After reading all of these pages about rock in NYC, here's what's going to preclude any attempts at bringing rock, whether alternative or anything else, to NYC: New Yorkers right now just do not listen to rock at the same rate as the rest of the world.
For instance, local NYC band The Strokes. According to Spotify, their strongest concentration of listeners is in Mexico City. The highest US city is Los Angeles. Fellow NYC band Interpol is identical in this regard.
What about the brand new breakout alt-rock artist, Djo? The US city giving them the most streaming attention is Chicago. They're not even a murmur in NYC despite their ferocious streaming.
Hipster queen St. Vincent? Chicago and Los Angeles, with a side of London, England. Fellow indie darlings Vampire Weekend is the same.
Twenty One Pilots, arguably the biggest modern alternative artist in the United States? Mexico City first according to Spotify, and their highest US city is Chicago.
What about metal bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Bad Omens, and I Prevail? Chicago, Chicago, Chicago, with a side of Denver and Dallas. Most older rock hitmakers like Shinedown, Papa Roach, and Skillet are also all Chicago with Denver and Dallas backup.
New Jersey sons Bleachers do have NYC as their 5th city, but it's beaten by Los Angeles, London, Chicago, and Jakarta Indonesia (yes, Indonesia loves Bleachers apparently) in that order.
It's an uphill battle that would have to be fought to get any form of rock to penetrate in NYC. It's not impossible, but the odds aren't good.