Roosevelt Island is a small island, two-fifths of a square mile, off
the shore of
Manhattan. It is maintained by the
Roosevelt Island
Operating Corporation, a subsidiary of the state of
New York, which
began its existence in 1984.
Roosevelt Island is named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and should
not be confused with the famous Theodore Roosevelt Island, off the coast
of Virginia.
The island has over 8000 inhabitants, both residential and commercial,
and lies in the East River. Most service to the mainland is provided by
an aerial tram that crosses into Manhattan. Most notably, cars are
not allowed on Roosevelt Island, although the "red bus" services much of
the area, for only 25 cents. This is the island's major appeal;
while there's certainly residual pollution from New York, for the most
part it's quite pristine.
Several major movies were filmed partially or entirely on the island,
including Spider-Man, Changing Lanes, Keeping the Faith, and the
esteemed Zoolander.
The city is a veritable marvel of urban planning. It has a
forward-thinking atmosphere; housing is still being developed, but there
are so far very few problems in finding a place for the businesses and
people that wish to make the island their home.
Roosevelt Island can be accessed by subway, tram, or the 36th Avenue
Bridge.