Roosevelt Island lies across from midtown Manhattan on the East River. Long considered a land of opportunity, the island is now seeing significant developments as it’s changing into what some call “the next Brooklyn.” In recent years, Roosevelt Island has revealed its new skyline and recently finalized a deal with developers to construct a neighborhood connecting the island to Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) has signed off on 11 development sites for residential construction on the island’s east side, which will be completed by 2025 and known as Riverwalk Neighborhood. Under the leadership of Shelton Haynes, RIOC is spearheading this major development. A fitness center overlooking the East River, a basketball court with an outdoor area, and a dog run will be included among the amenities.
Shelton Haynes’s mission at Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation is to make a better Roosevelt Island by developing parcels in the area to turn it into a sustainable community: “RI has become a place of opportunity [for] entrepreneurs and families. And to create a sustainable community, we are redeveloping several parcels of land in the coming years. With this redevelopment effort, we expect many residents to benefit from increased access to public transit, our expanding network of bike lanes, and new parks and open spaces.” At just two miles long, Roosevelt Island is a small island. That makes it feel like a big town. The island is small, with less than 12,000 people. It’s got a lot of green space and parks.
Roosevelt Island made headlines when a few years back, it became an arts community with many local artists living in the neighborhood. Even more recently, the island made headlines when it became a destination for millennials. To commemorate the centennial of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s birth, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation undertook to create a memorial on Roosevelt Island that would include four 10-foot bronze statues representing a different stage of his presidency. The FDR Memorial was designed and completed by international sculptor John Henry Faulkner and architect Pierre L’Enfant, best known as the Father of Washington, DC. Under its CEO, Shelton Haynes, RIOC’s mission is to “set the course for a more equitable and sustainable Roosevelt Island, preserving its value for future generations.”