We’ve included a Dipity timeline of the history of Roosevelt Island. You may view it as a timeline, as a list, or as a flipbook by selecting the different options.
To view a virtual walking tour, created by the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, click here.
Cornell NYC Tech
As mentioned in the timeline above, the Roosevelt Island Cornell NYC Tech campus is the newest, and one of the biggest developments and major changes the island will see. In December 2011, Cornell University, and its partner, The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology won a bid to build a Roosevelt Island campus. The bid was a prize for a competition Mayor Bloomberg announced, a contest to create a “game-changing” applied sciences and technology campus. At a conference announcing the news, Mayor Bloomberg stated this proposal was “the boldest and most ambitious.” There will be 2,500 students. Another benefit is the economic prosperity that will result from the new campus. The mayor also stated that, “the campus is expected to generate $23 billion in economic activity over the next three decades, as well as $1.4 billion in tax revenue.” The building process will bring 20,000 construction workers jobs; in addition, 8,000 permanent jobs will be constructed to operate it the campus.
To view more about the project, visit the official website through this link.
Interviews
We conducted interviews and inhabitants of Roosevelt Island discussed the minority and the changes they’ve seen on the island. Some islanders are happy about the Cornell construction, while others do not feel the same way. This can be heard in these interviews.
The girl featured in the following interview is a high school senior who has lived on the island all her life.
The questions answered in this interview are the following:
- Have you been living here all your life?
- What do you think of the diversity on the island?
- A lot of familiar faces?
- How do you feel about the Cornell situation?
- And people that you know feel the same way? Does anyone you know like the idea?
- Is it really different when you’re on the island as opposed to when you’re in Manhattan for school (The Dwight School)?
- So we’re assuming you enjoy being here right?
- Your mom lived here all her life too?
- You could see yourself living here with your family after you go to college?
- Do you have any other family here?
The man featured in the following interview is a senior citizen who moved to the island a few years back. The questions answered in this interview are the following:
- So we’re wondering how you feel the overall diversity on the island? Is it very diverse?
- Do you feel that the community gets along well, even though it’s so diverse?
- Are there meetings often?
- What about the Cornell situation? How do you feel about that?
- Have you lived here a very long time?
- And do you like it?
- So do you feel like the community is strong? Do you know a lot of people on the island? Or do you see familiar faces often?
