Roosevelt Island Residents Seek Support Of NYC Mayor Mamdani To Stop The Steam Plant Demolition

Earlier today, I sent the following email message to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s press office:

I am following up on my March 10 email message below seeking comment from Mayor Mamdani regarding the plan by NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development to demolish the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant based upon a July 2024  Emergency Declaration by the NYC Building Department that the masonry facade of the Steam Plant Smokestacks were unsafe. 

Since my March 10 email inquiry, Roosevelt Island residents have obtained an independent evaluation from a reputable company, (Industrial Chimney and Smokestacks) stating that the Steam Plant smokestacks are in a very repairable condition not in need of demolition which is contrary to the Department of Building Emergency Declaration to demolish the building.

Also, please find attached an email message sent today to Mayor Mamdani by Roosevelt Island resident Kalin Kresnitchki, a founder of Architectural Community Alliance of Roosevelt Island,  seeking the Mayor’s  attention and support for the Roosevelt Island community opposing the current plan by HPD to demolish the Steam Plant and inviting Mayor Mamdani to attend the April 15 Roosevelt Island Steam Plant Town Hall meeting with representatives from HPD and Dept Of Buildings scheduled for 6 pm at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

Here is a Roosevelt Islander article on the issue.

Please let me know if there will be any comment from the Mayor.

Thank you.

Roosevelt Island Steam Plant Mamdani LetterDownload

As previously reported, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) is hosting a Steam Plant Demolition Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, April 15.

According to RIOC:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

Join representatives from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and RIOC for a town hall discussion on the demolition of the city’s old steam plant building.

The town hall will be held on Wednesday, April 15 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Good Shepherd Chapel, located at 543 Main Street. It will also be livestreamed on the RIOC website at https://live.divacommunications.com/rioc-live/. 

If you’d like to submit questions in advance for the Q&A, please email them to ridemolition@hpd.nyc.gov with the subject line “Steam Plant Townhall”.

Thank you,

Team RIOC

During the April 6 Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee meeting, members of the Architectural Community Alliance of Roosevelt Island (Arch RI) presented their case against the current plan to demolish the Steam Plant.

Watch their very informative 35 minute presentation.

RIOC has more info on the Steam Plant Demolition.

Following RIOC President BJ Jones’ report to the April 9 Board of Directors Meeting, Arch RI co-founder Zora Boyadzhieva asked what the RIOC Board is doing to protect the health of Roosevelt Island children and stop the demolition of the steam plant. (Watch the exchange, or lack thereof, starting at the 1 hour 3 minute 31 second of video below).

Will update if Mayor Mamdani responds to Roosevelt Island community concerns.