelt Island comes alive on sunny Saturdays in the spring when residents take full advantage of their landscaped public spaces and the paved paths around the island. It’s a perfect place for a kid to learn how to ride a bike. Car traffic is limited to the area between the garage and the bridge to Queens, and there’s only an occasional minibus or grounds truck that comes rumbling down the streets otherwise. Equally intriguing is the island’s history. At the southern most end of the island, ruins from the lunatic asylum and other indiscernible buildings remain, sealed off behind tall fences warning against trespassing and threatening huge fines. Is the jail that held Mae West for 8 days after her “lewd” performance in 1927 still back there somewhere? Its fun to peek through the fence planks at the shadowy shapes overgrown in tall grass and wonder...
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Metropolis Real Estate of Manhattan | 167 Lexington Avenue Suite 100 | New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212.696.1900, Fax: 212.696.0220 | Email: info@metropolisre.com
Our Connecticut Branch:
1200 Summer Street, Suite 105, Stamford, CT 06905
Tel: 203.653.1406, Fax:203.653.7219
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