Roosevelt Island Steam Plant Demolition Update, AVAC Repairs, West Promenade Enhancements & Snow Operations On Feb 12 RIOC Operations Committee Meeting Agenda

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Operations Advisory Committee is meeting Thursday February 12. The meeting is public and you are invited to attend.

According to RIOC:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Operations Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at RIOC’s Operations Office, 680 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York 10044.

AGENDA:

1. Steam Plant Demolition Update

2. Work Order Metrics and Trends

3. Updates on RIOC’s projects:

a. AVAC Repairs

b. West Promenade Enhancements

c. Snow Operations

4. Any Other Committee Business that May be Brought Before the Committee

As previously reported, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) is responsible for demolishing the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant.

Roosevelt Island community members have been waiting since early December for a response by HPD to concerns about whether there is a valid reason to demolish the Steam Plant building as well as any potential environmental safety and health hazards involved in the demolition.

Community members have asked if an adaptive reuse could be done instead of demolishing the building and have started a petition drive advocating for an alternative to demolition of the Steam Plant.

According to the Petition which has 488 signatures to date:

The historic Steam Power Plant at 5 East Main Street (New York, NY 10044) faces imminent demolition—threatening to erase an irreplaceable piece of Roosevelt Island’s industrial heritage. Without proper assessment, community input, or environmental safeguards, this landmark could be lost forever.

We, the undersigned residents and stakeholders of Roosevelt Island, demand an immediate halt to the demolition proceedings.

Why This Matters:

• Public Health Risk: Demolition has begun without disclosure of testing or remediation plans for asbestos, lead, and other toxic materials commonly found in historic industrial buildings—directly endangering residents, workers, and our environment.
• Zero Transparency: At the December 2nd community meeting, residents raised serious concerns about the documentation, including sudden and unannounced start of demolition activities. The community formally requested critical a structural assessment, a comprehensive environmental study, and a hazardous materials remediation plan, along with demolition methods, safety plans, and costs. None of this information has been provided.
• Lost Opportunity: The building represents a unique opportunity for adaptive reuse as a desperately needed public school or Pre-K facility—alternatives that will be permanently lost without proper evaluation.
• Historical Significance: Once destroyed, this iconic structure and its contribution to Roosevelt Island’s character can never be recovered.

We Demand:

1. IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION of all demolition activities
2. FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE of environmental testing and hazardous materials remediation plans
3. RELEASE OF ALL DOCUMENTATION requested at the December 2nd community meeting
4. TRANSPARENT FEASIBILITY STUDY for adaptive reuse options, particularly as an educational facility
5. COMMUNITY MEETING AND INPUT before any demolition activities resume

Take Action Now

By signing this petition, you’re standing for community safety, government transparency, and the preservation of Roosevelt Island’s unique character. Every signature strengthens our collective voice against hasty, potentially dangerous decisions that would permanently alter our community.

Don’t let Roosevelt Island’s history be demolished without due process. Our heritage, health, and community needs deserve better than a wrecking ball without warning.

Sign today to protect tomorrow.

During the February 2, Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee meeting, RIOC Assistant Vice President of Communications and Government Affairs Bryant Daniels said about the Steam Plant demolition:

 … I don’t have a lot to add that’s new on this. It is a city project. RIOC does not have a lot to do with it….

… We are in touch with the new leadership at HPD. The project started at an inauspicious time at the end of the year. You had the holidays and then you had a transition to a new administration. So not the best time to be starting this sort of work but we are in touch with the new leadership over there. It is on their radar screen….

There had been no response from HPD to the Steam Plant concerns by Roosevelt Island residents until yesterday. Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy shares this response she received yesterday from HPD. According to HPD:

Roosevelt Island Steam Plant Demo

Environmental and Safety Procedures Memo

The Roosevelt Island Steam Plant, a structure built in 1939, was decommissioned in 2014. In July of 2024, the Department of Buildings issued an Emergency Order due to deteriorating conditions of the masonry and facade. Visible cracks and faulty masonry were observed on both the building and smokestacks. In 2025, the City, through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, moved forward with a demolition plan in order to address the potential collapse of the smokestacks, seeking to safely remove the existing structure in response to the Emergency Order.  HPD’s Demolition Unit, which addresses structural conditions citywide when there are emergency orders from DOB, has contracted with a reputable licensed demolition contractor to complete the emergency work as quickly as possible in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.  

HPD is committed to the safe and environmentally responsible demolition of the Roosevelt Island steam plant. We are ensuring that our contractor adheres to all federal, state, and local environmental regulations to safeguard the health and safety of Roosevelt Island residents related to the demolition. 

We are implementing a multi-layered protective infrastructure to safeguard residents and existing infrastructure. Licensed environmental professionals will conduct any required remediation work 

We are committed to transparent communication about timelines and safety measures as well as continuous monitoring throughout all phases of demolition. 

HPD welcomes community feedback and remains committed to keeping Roosevelt Island residents informed throughout this project. We will continue to prioritize community well-being as we work to responsibly demolish this defunct facility. 

Tramway Protection

• Specialized roof protection system featuring three protective layers:
  • 2-inch high-density foam base layer 
  • ¾-inch plywood middle layer 
  • Sandbag top layer for maximum impact resistance 
• Custom protective wood structures around roof exhausts and skylights with ventilation screening 

Additional Safety Infrastructure

• Sidewalk sheds to protect pedestrians 
• Scaffolding and safety netting around chimney stacks 
• Controlled demolition protocols to minimize environmental impact 

Environmental Remediation Effort

HPD is working with experienced environmental contractors to ensure all contaminated materials required to be removed or addressed during demolition are handled according to the highest safety standards.

Oil Tank Removal

• 8 underground oil tanks successfully dismantled and removed as of February 4 
• 4 remaining tanks scheduled for expected removal by end of February (weather permitting) 
• Soil samples collected and analyzed during tank removal 
• Contaminated and potentially contaminated soil properly isolated on-site in 6-mil polyethylene wrapping 
• Comprehensive removal plan in development in full compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations 
• Clean fill replacement planned following approved remediation procedures 

Asbestos Abatement 

All asbestos work will be performed by licensed asbestos abatement contractors, and independent, third-party environmental monitoring will be conducted by licensed air quality specialists in full compliance with DEP Title 15, Chapter 1, and DOL Industrial Code Rule 56. 

Please note that all time estimates are subject to change based on weather, permitting, and other factors: 

Phase 1: Preparation (Estimated Late February)

• DOB permit application submitted and under final review 
• Make-ready work to remove obstructions, conducted under OSHA safety guidelines 
• FDNY permits obtained for necessary torch work with required fire watch protocols 

Phase 2: Abatement (Estimated April)

• Licensed abatement work to start following DEP approval 
• Continuous air monitoring throughout the process 
• Concurrent with controlled stack demolition 

Controlled Demolition Process (Estimated April-May)

• Hand demolition techniques to maximize control and minimize dust 
• Debris dropped through stacks as contained chutes 
• All debris that will be removed via truck will be securely covered during transport to prevent community exposure 
• Discussions with EDC may continue regarding option to barge 

We hope that this information is helpful and please let us know if you have any other questions!

Let’s see what we learn at tomorrow’s RIOC Operations Committee meeting.

UPDATE 2/13 – Here’s video of the Operations Committee meeting.