The Island House, 575 Main Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 575 Main Street by Carter Horsley

This 19-story building at 575 Main Street on Roosevelt Island was erected in 1975 and has 400 condop apartments.  It was designed by Johansen & Bhavani, which was also chosen to design the 375-unit Rivercross nearby at 531 Main Street when the original architect withdrew.  The two large buildings were among the first major residential buildings erected on Roosevelt Island.

It and Rivercross are U-shaped buildings that step down to the East River.  This building is across the river from Manhattan.

The fifth edition of “The A. I. A. Guide to New York City” by Eliot Wilensky, Norval White and Fran Leadon noted that this building “used to be really ritzy digs on the island, now largely supplanted by the newer, glassier towers to the south….A 1970’s time warp, but still handsome.”

Bottom Line

A large apartment building that was one of the first on Roosevelt Island and it steps down to the East River with many impressive views of Manhattan, a fitness center and a 24-hour doorman.

Description

According to a November 16, 2015 article at docomomo-us.org, “both Island House and Rivercross have an unusual exterior.” “Instead of brick or glass, they are covered with Corspan, a panel material made in Belgium…[that] allowed Island House and Rivercross to be constructed without scaffolding.  The panels clip together and are erected inside of the structure, along with the widows that are fitted into the spaces provided.  This resulted in a considerable cost savings that was used, in part, to fund the open spaces,” the article continued.

Amenities

The building has a full-time doorman, a fitness center with a swimming pool, storage, a laundry and it allows pets.

Apartments

Apartment 203 is a four-bedroom unit with an entry foyer that leads to a 25-foot-long living/dining room and a 12-foot-wide open kitchen with a breakfast bar on the lower level and the bedrooms on the upper level.

Apartment 909 is a three-bedroom, duplex unit with an entry foyer that leads to a 17-foot-wide dining room that is next to the 12-foot-wide kitchen with a breakfast bar on the lower level that also includes a 22-foot-wide living room and a staircase to the upper level that has the bedrooms.

Apartment 207 is a two-bedroom unit with an 18-foot-wide living/dining room and a 10-foot-wide kitchen with a breakfast bar.