Submitted by Matthew Katz, Jul 8, 2007 18:43

Annie Karni got one critical fact wrong in her analysis of the potential development of these ten Roosevelt Island acres. All of Roosevelt Island is owned by New York City, with most of it, excluding the two hospital campuses, leased to the State in a 99-year deal terminating in 2068. Much of what ails this community of 12,000 New Yorkers stems from the lack of attention by the City as to how the State is developing its property and the disfunction of the State in its administration of the Island. Envisioned as a refuge of low- and middle-income, afforable housing by then-Urban Development Corporation president, Ed Logue, the State has only approved high-cost luxury housing over the last decade and continues to do so while proving impotent to provide basic shopping in the commercial corridor. The development of the Goldwater Hospital campus, whenever that may happen, is unlikely to restore the original premise of this once-planned community.

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