Gretchen Robinson: Using Legal Expertise To Improve Roosevelt Island

On Roosevelt Island, blooms of pale pink and salmon unfurl on cherry trees every spring. The flowers create a fluffy canopy framed by New York City's silver skyscrapers. As the trees rouse from their winter slumber, residents enjoy another benefit of living on the island between Manhattan and Queens.

As attorney Gretchen Robinson knows, there are many perks to working on the island, too. For starters, the vice president and general counsel for Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation enjoys her occasional lunchtime stroll, surrounded by projects she's watched improve life and leisure in this hidden NYC gem. 

"I was born and raised in Washington, D.C., so I'm used to cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin," Robinson explains in an interview. "But I was shocked to see that there were cherry blossoms here. I love taking walks on my lunch break. The spring and summer here are gorgeous because you're able to look at such beautiful views of the east side of Manhattan and LIC Queens, and you are also surrounded by water. Who doesn't love that?"

RIOC, the state-run agency that governs the isle, gives Robinson and her co-workers opportunities to beam with pride about the advantages they provide for Roosevelt Island. Beauty is inherent in the botanical wonders and green spaces that wow the island's visitors and 12,000 residents. And in recent years, RIOC has managed 27 projects on the 2-mile land mass to equip it with more amenities. When completed, RIOC's initiatives will have delivered a refurbished youth center and sports facility, a new pickleball court, public art, and a repaired seawall. 

Refurbishment projects and new construction have made the island's scenery evolve for the better. A $7 million renovation rendered the Manhattan Aerial Tramway Station and its iconic tramway safer, easier to use, and more comfortable. The operational and aesthetic upgrades resulted in gleaming glass elevators, an expanded Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant platform, and a face-lift for the station. 

"It looks great," Robinson says. "It changes the landscape. It's exciting to be a part of something where you can look at some physical aspect of that project and say, 'I helped make that albeit from behind the scene from a legal perspective.'"

Attorney Gretchen Robinson's Legal Prowess Has Aided RIOC in Achieving Goals 

RIOC's team has accomplished goals in recent years that reflect pragmatism and beauty by relying on Gretchen Robinson's legal expertise. She assumed the role of vice president and general counsel in 2019. Then the COVID-19 pandemic heightened residential needs, making RIOC busier than ever. But they persevered. 

Looking around the island today, Robinson is satisfied to see well-done jobs. She says she looks at the results - some practical, some sublime - and thinks, "Look how far we've come! That project's almost done. Look how beautiful this is. This park looks great."

Taking advantage of the island's geographical and historical uniqueness, Shelton Haynes, RIOC's president and chief executive officer, is at the corporation's helm fostering growth. As an attorney working for a government agency, Robinson assists Haynes by providing legal advice to the executive team and RIOC's board, as needed, to effectuate and realize those goals while also doing so within the confines of the law. 

According to the American Bar Foundation, about 12% of U.S. attorneys work for government agencies, their caseloads centering around civic service. Robinson says the crux of her job is problem-solving with her department to help not only RIOC, but also the community. 

"We're here to solve problems in the best, most efficient way," Robinson explains. "It's interesting because we're presented with a new question almost daily."

As the general counsel, Robinson collaborates with a deputy general counsel and an associate general counsel to serve the needs of the corporation, which currently employs a staff of about 121. She acts in an advisory role to give departments her expert opinion and examines compliance issues to guarantee RIOC follows every rule, law, and regulation.

"I see how we can move things along, making sure that all laws are adhered to," she says. "The job is never boring; I can say that. It's always an interesting day at the office."

RIOC Completed a Herculean Feat by Bringing 27 Projects to Fruition 

When Shelton Haynes took over as RIOC's president and CEO in 2020, he began managing active construction projects in various completion stages. Facilities, including the Roosevelt Island Sportspark and Roosevelt Island Youth Center, required attention after years of neglect.

Much-needed renovations clipped along quickly as important projects got attention, including the Motorgate parking facility, the seawall and railing in Southpoint Park, Capobianco Field, Roosevelt Island Sportspark, and more. 

"The revetment project for the seawall in Southpoint Park was huge," Gretchen Robinson says. "Repair work needed to be done on the seawall on both sides of the southern tip of the island because there were areas in varying stages of disrepair that were in dire need of attention."

Modernizing the Roosevelt Island Youth Center was CEO Shelton Haynes' pet project. "The photos showing what the youth center looked like before and what it looks like now are mind-blowing," Robinson says.

Robinson and Haynes secured a licensed New York State School Age Child Care (SACC) accreditation to boost the youth center's reputation and prospects. It took work and research to attain the SACC license, which allows the center to expand its child care into a state-approved program. 

"It's been a long process," Robinson says. "With the SACC license and the aesthetic face-lift given to the youth center facility, we hear nothing but good things. It is something to be proud of, especially if you know what it looked like before."

Roosevelt Island also benefited from the generosity of media mogul Michael Bloomberg. The former New York City mayor's nonprofit organization, Bloomberg Philanthropies, gifted $100 million to help fund the construction of the island's Cornell Tech campus. The first academic building, The Bloomberg Center, honors his daughters, Emma and Georgina Bloomberg.

"Bloomberg had a vision that tech was the new future for the city," Robinson says. "It also put Roosevelt Island more on the map than it was. Roosevelt Island was the best-kept secret in New York and to some degree still is." 

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio also contributed to the betterment of the island. When he was in office, he orchestrated a deal to expand the NYC Ferry route network. The expansion is a boon for Roosevelt Island, which now has a ferry line stop.

Commercial improvements on Roosevelt Island include its first hotel, the Graduate Roosevelt Island, which opened on the Cornell Tech campus in 2021. The Graduate is known for its vintage-style decor and themes inspired by American universities. The island's hotel includes symbols of Cornell Tech and pictures of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a nod to the island's namesake. 

The Graduate Roosevelt Island is home to a hip restaurant, Anything at All, an eatery boasting a light-filled space and seafood-focused menu. On the hotel's roof is the Panorama Room, a bar and lounge featuring breathtaking 360-degree views of New York.

"On a clear day, you can see past the Brooklyn Bridge," Robinson says of the hotel's rooftop. "It's a beautiful structure."

RIOC Shifted From Pandemic Emergencies to Public Art After COVID-19's Worst Period 

"People were scared," Gretchen Robinson says about Roosevelt Island's citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was a stressful and sad time. But one of our biggest successes was maintaining operations. We never shut down."

Under CEO Shelton Haynes' guidance, Roosevelt Island was among the first spots in New York to provide a pop-up COVID-19 testing site during the pandemic's height.

"We became very creative in helping the community, keeping people safe and providing the necessary services available to all New Yorkers," Robinson says. 

Projects with a more whimsical spirit came to fruition as the fog of the pandemic lifted and public art emerged from the back burner. In 2021, RIOC unveiled works including a sculpture honoring Roosevelt and a monument memorializing muckraking journalist Nellie Bly. Robinson drafted the Nellie Bly memorial contract and enjoyed dealing with the artist, Amanda Matthews, on the project. 

"At the onset of the pandemic, this was not a project considered essential and was put on hold by the governor's office," she says. "It was a huge lift. But we were eventually able to get the contract executed to help bring an amazing memorial to Roosevelt Island.  We played a part in beautifying the island. It's turning into a little metropolis."

Gretchen Robinson's Job With the Queens District Attorney Prepared Her To Advise RIOC 

Gretchen Robinson began her career in the Queens District Attorney's Office prosecuting criminal cases in the borough east of the island. She says her current job duties at RIOC are far removed from her prosecuting experience at Queens Borough Hall.

"There, everything that I did on a daily basis was done with the understanding that I would affect someone's life in a very real way," Robinson says. "RIOC is not as dire and direct."

After working on Roosevelt Island, Robinson happily celebrates what she and the RIOC team have accomplished. Three years into the job, she says having amazing colleagues to work alongside means they all find solutions together. 

"I was lucky to get this opportunity," Robinson muses. "I'm thankful that I have such a talented team of colleagues. We can all get together, brainstorm, collaborate, and figure out how best we get to 'yes' instead of 'no.' I'm very proud of the work that we collectively have done."

As Robinson proves, a career in the legal field can be challenging but rewarding. An attorney can be impactful in ways that transcend the daily grind and make it worthwhile.

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