Main Street Image From Jones Lang LaSalleAs reported in this earlier post , Hudson/Related Companies, the development partnership behind Roosevelt Island’s Riverwalk Buildings in Southtown, was confirmed to be one of two bidders replying to the Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder RFP and the Rivercross Mitchell-Lama Co-Op was speculated to be the other bidder – but just for the space in it’s building. The Wall Street Journal New York Edition picks up the story today, notes that free enterprise may finally be finding it’s way to Roosevelt Island and also reports that Hudson/Related and the Rivercross Co-op are the only bidders for some or all of the approximately 90,000 square feet of Main Street retail space . According to the WSJ:

… “We envision a dynamic vibrant retail corridor occupied by neighborhood retailers that’s well designed and is very successful,” says David Kramer, principal of Hudson Cos. “You have a captive audience on Roosevelt Island who are currently not spending their retail dollars on Roosevelt Island.”

Still, some of the very benefits that the state sees from bringing in an outside firm independent of the politics of the island have led to concerns from residents.

For instance, the only other bidder for the retail, the co-op association of the Rivercross apartment building, is bidding for control over its own retail in attempt to avoid certain types of tenants. For example, a noisy bar once occupied the space and was the subject of many a resident complaint, says Steven Kaufman, treasurer of the association.

“They have different motives than we dothey’ll be in this to make money for themselves,” Mr. Kaufman says of Related and Hudson.

“We want to control the space so we can protect our building.”…

Here are the retail store spaces available for the Master Leaseholder (Page 14 of RFP).

Click on image to enlarge. What do Roosevelt Island residents want from Main Street Retail Stores? A few samplings from earlier reader comments: 1:

We could use another bank, dinner, clothing store, home good store, etc.

2:

Liquor store,
Bakery,
Flower Shop,
Meat / Fish Store &
DUNKIN DONUTS / BASKIN ROBBIN

3:

1. BAKERY!
2. Liquor store
3. Trader Joe’s to replace Gristedes

4:

TJ’s is a bad idea for replacing Gristedes. It would be a great addition to some more general grocery store that offers generic and brand items. But stand-alone it will not be able to cover all your grocery and household needs.

5:

I agree that Trader Joe’s won’t work here, but a similar smaller store that sells Gluten-Free and Organic products would be a pleasant and healthy addition to the Island.

6:

Bakery (like Hot & Crusty)

ANYTHING to replace Gristedes (Associated, for example)

Flower shop

Fish store

Korean Deli

7:

Spanish restaurant or even take out would be nice to have here as well. Why not all of the suggestions posted here. Lord knows, there are enough vacant storefronts to house them all.

Here is a comprehensive 54 page study on Roosevelt Island Main Street Retail store situation. Among it’s findings: