Locked in a frustrating stalemate with Thor Equities, the city is trying to make the best of a bad situation by putting together an interim plan to create a temporary amusements area on the land it owns in “Coney East.” The city is fully committed to making sure that Coney Island is open, Coney Island is active and Coney East is full of amusement, said Lynn Kelly, president of the Coney Island Development Corporation, referring to the area within the development zone slated for rides and attractions. The city’s makeshift park would total about six acres, more than doubling the existing five acres of amusement that are still left. The city is currently interviewing operators and hopes to be able to open for business by the summer of 2010. On a related note, The Brooklyn Paper reports that Ringling Brothers plans to set up in Coney Island this summer, though neither circus execs nor city officials would confirm.
Plans Gel for Interim Coney Island Amusements [Crain's]
Ringling Brothers Coming to Coney: Sources [Brooklyn Paper]
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