Shelton Haynes, Roosevelt Island, and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation are making headlines with recent revitalization projects. Located in the City of New York, the Renwick Ruin is a Gothic Revival smallpox hospital from 1854 that has been given a new lease of life thanks to the RIOC and CEO Haynes. Roosevelt Island is an escape from the city that offers small-town charm, open spaces, and various parks.
The revitalization effort led by the RIOC and Haynes has attracted investors and new constructions. Riverwalk 9, the flagship building at the Riverwalk complex in Roosevelt Island, was recently completed with $185 million in construction financing. It offers over 200 market-rate and over 100 affordable apartments, office spaces, a fitness centre, a basketball court, and an outdoor area. The Memorial Sloan Kettering employees working at the Cancer Centre will occupy the apartments.
This transformation is based on the 1969 master plan developed by renowned architects John Burgee and Philip Johnson. Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation was formed in 1984 to oversee Roosevelt Island’s development. After completing the Riverwalk 9 building, Johnson and Burgee’s plan came to fruition. Additionally, Roosevelt Island and Haynes completed a long-standing project that began in 1973 with the unveiling of the Four Freedoms Park. The Park and Hope Memorial inspires those facing challenges.
Roosevelt Island’s Main Street has also undergone a facelift with new retail additions thanks to Hudson and other related Companies’ long-term leases on 90,000 square feet of space. The street now has shops like Wholesome Taqueria, Wholesome Factory, Island OM, and Granny Annie’s Bar & Kitchen. These new shops complement the Public Library in New York, which has been a fixture of the street for years. The Graduate Roosevelt Island, Roosevelt Island’s first hotel, opened in 2021, boasting a fine-dining rooftop spot, Anything at All, with partner Marc Rose and restaurateur Med Abrous’s company, Call Mom.
Roosevelt Island offers parks, inexpensive housing, historical landmarks, natural beauty, and conveniences, making it an ideal destination for visitors and the island’s residents. Thanks to Shelton Haynes, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, and their recent initiatives, it is now a thriving place to work, live, and play.