Editing Roosevelt Island (section)

==== Renaming and development of Northtown ====
[[File:Roosevelt Island-1889 Chapel.jpg|thumb|The 1889 [[Chapel of the Good Shepherd (Roosevelt Island)|Chapel of the Good Shepherd]] in modern surroundings]]
The first phase of the development, Northtown, was to accommodate about 2,100 families.<ref name="Von Eckardt 1974" /><ref name="The Christian Science Monitor 1974" /> The law professor [[Adam Yarmolinsky]] was hired to lead the WIDC in late 1970,<ref>{{cite web |date=August 13, 1970 |title=Yarmolinsky Named to Head Welfare Island Development |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/08/13/archives/yarmolinsky-named-to-head-welfare-island-development.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=August 14, 1970 |title=Professor Has Top Post in U.S. Project |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-record-professor-has-top-post/143622621/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=The Times Record |pages=15}}</ref> but he resigned after just over a year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Asbury |first=Edith Evans |date=February 16, 1972 |title=Welfare Is.: A Problem For Housing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/16/archives/welfare-is-a-problem-for-housing-welfare-island-project-woes-mount.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Work formally began in mid-1971,<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 646" /><ref name="Goldman 1971" /> and the state approved the construction of the first buildings the same year.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 23, 1971 |title=Building Systems Inc. Unit |work=The Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |page=2  |id={{ProQuest|133557567}}}}</ref> The UDC hired at least 17 architectural and engineering companies to design the structures,<ref name="Bruning 1973" /> though many of the architects resigned during construction.<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 646" /> The WIDC approved a proposal for 1,100 middle-income and luxury apartments in April 1972;<ref>{{cite web |date=April 28, 1972 |title=Welfare Island Will Get Co-ops |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/28/archives/welfare-island-will-get-coops-40-of-housing-planned-for-completion.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Moritz |first=Owen |date=April 28, 1972 |title=Promise for '74: 1,100 New Co-ops on Welfare Island |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-promise-for-74-1100-new-co/143625720/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=33}}</ref> the UDC decided to build the residences as housing cooperatives after unsuccessfully looking for a private developer.<ref name="Weisman 1972" /> The [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development]] formally designated Welfare Island as a "new town" in December 1972, making it eligible for additional funds.<ref>{{cite web |last=Asbury |first=Edith Evans |date=December 29, 1972 |title=Housing Project Gets U.S. Priority |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/29/archives/housing-project-gets-us-priority-welfare-island-development-to.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=December 29, 1972 |title=E. River Frontier Dream Is Real |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-e-river-frontier-dream-is-re/135457842/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=33}}</ref>

UDC considered renaming the island to attract new residents;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moritz |first=Owen |date=March 5, 1973 |title=New Deal on Welfare Isle: They'd Call It FDR |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-new-deal-on-welfare-isle-the/143627155/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=119}}</ref> the Four Freedoms Foundation proposed renaming it for U.S. president [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].<ref>{{cite news |date=April 13, 1972 |title=Roosevelt Memorial Set for Welfare I. |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |page=31  |id={{ProQuest|119456117}}}}</ref> The City Council approved the name change in July 1973,<ref>{{cite web |last=Siegel |first=Max H. |date=July 18, 1973 |title=Welfare Island to Be Renamed Roosevelt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/18/archives/welfare-island-to-be-renamed-roosevelt.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and Welfare Island was renamed Roosevelt Island on August 20, 1973.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welfare Island Name Changed to Roosevelt |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=August 21, 1973 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/21/archives/welfare-island-name-changed-to-roosevelt.html |access-date=November 19, 2023 }}</ref> Officials began planning the [[Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park]] as well;<ref>{{cite web |date=September 25, 1973 |title=Plans for Memorial at Roosevelt Island Announced During Dedication Ceremony at Site |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/25/archives/plans-for-memorial-at-roosevelt-island-announced-during-dedication.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Moritz |first=Owen |date=September 25, 1973 |title=Welfare Island Taken in the Name of FDR |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-welfare-island-taken-in-the-n/143626902/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=111}}</ref> although the island had been renamed in anticipation of the park's construction, the project was delayed for the next several decades.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plans revived to dedicate NYC memorial to FDR |website=NBC News |date=November 25, 2007 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21964103 |access-date=March 25, 2024}}</ref> By the middle of 1973, one building had [[topped out]], and the island had been expanded by {{Convert|4|acre}} using dirt from the [[63rd Street Tunnel]]'s construction.<ref name="Buckley 1973">{{cite web |last=Buckley |first=Tom |date=August 22, 1973 |title=Roosevelt Island: Town in Making |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/22/archives/roosevelt-island-town-in-making-substantial-problems-encountered.html |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> UDC head [[Edward J. Logue]] and project manager Robert Litke convinced multiple developers to sign 40-year leases for buildings on the island.<ref name="Bailey 1974" /> Parts of the project were delayed by disputes over the relocation of a laundry building.<ref>{{cite web |last=Darnton |first=John |date=June 10, 1974 |title=Beame Assistants Unsure of Duties |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/10/archives/beame-assistants-unsure-of-duties-no-supercommissioners.html |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Toscano |first=John |date=November 20, 1974 |title=Island Laundry's in a Wringer |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-island-laundrys-in-a-wringer/143811730/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=7}}</ref> By the end of the year, an advisory group recommended that the state legislature halt all UDC financing for the unbuilt phases of the Roosevelt Island development, citing the state's financial shortfalls.<ref>{{cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Paul L. |date=December 27, 1974 |title=Wilson Unit Asks Halt in New Financing by U.D.C. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/27/archives/wilson-unit-asks-halt-in-new-financing-by-udc.html |access-date=March 20, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At least one of the residential structures' builders had also gone bankrupt.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goodman |first=George Jr. |date=April 18, 1982 |title='Bungled' Roosevelt I. Housing to Be Repaired |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/18/nyregion/bungled-roosevelt-i-housing-to-be-repaired.html |access-date=March 22, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |page=39  |id={{ProQuest|121905797}}}}</ref> Construction proceeded steadily through 1974, and renting began that October.<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 649">{{harvnb|ps=.|Stern|Mellins|Fishman|1995|p=649}}</ref><ref name="PA 1974-10">{{cite magazine |url=https://usmodernist.org/PA/PA-1974-10.PDF |title='Frightening track' meets UDC schedule |date=Oct 1974 |magazine=Progressive Architecture |volume=55 |pages=32–33}}</ref> In addition, the existing Blackwell House and Chapel of the Good Shepherd were renovated.<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 655" />

After Logue was fired in early 1975, there was uncertainty over whether additional buildings would ever be built,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moritz |first=Owen |date=January 12, 1975 |title=A Dream Project's Awakening |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-a-dream-projects-awakening/143817659/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=239}}</ref> especially given the UDC's financial troubles.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Michael T. |title=A Backwash of Worry Rolls Over Roosevelt I. |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=February 27, 1975 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/02/27/archives/a-backwash-of-worry-rolls-over-roosevelt-i.html |access-date=March 21, 2024 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Bruning |first=Fred |date=April 7, 1975 |title=Another Island, Another Life |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-another-island/143817897/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |pages=68, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-another-island/143817987/ 69]}}</ref><ref name="Young 1975" /> The UDC decided to complete the first phase of the island's development, on which it had already spent $180 million,<ref name="Claiborne 1975">{{cite news |last=Claiborne |first=William |date=June 25, 1975 |title=Money Woes Threaten N. Y.'s 'Other Island' |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A5 |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|146226799}}}}</ref> and the [[New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal]] took over the UDC's residential developments, including Roosevelt Island.<ref name="Peterson 1988">{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Iver |date=October 16, 1988 |title=For Roosevelt Island, a New Residential Complex: The approaching addition of 1,500 new residents to the 5,200 already on the island stirs concern. |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |page=R9  |id={{ProQuest|110467699}}}}</ref> Following an [[architectural design competition]],<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 655">{{harvnb|ps=.|Stern|Mellins|Fishman|1995|p=655}}</ref> the UDC hired four architecture firms to design the second phase of Northtown that year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=April 29, 1975 |title=4 Architects Win U.D.C. Competition For Housing Designs for Roosevelt I. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/29/archives/4-architects-win-udc-competition-for-housing-designs-for-roosevelt.html |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Stern (1995) p. 656">{{harvnb|ps=.|Stern|Mellins|Fishman|1995|p=656}}</ref> Residents began moving into Roosevelt Island's first building in April 1975.<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 649" /><ref name="Young 1975">{{Cite magazine |last1=Young |first1=Lynn |last2=Malamud |first2=Phyllis |date=July 14, 1975 |title=O Pioneers! |magazine=Newsweek |pages=55–56 |volume=86 |issue=2 |id={{ProQuest|1882516706}}}}</ref><ref name="Shepard 1975">{{cite web |last=Shepard |first=Richard F. |date=November 26, 1975 |title=About New York |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/26/archives/about-newyork-roosevelt-island-pilgrims-give-thanks.html |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Initially, there were no stores on the island,<ref name="Young 1975" /><ref name="Schuman 1976">{{Cite news |last=Schuman |first=Wendy |date=May 2, 1976 |title=Roosevelt Island Becoming a Reality |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/02/archives/roosevelt-island-becoming-a-reality-town-becoming-reality-on.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123180141/https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/02/archives/roosevelt-island-becoming-a-reality-town-becoming-reality-on.html |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |access-date=November 23, 2023 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref> and residents had to pass through Queens to go anywhere else.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fried |first=Joseph P. |date=June 24, 1975 |title=Roosevelt Island Hailed By First New Residents |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/24/archives/roosevelt-island-hailed-by-first-new-residents.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120164046/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/24/archives/roosevelt-island-hailed-by-first-new-residents.html |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |access-date=November 20, 2023 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=King |first=Martin |date=October 17, 1975 |title=Strikes Leave Tram Up in Air |pages=7 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-strikes-leave-tram-up-in-air/135493487/ |access-date=November 20, 2023 }}</ref> Although people were not incentivized to move to Roosevelt Island because of the lack of public transportation,<ref name="Stern (1995) p. 649" /> the island was home to 170 families by the end of 1975.<ref name="Shepard 1975" /> The first four buildings in Northtown were all completed by mid-1976,<ref name="Schuman 1976" /> while the storefronts were slowly being rented.<ref name="Goldberger 1976" />