Commenting on the August 13,2026 interview with Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President BJ Jones regarding upcoming improvements and repairs to Blackwell Park, resident Mathew Katz asked:
When will the interminably delayed project to repair Eleanor’s Pier be accomplished? I can remember when food from Granny Annie’s (under a previous name) was available and tables and chairs provided.
Yes, the repair and use of Eleanor’s Pier is my concern too. Hasn’t it been a couple YEARS that it’s been closed off? Why has this charming public space been unavailable for so long?
and Jon added:
… I would love a monthly post from this site that simply relays a status update on island projects, even something as simple as “no new news”
– Eleanor’s Pier (plus all the other closed piers on the west side)
– Main Street roadway
– RI bridge and roadway
– Motorgate
– Graduate hotel
– Steam plant
– Coler construction
– Etc.
Eleanor’s Pier has been closed since April 2024 as seen here.
During a July 13, 2026 walking tour of Roosevelt Island west side waterfront infrastructure projects with local residents, RIOC Senior Director of Capital Planning Claudia Filomena reported that repair work on Eleanor’s Pier will soon begin and plans are for it to be open by next summer.
According to Ms Filomena:
… The railing is being replaced. The wood’s being replaced. We’re doing pile remediation underneath which are the supports for the pier…
… we’re starting in the next couple weeks. We have to do permitting and some of the work is seasonal. We anticipate probably about a year, it could be less, but the restrictions on in water work are not insignificant. They give you windows you can work, then you have to stop work, then you can work again. Our contractor is trying to work around that and trying to maximize when they can do the in water work. All of that work is going to be taking place…
I asked if the work would be completed before the summer of next year?
Ms Filomena replied:
Yes, that is the goal. That’s what we want to do because we know it’s been closed for too long. And so we really want to get this moving….
RIOC President BJ Jones confirmed during the August 13 interview that the repairs to Eleanor’s Pier are scheduled to be completed by next summer.
I’ve complained about the roadway along Main Street for more than 2 years along with pictures. The roadway by the IS 217 was patched over now due to heavy rains we have Pot Holes again the entire roadway needs to be done and not patched.
.
Walking by the EP yesterday and noticed new construction signage with a completion timeline of next summer. And new planted bushes to replace the landscaping removed for the walkway improvement. Nice!
If RIOC would maintain a status board on island projects, that visibility would go a long way to improving resident trust in their competence. When they don’t communicate in an accessible way, we have no other choice but to assume the work is deprioritized and no progress will be made.