RIOC proposed selling off the Southtown site in 1997, and the Related Companies and Hudson Companies signed an agreement to develop Southtown. The plans for Southtown were subsequently redrawn; the revised plan called for three buildings to the east of Main Street, six buildings to the west, and new recreational fields. Southtown's development also entailed reducing the size of the existing Blackwell Park, which prompted opposition from Northtown residents who used the park. A 26-story hotel with a convention center was proposed on the island in 1998, though this plan was controversial. There was also growing discontent with RIOC. As a result, mayor Rudy Giuliani proposed having the city take over the island in 1999, and state legislator Pete Grannis also proposed legislation to allow the island to govern itself. A contractor was hired to build the first section of Southtown in May 1999, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center indicated that it would build a tower in Southtown to house its staff.
RIOC proposed selling off the Southtown site in 1997 and the Related Companies and Hudson Companies signed an agreement to develop Southtown The plans for Southtown were subsequently redrawn; the revised plan called for three buildings to the east of Main Street six buildings to the west and new recreational fields Southtown's development also entailed reducing the size of the existing Blackwell Park which prompted opposition from Northtown residents who used the park A 26-story hotel with a convention center was proposed on the island in 1998 though this plan was controversial There was also growing discontent with RIOC As a result mayor Rudy Giuliani proposed having the city take over the island in 1999 and state legislator Pete Grannis also proposed legislation to allow the island to govern itself A contractor was hired to build the first section of Southtown in May 1999 and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center indicated that it would build a tower in Southtown to house its staff