Editing Roosevelt Island (section)

=== Redevelopment plans ===

==== Early- and mid-1960s proposals ====
The businessman and politician [[Frederick W. Richmond]] announced a proposal in 1961 to redevelop the island with residences for 70,000 people. The plan would have cost $450 million and would have included a two-level platform supporting buildings as tall as 50 stories.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 17, 1961 |title=Housing Development Planned on City-Owned Island Near Manhattan: Project on Welfare Island, Would Have 20,000 Units and Involve $455 Million of Construction |work=The Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |page=9  |id={{ProQuest|132695641}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Ross |first=Don |date=May 17, 1961 |title=Welfare Island Plan Would House 70,000 |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=17 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1326994001}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Sibley |first=John |date=May 17, 1961 |title=Welfare Island Town of 70,000 Proposed at 450 Million Cost |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/05/17/archives/welfare-island-town-of-70000-proposed-at-450-million-cost-welfare.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Stern|Mellins|Fishman|1995|ps=.|pp=641–642}}</ref> The [[American Institute of Architects]]' New York chapter proposed that the island instead become a park,<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 17, 1961 |title=Welfare Island Sought as Park; Architects Here Attack a Plan for Housing Project |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/07/17/archives/welfare-island-sought-as-park-architects-here-attack-a-plan-for.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US  |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=August 22, 1961 |title=Bitterly Opposing Housing, Top Architects Endorse East River Recreation Isles |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kings-county-chronicle-bitterly-opposing/143617146/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=Kings County Chronicle |pages=5}}</ref> while yet another plan called for the island to become housing for [[United Nations]] staff.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Don |date=December 12, 1961 |title=A Refuge in Time of World Tension: Welfare Island Proposed as Home for UN Staff |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=6 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1326183217}}}}</ref><ref name="Stern (1995) p. 642">{{harvnb|Stern|Mellins|Fishman|1995|ps=.|p=642}}</ref> Other plans included those for a college campus or a smaller-scale residential area.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sibley |first=John |date=June 28, 1961 |title=Welfare Island Awaits Its Fate; Families That Remain Amid the Quiet and Weeds Fear Plan for Huge Project |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/06/28/archives/welfare-island-awaits-its-fate-families-that-remain-amid-the-quiet.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref>  A [[New York City Subway]] station on Welfare Island was announced in February 1965 as part of the new [[63rd Street lines]] under the East River;<ref name="Newsday 1965">{{cite news |date=February 17, 1965 |title=$3.3 Million Subway Station To Link Welfare Island to City |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |page=27  |id={{ProQuest|914427515}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Perlmutter |first=Emanuel |date=February 17, 1965 |title=Welfare Island to Be on Subway; Station to Be Built in New 63d St. Tunnel to Queens |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/02/17/archives/welfare-island-to-be-on-subway-station-to-be-built-in-new-63d-st.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> the subway announcement spurred additional plans for the island's redevelopment.<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 642" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bobbins |first=Villia |date=February 21, 1965 |title=Proposed Subway on Welfare Island Revives a Dream; Industrialist Hopes Plan tor Sub. City Will Be Realized |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/02/21/archives/proposed-subway-on-welfare-island-revives-a-dream-industrialist.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> There were plans to rename Welfare Island because the public generally associated the name negatively with the island's hospitals,<ref name="Hanson 1967" /><ref name="Jones 1966" /> and even the hospital's patients wanted the island to be renamed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 4, 1964 |title=Hospital Patients Say Welfare Island Is Degrading Name |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/04/archives/hospital-patients-say-welfare-island-is-degrading-name.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref>

The city government ordered the demolition of six dilapidated buildings on the island in 1965.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 11, 1965 |title=Doom 6 Buildings on Welfare Island |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-doom-6-buildings-on-welfare-i/143610354/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=89}}</ref> The city took over another 45 abandoned hospital buildings via [[Eminent domain|condemnation]] in June 1966,<ref name="Hofmann 1966" /> and the [[New York City Board of Estimate]] applied for $250,000 in federal funds for a feasibility study on the island's redevelopment later that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moritz |first=Owen |date=November 6, 1966 |title=City's No. 1 Welfare Case: That Island |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-citys-no-1-welfare-case-th/143608303/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=856}}</ref> The New York state government proposed in December 1967 to convert most of the island into a public park, except for senior citizens' housing at the north end.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Witkin |first=Richard |date=December 18, 1967 |title=6 Sites Proposed by State For Its First Parks in City; Transport Key Factor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/12/18/archives/6-sites-proposed-by-state-for-its-first-parks-in-city-transport-key.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> The [[United Nations International School]] considered developing a campus at the island's southern end,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Teltsch |first=Kathleen |date=April 2, 1965 |title=Southern Tip of Welfare Island Proposed as Site of U.N. School; 17-Acre Tract Would Be Used Instead of 48th St. Park – Mayor Backs Change |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/04/02/archives/southern-tip-of-welfare-island-proposed-as-site-of-un-school-17acre.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> and the New York Board of Trade pushed to redevelop the island as a city park.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 11, 1965 |title=Trade Board Fights For Welfare Island As City Park Land |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/11/archives/trade-board-fights-for-welfare-island-as-city-park-land.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> Other plans included a mix of recreational facilities and low-density housing;<ref name="Kempner 1967">{{Cite news |last=Kempner |first=Mary Jean |date=August 6, 1967 |title=A New Life For the River That Isn't a River; The River That Isn't (Cont.) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/08/06/archives/a-new-life-for-the-river-that-isnt-a-river-the-river-that-isnt-cont.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> an amusement park similar to [[Tivoli Gardens]] in Copenhagen;<ref name="Kempner 1967" /><ref name="Weinbrenner 1969">{{Cite news |last1=Weinbrenner |first1=Donald |last2=Murphy |first2=John |date=April 2, 1969 |title=City to Build Houses on Sewerless Island |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-city-to-build-houses-on-sewer/143616390/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=5}}</ref> an underground [[nuclear power plant]];<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bird |first=David |date=October 7, 1968 |title=Nuclear Plant Proposed Beneath Welfare Island |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/10/07/archives/nuclear-plant-proposed-beneath-welfare-island-a-nuclear-plant.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US  |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=October 8, 1968 |title=Con Ed A-Plant Seen Far in Future |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-con-ed-a-plant-seen-far-in-fu/143614189/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=16 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=October 7, 1968 |title=Con Ed Proposes A-Plant in City |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-con-ed-propose/143613402/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=21}}</ref><ref name="Stern (1995) p. 642" /> a cemetery;<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 645">{{harvnb|Stern|Mellins|Fishman|1995|ps=.|p=645}}</ref> and a "city of the future".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Sylvan |date=July 10, 1969 |title=' Think Tank' Director Proposes $2-Billion Plan to Develop Welfare Island as 'City of the Future' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/07/10/archives/-think-tank-director-proposes-2billion-plan-to-develop-welfare.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref>

==== Johnson and Burgee plan ====
In February 1968, mayor [[John V. Lindsay]] named a committee to make recommendations for the island's development,<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 642" /><ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 14, 1968 |title=Welfare Island's Future Studied |magazine=Women's Wear Daily |pages=8 |volume=116 |issue=32 |id={{ProQuest|1565012497}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=February 11, 1968 |title=Welfare Island to be Restudied |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/02/11/91220608.pdf |access-date=November 24, 2012 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> at which point one newspaper called it "the most expensive wasteland in the world".<ref>{{cite news |last=Fulton |first=William |date=January 16, 1968 |title=Report From New York: Bleak East River Island May Be in for a Sprucing Up |work=Chicago Tribune |page=19 |issn=1085-6706 |id={{ProQuest|170396471}}}}</ref> The state government established the Welfare Island Development Corporation (WIDC; later the Roosevelt Island Development Corporation or RIDC) that April.<ref name="Goldman 1971">{{cite news |last=Goldman |first=John J. |date=July 29, 1971 |title=Welfare Island's New City Begins to Rise |work=Los Angeles Times |page=17 |issn=0458-3035 |id={{ProQuest|156826842}}}}</ref> Early the next year, the state government canceled plans for a state park encompassing Welfare Island,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fraser |first=C. Gerald |date=January 12, 1969 |title=State Vetoes 4 of 6 Proposed Parks in the City as Unsuitable |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/01/12/archives/state-vetoes-4-of-6-proposed-parks-in-the-city-as-unsuitable.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> and Lindsay's committee recommended renaming the island and developing housing units and recreational facilities there.<ref>{{Cite news |last=King |first=Seth S. |date=February 13, 1969 |title=Mayor Discloses Welfare is. Plan; Public Agency Will Develop Parks and Housing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/02/13/archives/mayor-discloses-welfare-is-plan-public-agency-will-develop-parks.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US  |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=February 13, 1969 |title=Park and Housing Eyed in Welfare Island Plan |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-park-and-housing-eyed-in/143615658/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The Daily Item |pages=13}}</ref> Land clearing began that April,<ref name="Weinbrenner 1969" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 24, 1969 |title=Mayor Wide-Eyed As Razing Begins On Welfare Island |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/04/24/archives/mayor-wideeyed-as-razing-begins-on-welfare-island.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> and Lindsay asked the [[New York State Urban Development Corporation]] (UDC) to help redevelop the island in May.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 22, 1969 |title=Urban Agreement Reached; State Urban Agency Is Invited To Join in Eight City Projects |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/05/22/archives/urban-agreement-reached-state-urban-agency-is-invited-to-join-in.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US  |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=May 22, 1969 |title=City and State to Build 11,000 Housing Units |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-city-and-state-to-build-1100/143615907/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=14}}</ref> The city and state governments formally presented their proposal for Welfare Island in October 1969.<ref name="Huxtable 1969" /><ref name="Stern (1995) p. 645" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Miele |first=Alfred |date=October 10, 1969 |title=Parks, Pedestrians 1st in Welfare Isle Plan |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-parks-pedestrians-1st-in-wel/143615465/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=3 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=October 10, 1969 |title=City to Develop Welfare Island |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-city-to-develo/143615491/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=23}}</ref> After the Board of Estimate approved the plan later that month,<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 645" /><ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 3, 1969 |title=Welfare Island Lease Approved |magazine=Women's Wear Daily |pages=19 |volume=119 |issue=86 |id={{ProQuest|1523584024}} |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Burks |first=Edward C. |date=October 30, 1969 |title=Board Votes Plan for Welfare Isle; Critics Charge Undue Haste on Plan to Construct 5,000 Housing Units There Board Votes Plan for Welfare Island |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/10/30/archives/board-votes-plan-for-welfare-isle-critics-charge-undue-haste-on.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> the UDC signed a 99-year lease with the city that December.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1969 |title=City Turns Over Welfare Island For State to Build Apartments |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/12/25/archives/city-turns-over-welfare-island-for-state-to-build-apartments.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US  |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=December 25, 1969 |title=Minority Group Hails Welfare Island Lease |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-minority-group-hails-welfare/143615375/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=60}}</ref> The city could pay either two percent of the development cost or 40 percent of any profits.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 11, 1970 |title=Cost to City of Welfare Island Project May Lessen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/11/archives/cost-to-city-of-welfare-island-project-may-lessen.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The UDC issued $250 million in bonds to help finance the project.<ref name="Goldman 1971" /> The state hoped to finish the project within eight years.<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 645" />

The architects [[Philip Johnson]] and [[John Burgee]] designed the master plan for Welfare Island, which called for two neighborhoods named Northtown and Southtown, separated by a common area.<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 645" /><ref name="Dennis 1970">{{cite news |last=Dennis |first=Landt |date=January 2, 1970 |title=River town for 20,000 families?: Optimism voiced Plan explained Landmarks to stay |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=17 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|511204190}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bruning |first=Fred |date=June 15, 1973 |title=The Big Town is Getting a New Town |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-the-big-town-is/135650685/ |access-date=November 23, 2023 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=148, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-the-big-town-is/135650766/ 163]}}</ref> The island was to become a [[car-free area]] with apartments, stores, community centers, and a waterfront promenade.<ref name="Huxtable 1969" /><ref name="Stern (1995) p. 645" /><ref name="Von Eckardt 1969">{{cite news |last=Von Eckardt |first=Wolf |date=October 26, 1969 |title=A New Town on Welfare Island |work=The Washington Post, Times Herald |page=170 |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|143628766}}}}</ref> The apartments ranged in size from studios to four-bedroom units and were a mixture of rental and [[Housing cooperative|cooperative]] units.<ref name="Bruning 1973">{{Cite news |last=Bruning |first=Fred |date=June 15, 1973 |title=The Big Town Is Getting a New Town |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-the-big-town-i/143782603/ |access-date=March 20, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=148, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-the-big-town-i/143782645/ 163]}}</ref> There would be a hotel, public schools, stores, and office space,<ref name="Dennis 1970" /> and several existing buildings would be retained.<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 645" /><ref name="PA 1974-10" /> Services such as parks and schools were near every residence,<ref name="Bruning 1973" /><ref name="Bailey 1974" /> and there was a pneumatic trash collection system.<ref name="Von Eckardt 1974">{{Cite news |last=Von Eckardt |first=Wolf |date=July 14, 1974 |title=2,100 Families Awaited at New York Island Town |work=The Atlanta Constitution |page=16H |id={{ProQuest|1615900941}}}}</ref><ref name="The Christian Science Monitor 1974">{{cite news |date=December 6, 1974 |title='Utopian' island next door to Manhattan: Isolation valued Some nearly complete |work=The Christian Science Monitor |page=9 |issn=0882-7729 |id={{ProQuest|511743504}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=December 3, 1974 |title=Island 'Utopia' Rises Off Manhattan |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-island-utopia-rises-o/143816243/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=The Buffalo News |pages=71}}</ref> The first apartment buildings banned dogs,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moritz |first=Owen |date=June 3, 1974 |title=There'll Be No Dogs in City of the Future on Roosevelt Island |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-therell-be-no-dogs-in-city-o/143783935/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=215 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=June 10, 1974 |title=Barring a friend |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-barring-a-friend/143816506/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=The Journal News |pages=16}}</ref> but this prohibition was not applied to buildings developed later.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stone |first=David |title=Dogs: Another Roosevelt Island Battle That Shouldn't Be |website=Roosevelt Island, New York, Daily News |date=May 23, 2022 |url=https://rooseveltislanddaily.news/2022/05/23/dogs-another-roosevelt-island-battle-that-shouldnt-be/ |access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sacks |first=Amy |date=November 16, 2002 |title=Dogs Voted Off This Island |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2002/11/16/dogs-voted-off-this-island/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251}}</ref> Additionally, the hospitals on the island still needed vehicular access,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anekwe |first=Simon |date=November 13, 1982 |title=Workers oppose parking limits |work=New York Amsterdam News |page=1 |id={{proQuest|226485033}}}}</ref><ref name="Schuman 1976" /> so the car ban was ultimately repealed.<ref name="Paletta 2015">{{cite news |last=Paletta |first=Anthony |date=October 29, 2015 |title=Roosevelt Island Nears Completion |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/roosevelt-island-nears-completion-1446081649 |access-date=March 27, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |page=A.22 |language=en-US}}</ref>

By the early 1970s, the families of Welfare Island's three chaplains were the only people living on the island, excluding hospital patients.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lichtenstein |first=Grace |date=February 24, 1970 |title=For 3 Families, Welfare Island Is Haven |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/02/24/archives/for-3-families-welfare-island-is-haven.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Models of Johnson and Burgee's proposal were exhibited at the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] in late 1970.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 7, 1970 |title=Drawings and Models Put On Display at Metropolitan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/07/archives/drawings-and-models-put-on-display-at-metropolitan.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Stern (1995) p. 646">{{harvnb|Stern|Mellins|Fishman|1995|ps=.|p=646}}</ref> The UDC modified some of Johnson and Burgee's designs after they were publicized; for example, it added more buildings on the waterfront.<ref name="Weisman 1972">{{cite news |last=Weisman |first=Steven R. |date=June 4, 1972 |title=Doubts Linger, but Welfare Island Venture Moves Ahead |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |page=R1  |id={{ProQuest|119409313}}}}</ref><ref name="Stern (1995) p. 646" /> The redevelopment attracted residents who wanted a better quality of life.<ref name="The Christian Science Monitor 1974" /> Critics expressed concerns about the fact that lower- and upper-income residents were placed on opposite sides of Main Street,<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 7, 1975 |title=Island Awaits New Chapter in History |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-island-awaits/143820823/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=36}}</ref> and they also questioned whether the project's $400 million construction budget could have been spent on other projects.<ref name="The Christian Science Monitor 1974" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Asbury |first=Edith Evans |date=November 16, 1974 |title=Soon-to-Be Residents of Roosevelt Is. (Nee Welfare Is.) Inspect Their Homes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/11/16/archives/soontobe-residents-of-roosevelt-is-nee-welfare-is-inspect-their.html |access-date=March 28, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>