Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is a 2-mile-long neighborhood built around water and on the ruins of a former asylum and prison. In honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the islet took on the name Roosevelt Island in 1973.

Roosevelt Island has seen growth and an influx of new residents in the past 15 years or so. A former oasis for affordable housing, luxury high-rises have sprung up on the island, offering riverfront views and up-scale amenities like pools, gyms and doorman. Westview, a newly renovated cooperative and Rivercross, the island's first privatized housing cooperative, offer residents the luxuries of city living in a tucked-away, quiet setting. Apartment complexes are scattered around the island, providing housing for Cornell Tech graduate students. Unit prices on the islet typically range between $750,000 and $2 million. No matter where you live on Roosevelt Island, you will wake up and fall asleep to unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline.

Prekindergartners through eighth graders can attend the Roosevelt Island School without leaving the island. Students attending Roosevelt Island School, a New York City public school, hail from at least 60 countries. For high school, students must head to Manhattan and can attend one of several secondary institutions, including Eleanor Roosevelt High School, one of the closest options. Eleanor Roosevelt High School is a highly regarded NYC public school, earning an A-plus rating from Niche. The school has an A-plus for its academics, teaching and college preparation from Niche. In 2017, Cornell Tech, a graduate school and research center of Cornell University, opened on Roosevelt Island.

Lush green space and benches are bountiful on the island. Lighthouse Park is at the island's tippy top and is home to the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park is at the end of the islet. This memorial park draws its name from one of Roosevelt’s State of the Union addresses, where he described his vision for the world to be founded on four freedoms: freedom of speech and worship and freedom from want and fear. The park also memorializes a former smallpox hospital. Residents and visitors can walk the grounds. The building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, still stands in ruins on the island. Roosevelt Island is also home to the Blackwell House, a 1796 wooden cottage built for the Blackwell family, who owned Roosevelt Island for several generations. On the house’s grounds, you will find various playground equipment and a basketball court. Play flag football or lacrosse under the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge at Firefighters Field. Bring your four-legged pal to Octagon Dog Run. After your pups have some quality outdoor time, head to Pony Field or Jack McManus Fields, play soccer or baseball with your neighbors. Grab your gardening tools and plant alongside your peers at Roosevelt Island Garden Club's 132-plot community space.

Wholesome Factory has a mix of prepared meals — like breakfast sandwiches or omelettes, served all day— and pantry staples. Other choices include a ramen shop, a Mediterranean eatery and a Mexican spot. Sip on a martini and enjoy oysters at the Panorama Room, a rooftop lounge at the Graduate Hotel. When running errands, the island has a Foodtown for groceries, a Duane Reade [pharmacy and a liquor store.

While Roosevelt Island is not car friendly, those with cars can get off the island via the Roosevelt Island Bridge to reach Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. Public transportation is available on the island primarily through a tram service. The Roosevelt Island Tramway is the oldest urban commuter service of its kind in the United States. Sitting in the middle of the East River, only a short distance from both Manhattan and Queens, Roosevelt Island can feel surprisingly distant from the rest of the city, like its own self-contained world. If that's what you're looking for in a New York City neighborhood, this might be a great place for you.

Written By

Jess Nocera

Photography Contributed By

Glen Mordeci

Video By

Adam Lapallo