History of Roosevelt Island in Timeline
Roosevelt Island is a 2-mile-long island in New York City's East River, part of Manhattan, situated between Manhattan and Queens. As of 2020, it had a population of 11,722. The island is largely residential, consisting of Northtown and Southtown communities. Owned by the city, it was leased to the New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in 1969 for 99 years.
1901: Navy proposal for Blackwell's Island
In 1901, the United States Department of the Navy proposed a drill ground and training facility at Blackwell's Island's northern end, although city officials opposed it.
1902: Proposal to turn the island over to the federal government
In 1902, there was a proposal to turn the island over to the federal government and raze many of the existing structures; the city's controller was also against this plan.
1907: Park Proposal and Pathology Institute
In 1907, a proposal to convert the island into a park resurfaced, and the Russell Sage Foundation set up a short-lived pathology institute on the island.
1909: Chapel of Our Lady established
In 1909, the Chapel of Our Lady, Consoler of the Afflicted, serving the Catholic community, was established on Roosevelt Island.
1909: Queensboro Bridge Opens
In 1909, the Queensboro Bridge, crossing Blackwell's Island, opened, but it did not provide direct access to the island until the late 1910s.
1909: Trolley service begins
In 1909, trolley service began connecting passengers from Queens and Manhattan to Roosevelt Island via a stop on the Queensboro Bridge.
1914: Report Criticizing Penitentiary
In 1914, the city's deputy correction commissioner called the island's penitentiary "unfit for pigs" in a report criticizing the unsanitary and overcrowded conditions. A grand jury also investigated and found that the jail was severely mismanaged that year.
1915: Prison Hospital Planned
In 1915, city corrections commissioner Katharine Davis announced plans to construct a prison hospital on the island.
1917: Church of the Good Samaritan developed
In 1917, the Church of the Good Samaritan was developed for the Lutheran community on Roosevelt Island.
1918: Buildings to be Refurbished
In 1918, Bird S. Coler ordered that the island's buildings be refurbished after he became the city's public welfare commissioner.
1918: Elevator building finished
In 1918, the elevator building on the north side of the Queensboro Bridge was finished, allowing access to Roosevelt Island.
1919: Elevator building finished
In 1919, the elevator building on the north side of the Queensboro Bridge was finished, allowing access to Roosevelt Island.
1921: Renamed Welfare Island
In 1921, the island was renamed Welfare Island.
1921: Blackwell's Island Renamed
In April 1921, the New York City Board of Aldermen renamed Blackwell's Island to Welfare Island.
1924: Park Conversion Recommendation
In 1924, the state's prison commission recommended converting Welfare Island to a park, and the city began planning to move Welfare Island's inmates to a new jail complex on Rikers Island further north.
1925: Chapel Dedication
In 1925, a chapel was dedicated on Welfare Island.
1925: Chapel of the Holy Spirit consecrated
In 1925, the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, an Episcopal chapel, was consecrated at Metropolitan Hospital on Roosevelt Island.
1926: Synagogue Dedication
In 1926, a synagogue was dedicated on Welfare Island.
1926: Council Synagogue opens
In 1926, the Council Synagogue opened on Welfare Island, featuring a "pleasing exterior" and a "simple, dignified interior".
1933: Island Rezoning
In 1933, the Board of Estimate rezoned Welfare Island to allow redevelopment.
1934: Prison Reform
In 1934, Municipal prison commissioner Austin MacCormick reformed Welfare Island's prison following a series of uprisings.
1935: Chapel of St. Dennis built
Around 1935–1940, the Chapel of St. Dennis, a stone structure, was built near the Octagon on Roosevelt Island.
1935: Ferry Service to Manhattan
In 1935, a ferry service began running from Welfare Island to Manhattan.
February 1936: Inmates Relocated and Jail Demolished
By February 1936, all inmates had been relocated from the Welfare Island jail, and the jail was demolished.
July 1939: Welfare Island Hospital Opened
In July 1939, the Welfare Island Hospital for Chronic Diseases opened and the Central and Neurological Hospital closed.
1940: Chapel of St. Dennis built
Around 1935–1940, the Chapel of St. Dennis, a stone structure, was built near the Octagon on Roosevelt Island.
1945: Girls' Shelter Opened
In late 1945, a girls' shelter opened on Welfare Island.
1948: Laundry Building Construction Begins
In 1948, construction began on a laundry building on Welfare Island.
1952: Coler Hospital Opened
In 1952, Coler Hospital opened on Welfare Island and patients were relocated there from the City Home for Dependents.
May 1955: Welfare Island Bridge Opened
In May 1955, the Welfare Island Bridge opened, and a bus began serving the island.
1955: Roosevelt Island Bridge opens
In 1955, the Roosevelt Island Bridge, a vertical-lift bridge to Astoria, Queens, opened, providing the only vehicular route to the island.
June 1956: Ferry service ends
In June 1956, the ferry service from Welfare Island to Manhattan ceased operations, though the terminal remained for several years.
April 7, 1957: Trolley service ends
On April 7, 1957, the trolley service that connected passengers from Queens and Manhattan to Roosevelt Island via the Queensboro Bridge ceased operations.
1957: City Hospital Replaced
In 1957, the City Hospital on Welfare Island was replaced by Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens.
1957: City Government Seeks Demolition Funds
Since 1957, the city government had been trying, without success, to obtain $1 million to demolish the abandoned buildings on Welfare Island.
1958: Medical Facility Opens
In 1958, another medical facility for chronically ill and elderly patients opened on Welfare Island.
1958: Chapel of the Good Shepherd closes
In 1958, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd on Roosevelt Island ceased operating as an Episcopal church.
1960: Half of Welfare Island Abandoned
By 1960, half of Welfare Island was abandoned.
1961: Richmond's Redevelopment Proposal
In 1961, Frederick W. Richmond announced a proposal to redevelop Welfare Island with residences for 70,000 people.
1962: FDNY Training School Opens
In 1962, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) opened a training school on Welfare Island, using 90 abandoned buildings for training purposes.
February 1965: Subway Station Announcement
In February 1965, a New York City Subway station on Welfare Island was announced as part of the new 63rd Street lines under the East River; the subway announcement spurred additional plans for the island's redevelopment.
1965: 63rd Street Line proposed
In 1965, the New York City Subway's 63rd Street Line was proposed, including a station to directly serve Roosevelt Island.
1965: Demolition of Dilapidated Buildings
In 1965, the city government ordered the demolition of six dilapidated buildings on Roosevelt Island.
June 1966: City Takes Over Hospital Buildings
In June 1966, the city government took over 45 abandoned hospital buildings on Roosevelt Island through condemnation.
December 1967: State Proposes Public Park
In December 1967, the New York state government proposed converting most of Roosevelt Island into a public park, with senior citizens' housing at the northern end.
1967: Island Described as a Ghost Town
In 1967, one reporter called Welfare Island a "ghost town, vacant lot, woodland and mausoleum for unhappy memories".
1967: Delacorte Fountain donation
In mid-1967, publisher George T. Delacorte Jr. donated the Delacorte Fountain to be placed at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island.
February 1968: Mayor Names Development Committee
In February 1968, Mayor John V. Lindsay appointed a committee to provide recommendations for the development of Roosevelt Island.
October 1969: Formal Proposal Presented
In October 1969, the city and state governments formally presented their proposal for Welfare Island's redevelopment.
1969: Master Plan Design
In 1969, Roosevelt Island's street layout was based on a master plan designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee.
1969: Leased to New York State Urban Development Corporation
In 1969, Roosevelt Island, owned by the city, was leased to the New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) for 99 years.
1969: Master plan divided the island
In 1969, a master plan divided Roosevelt Island into two residential communities: Northtown and Southtown.
1969: Delacorte Fountain dedication
In 1969, the Delacorte Fountain, donated by George T. Delacorte Jr., was dedicated at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island.
1969: Plan called for dedicated fire and police stations
In 1969, the plan for Roosevelt Island called for dedicated fire and police stations, but the island receives its emergency services from Queens.
1970: Elevator building demolition
In 1970, the elevator building on the Queensboro Bridge, which provided access to Roosevelt Island, was demolished.
1970: Yarmolinsky Hired to Lead WIDC
In late 1970, Adam Yarmolinsky was hired to lead the Welfare Island Development Corporation (WIDC).
1970: Models Exhibited at Metropolitan Museum of Art
In late 1970, models of Johnson and Burgee's proposal for Roosevelt Island were exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
1971: Work Formally Begins
Work formally began in mid-1971 on the development of Roosevelt Island, and the state approved construction of the first buildings the same year.
April 1972: Middle-Income Apartments Approved
In April 1972, the WIDC approved a proposal for 1,100 middle-income and luxury apartments on Welfare Island.
December 1972: Welfare Island Designated a "New Town"
In December 1972, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development formally designated Welfare Island as a "new town", making it eligible for additional funds.
July 1973: City Council Approves Name Change
In July 1973, the City Council approved changing Welfare Island's name.
August 1973: Passenger Elevator Operation
As late as August 1973, a passenger elevator ran from the Queens end of the Queensboro bridge to Roosevelt Island.
August 20, 1973: Welfare Island Renamed Roosevelt Island
On August 20, 1973, Welfare Island was officially renamed Roosevelt Island.
1973: Renamed Roosevelt Island
In 1973, the UDC renamed the island after Franklin D. Roosevelt.
1974: Construction Proceeds and Renting Begins
Construction proceeded steadily through 1974 on Roosevelt Island, and renting of the new apartments began that October. Renovation also began on Blackwell House and Chapel of the Good Shepherd.
1974: Louis Kahn designed Four Freedoms Park
In 1974, Louis Kahn designed the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, which consists of two rows of trees converging toward a granite "room" at the island's southern tip.
1974: Northtown Phase 1 Completed
In 1974, the first phase of Northtown, the island's first community, was completed.
April 1975: Residents Begin Moving In
In April 1975, residents began moving into the first building on Roosevelt Island.
1975: Automated vacuum collection system installed
In 1975, an automated vacuum collection (AVAC) system was installed on Roosevelt Island, becoming the second AVAC system in the U.S. and one of the world's largest.
1975: Chapel of the Good Shepherd reopens
In 1975, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd on Roosevelt Island reopened as a community center.
1975: First school opens
In 1975, the first school on Roosevelt Island opened with one student and two teachers.
May 1976: Tramway to Manhattan Opens
In May 1976, the Roosevelt Island Tramway to Manhattan opened.
May 1976: Tramway completed
In May 1976, the Roosevelt Island Tramway was completed, providing access to Midtown Manhattan.
October 1976: Roosevelt Island Station post office opened
In October 1976, the Roosevelt Island Station post office opened at 694 Main Street, designed by Kallman and McKinnell along with a fire station and stores.
1976: Northtown Buildings Completed
By mid-1976, the first four buildings in Northtown on Roosevelt Island were completed.
1976: First Library Founded
In 1976, two Roosevelt Island residents, Dorothy and Herman Reade, founded the island's first library in a rented space.
1977: City Club of New York award
In 1977, the City Club of New York gave Roosevelt Island's buildings a special honor award, acknowledging the quality of their designs.
1977: FDNY Training School Moved
In 1977, the FDNY training school moved to Randalls Island, and the old Roosevelt Island campus was razed.
1977: Library Collection Moves
In 1977, the Roosevelt Island library collection, originally founded by Dorothy and Herman Reade, moved to 625 Main Street.
1978: Island Population Reaches 5,500
By 1978, the population of Roosevelt Island had reached 5,500 residents.
June 1979: Agreement Signed for Northtown II
In June 1979, Starrett and the UDC signed an agreement, where Starrett agreed to build the three buildings known as Northtown II.
1979: Library moves to its own building
In 1979, the Roosevelt Island library moved to its own building at 524 Main Street.
1980: Report on Cost Overruns Published
In 1980, New York state comptroller Edward V. Regan published a report indicating that the Roosevelt Island redevelopment was suffering from severe cost overruns and losing money.
1981: The Main Street Wire founded
In 1981, The Main Street Wire, a biweekly newspaper, was founded on Roosevelt Island; it originally featured a column on the island's history.
1982: State Plans Northtown II Development
By 1982, the New York state government planned to begin developing Northtown II on Roosevelt Island.
July 1984: Northtown II Plan Re-approved
In July 1984, the UDC re-approved the Northtown II plan for Roosevelt Island.
1984: RIOC Created to Operate Island
In 1984, the state legislature created the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) to operate the island.
1985: Tree planting at southern tip
In 1985, a local group planted trees at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island, but they died quickly due to the Delacorte Fountain's water blasts.
1986: RIOC Approves Northtown II
In 1986, RIOC approved the Northtown II plan for Roosevelt Island.
1986: Ferry route to Lower Manhattan
In 1986, a ferry route ran directly to Lower Manhattan briefly from Roosevelt Island.
1987: Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation founded
Around 1987, the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation (RIJC) was founded following the island's residential redevelopment.
1987: Work Commences on Northtown II
Work on Northtown II commenced at the end of 1987, financed by a $176 million mortgage loan from the city.
1988: Study on Van Twiller's Deed
A 1988 study found that Van Twiller's deed referred to what is now Randalls and Wards Islands further north.
October 1989: Southtown Development Announced
In October 1989, officials announced the Southtown development for Roosevelt Island.
October 1989: 63rd Street Line opens
In October 1989, service on the New York City Subway's 63rd Street Line began, including the Roosevelt Island station.
1989: No New Buildings Completed
Due to the delays in the subway line's opening and the city's financial troubles, no new buildings were completed between 1976 and 1989.
1989: Main Street extended
In 1989 Main Street was the island's only road until it split into a loop around Southtown.
1989: Northtown II completion
In 1989, Northtown II (Manhattan Park) was completed, adding 1,100 rental apartments.
1989: Community described as small, self-contained, family-oriented
In 1989, Roosevelt Island was described as a "small, self-contained, family-oriented community" with its own Little League, newspaper, and library.
1989: Manhattan Park Opens
The Northtown II towers, known as Manhattan Park, opened in 1989.
August 1990: Board Approves Southtown Plans
In August 1990, the New York City Board of Estimate approved plans for the Southtown development on Roosevelt Island.
1990: Northtown II 70 Percent Occupied
By early 1990, Northtown II was 70 percent occupied.
1991: Southtown Project Placed on Hold
By 1991, the Southtown project on Roosevelt Island had been placed on hold because RIOC had not been able to secure a developer.
1992: School consolidation
In 1992, all of Roosevelt Island's schools were combined into PS/IS 217 Roosevelt Island School.
1994: City Hospital razed
In 1994, the ruins of the City Hospital on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island, which had been listed on the NRHP, were razed due to extreme neglect.
1995: Roosevelt Island Day celebrations
Since 1995, Roosevelt Island has hosted annual Roosevelt Island Day celebrations, fostering community spirit and tradition.
1997: RIOC Proposes Selling Southtown Site
In 1997, RIOC proposed selling off the Southtown site, and the Related Companies and Hudson Companies signed an agreement to develop Southtown.
1998: Hotel and Convention Center Proposed
A 26-story hotel with a convention center was proposed on Roosevelt Island in 1998.
1998: Library becomes NYPL branch
In 1998, the Roosevelt Island library became a branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) system.
1998: NYC Water Tunnel No. 3 section opened
In 1998, the section of New York City Water Tunnel No. 3 underneath Roosevelt Island opened, providing fresh water to much of New York City.
May 1999: Contractor Hired for Southtown
In May 1999, a contractor was hired to build the first section of Southtown on Roosevelt Island.
1999: Roosevelt Island's feel
In 1999, a New York Times article described Roosevelt Island as having the feel of "a postwar suburb of some European city", distinct from the rest of New York City.
1999: Roosevelt Island's demographics and popularity
In 1999, a New York Times article highlighted Roosevelt Island's diverse demographics as a key factor in its popularity among United Nations diplomatic staff.
2000: Foreign-born residents
By 2000, one out of every three Roosevelt Island residents was foreign-born, indicating a significant international presence on the island.
2000: Population Reaches 9,520
By the 2000 United States census, Roosevelt Island had a population of 9,520.
2001: News report on bridge usage
In 2001, news media reported that the Roosevelt Island Bridge was almost never lifted, though it began to be lifted more frequently in the 2000s.
2001: Direct subway access to Queens
In 2001, the 63rd Street Line gained direct subway access to much of Queens.
2001: Southtown development started
In 2001, the development of Southtown (Riverwalk) commenced on Roosevelt Island, marking the beginning of a project that would add 2,000 units in nine buildings.
2001: First Southtown Buildings Announced
In early 2001, the first Southtown buildings on Roosevelt Island, including two structures for medical workers, were announced.
2002: Spider-Man film
In 2002, Roosevelt Island was used as a filming location for the film Spider-Man, showcasing the island's adaptability and visual appeal.
2002: Southtown Buildings Completed
In 2002, the first two Southtown buildings on Roosevelt Island were completed, and a proposal to redevelop the Octagon tower as an apartment building was announced.
2003: Engine Company 261 closed
Engine Company 261, which served Roosevelt Island from Long Island City, closed in 2003, sparking controversy and a subsequent ruling that the closure was illegal.
2003: Southpoint Park Opened Year-Round
In 2003, the largely inaccessible Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island was opened year-round.
2005: Dark Water film
In 2005, Roosevelt Island served as a filming location for the movie Dark Water, highlighting the island's versatility as a backdrop for different narratives.
2006: Chabad Lubavitch Center moves in
In 2006, the Chabad Lubavitch Center of Roosevelt Island moved into the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation's (RIJC) space.
2007: Condominium Buildings Completed
By 2007, Roosevelt Island's first two condominium buildings, both in Southtown, and the Octagon were developed, increasing the island's population to around 12,000.
2008: Southtown Buildings Completed
By 2008, Southtown's fifth and sixth buildings on Roosevelt Island were completed.
2008: Roosevelt Island described as a fantastic and peaceful place to live
In 2008, the New York Daily News described Roosevelt Island as a "fantastic and peaceful place to live", noting the presence of disputes among residents.
2008: Straw polls for RIOC board positions
Starting in 2008, straw polls for positions on the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation's (RIOC) board were hosted, providing a platform for community input despite RIOC members being appointed.
2009: Work Commences on Four Freedoms Park
In 2009, work commenced on Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island, along with a redesign of Southpoint Park.
2010: RIOC Survey Reveals Shopping Habits
A RIOC survey from 2010 found that only 12 percent of Roosevelt Island residents shopped on the island.
2010: Population Reaches 11,661
By the 2010 United States census, Roosevelt Island's population had grown to 11,661.
2010: Tramway reconstructed
In 2010, the Roosevelt Island Tramway was completely reconstructed.
2011: Cornell Tech announcement
In 2011, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that Cornell Tech, a graduate school of applied sciences, would be built on Roosevelt Island.
2011: Southpoint Park Reopened
In 2011, Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island reopened, and the city government selected Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and Cornell University to develop the Cornell Tech research center on the island.
2012: Four Freedoms Park opened
In 2012, Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, a New York State Park, opened at the southern end of Roosevelt Island, designed by Louis Kahn.
2012: Study of Island
In 2012, a study found no evidence of ponds or streams on Roosevelt Island.
2013: Goldwater Memorial Hospital closed
In 2013, Goldwater Memorial Hospital closed on Roosevelt Island. NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler has been Roosevelt Island's only public hospital since then.
2013: Steam plant closed
Roosevelt Island's steam plant behind the Roosevelt Island Tramway's terminal was closed in 2013.
2015: Manhattan Park Pool Club commissioned murals
Every summer since 2015, the Manhattan Park Pool Club has commissioned a mural for the Manhattan Park development's pool deck, enhancing the island's aesthetic appeal.
2015: Riverwalk Building Finished
The seventh Riverwalk building on Roosevelt Island was finished in 2015.
2015: Work on Cornell Tech Begins
Work on Cornell Tech began in 2015 on Roosevelt Island.
August 2017: NYC Ferry Astoria route begins
Since August 2017, Roosevelt Island has been served by NYC Ferry's Astoria route.
2017: Cornell Tech opening
In 2017, the first phase of Cornell Tech opened on Roosevelt Island.
2018: Art Trail Announced
In 2018, RIOC announced that it would create an "art trail" around Roosevelt Island to attract visitors.
2019: Firehouse will not reopen
In 2019, mayor Bill de Blasio's office stated that the firehouse would not reopen, as the island already had additional emergency services.
2019: Plans Solicited for Nellie Bly Memorial
RIOC began soliciting plans for a memorial to the journalist Nellie Bly in 2019 on Roosevelt Island.
2020: United States census population count
In 2020, the United States census recorded Roosevelt Island's population as 11,722, distributed across three census tracts, revealing the island's population size and racial makeup.
2020: Population Count in United States Census
In 2020, the United States census recorded the population of Roosevelt Island as 11,722.
2020: Citi Bike stations installed
Since 2020, Roosevelt Island has had Citi Bike bikeshare stations available for public use.
January 2021: NYPL Branch Opening
In January 2021, the current New York Public Library (NYPL) branch opened at 504 Main Street on Roosevelt Island.
December 2021: Nellie Bly Monument Dedicated
In December 2021, The Girl Puzzle monument by Amanda Matthews, a memorial to Nellie Bly, was dedicated on Roosevelt Island.
2021: Graduate Roosevelt Island opened
In 2021, the Graduate Roosevelt Island, an 18-story hotel with 224 rooms, opened as the island's first hotel, marking a significant addition to the island's infrastructure.
2021: Metropolitan Hospital's former church becomes a wedding venue
In 2021, the Metropolitan Hospital's former church, built in the 1920s, was repurposed and became a wedding venue.
November 2022: Construction Begins on Riverwalk 9
In November 2022, construction began on the final building in Southtown, Riverwalk 9, on Roosevelt Island.
2022: Southtown development status
As of 2022, eight of Southtown's nine planned buildings had been completed, with the final structure under construction.
2023: Q102 bus route in operation
As of 2023, MTA Bus's Q102 route operates between Roosevelt Island and Queens, looping around the island.
March 2024: "Healing Forest" Announced
In March 2024, plans were announced for a 2,700-square-foot (250 m) "healing forest" at the southern end of Roosevelt Island.
2024: Island accessibility
As of 2024, Roosevelt Island is accessible via bridge, aerial tramway, ferry, and subway.
2024: Emergency services from Queens
As of 2024, Roosevelt Island receives all of its emergency services from Queens, despite the original 1969 plan calling for dedicated fire and police stations on the island.
2024: Value of 1828 purchase in 2024 dollars
In 1828, the city government purchased the island for $32,000, which is equivalent to $916,267 in 2024.
