The RIOC Board of Directors deferred action last week on a plan to lease space now occupied rent-free by Gallery RIVAA to a Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins franchise.

Facing 103 residents, many of whom carried signs supporting RIVAA’s wish to stay in its present location (the former Bigelow Pharmacy space at the northeast corner of Rivercross), Board Chair Judith Calogero announced the Board would not act on the proposed lease to the franchisee. She said the reason was, in part, that RIOC had not been able to reach officers of RIVAA to discuss the change and offer the gallery other space on the Island.

The whole episode almost happened under the radar, during a three-week gap between issues of The WIRE but, by Monday, a WIRE e-mail bulletin had spread the word that the action was on the Board’s agenda, being considered, and RIVAA quickly mounted a campaign to keep the space that had been renovated for it under the RIOC Presidency of Robert H. Ryan.

Supporters turned out, some unaware that RIOC was making an offer of alternative space, some concerned that members of the Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association might not be able to muster the manpower to convert a replacement space into a gallery of the same quality. Protesters also pointed out that, because RIOC now requires community groups to get insurance to schedule events at the Good Shepherd Community Center, the gallery has become one of the few spaces on Main Street where a small meeting can be held.

Calogero’s statement seemed tailored to assert that removing the Dunkin’/Baskin item from the agenda was not a response to the gathering protest. Her statement, in full:

"I know that many of you are here in response to concerns expressed about the future of RIVAA’s continuing occupancy of its current rent-free home, and discussions we have had with Dunkin’ Donuts about taking that space on a leased basis. We are removing that item from today’s agenda, in part because leaders of RIVAA have been unavailable for discussion this week and in part because we are in further discussions with Dunkin’ Donuts about its plans.

"I do want to address the issue and the furor, no matter how ill-informed, that has been generated, that has drawn some of you to this meeting today.

"Facts are important, and it is facts that have received short shrift in the one-sided debate over RIVAA during the last several days.

"The fact is that RIVAA leaders know that they were provided space rent-free along Main Street with the express proviso that they would vacate once a commercial tenant wanted to lease the space. That tenant has now emerged in Dunkin’ Donuts.

"The fact is also that RIOC officials tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to get in touch with RIVAAS’s president this week to talk about providing alternative space at 503 Main Street, a far more visible location in the first storefront on the Manhattan side as you walk north from the Tram and subway.

"And the fact is that comments by some that RIOC was moving quickly because of a new State law going into effect this Saturday requiring authorities and State-created public benefit corporations such as RIOC to maximize the financial return on their assets is utterly irrelevant. RIOC already operates as a financially self-sufficient corporate entity and is in fact a model for what the new law is directing other authorities and public-benefit corporations to accomplish.

"What is relevant is that that same new law will require going out for public bid for actions such as renting out the Main Street commercial space under the control of RIOC. The market forces will play a greater role in determining what will go into that space, or any other vacant space along Main Street, than the desires of some residents to control their surroundings.

"RIOC has been a consistent and ongoing supporter of RIVAA, and will continue to be.

"In addition to the free rent, RIOC did the majority of infrastructure work to the current space to prepare it for occupancy, and continues to provide RIOC staff free of charge to work on electrical changes, remodeling, and other activities. RIVAA contributed painting and general cosmetic changes to suit their needs. In addition, RIVAA has benefited from a $100,000 public purpose grant from the corporation to support their work. More recently RIOC has issued a permit to RIVAA for use of the mezzanine space at SportsPark that they have unfettered access to for their artists to work on large works of art. RIOC installed new exterior doors, sheetrocked the interior and repaired damage to the ceiling and wall areas to make it usable. In return, RIVAA is to provide a series of art instruction programs to the community.

"RIOC has also worked with Becker and Becker to encourage the developer of the Octagon project to make free gallery space within the Octagon. RIVAA and the residents will benefit from that opportunity..

"Financial self-sufficiency is not just a nice idea, but essential for the fiscal stability that makes everything we do on Roosevelt Island possible. We must generate enough income to maintain the Island, create a fund for future maintenance and development, protect past State investment, and meet fiduciary obligations to bondholders.

"That self-sufficiency requires that we apply standard business practices to all of our operations, including the rental of stores along Main Street. It is worth repeating that while private entities own the apartment buildings on Roosevelt Island, it is RIOC that retains the street-level retail.

"The fruits of that self-sufficiency are all around us, whether it is new parkland at Octagon and Southpoint or the renovated elevator at Motorgate."