The Future of Coney Island

That's the subject of a report [warning:pdf] issued by the Center for an Urban Future. They asked experts, artists, authors and general Brooklyn folk to weigh in on the soon-to-be-rezoned part of town: Jonathan Lethem, Michael Sorkin and Mike Wallace (the historian, not the newscaster) are among them. What's missing? What do you think of it now? What do you think of Joe Sitt's ideas? are some of the questions posed. And, finally: What would Coney be without the rides? As Lethem says, "I’d really be sorry to see it turned into a private residential pleasure zone. It’s got to have a public function."
Some Brave New Worlds for Coney [NY Daily News]
Photo by auggie tolosa.

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coney island threads never get much discussion, but let me ask this here. i love coney island in the summer, but are there things to do there in the fall and winter? im just curious. does everything just completely shut down?

-rob

Posted by: PitbullNYC at November 13, 2008 9:41 AM

The focus should be restoration. Don't change it. Just clean it up and enhance it. I don't have time to read the report.

Posted by: DOW8000SP800 at November 13, 2008 9:58 AM

rob, I'm not overly familiar with the area, but of course there's the aquarium to visit. I also like walking around Brighton Beach Avenue and buying some tasty and unique Russian treats. There are some good restaurants as well. And Coney Island isn't too far from Sheepshead Bay as well, which is interesting to walk around if you've never been there before.

Posted by: Biff Champion at November 13, 2008 10:02 AM

The Mutant Asset Bubble has destroyed a great city. The destruction of Coney Island and Albee Square Mail made me sick to my stomach. That's why I hope that everything gets nuked during the collapse!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at November 13, 2008 10:39 AM

Rob, Coney Island or any beach can be visited in the fall or winter. Bundle up, take a blanket and your honey, bring some lunch or dinner and sit and watch the waves.

I'll admit, I don't go to Coney Island that often, maybe once a year, if that. I like the beaches out on LI, I'm lucky in that I have a car.

Coney Island epitomizes what New York is. The history of the area, the grandeur it had, the changing landscape. In its heyday, it was a destination for every New Yorker, a resort town per se. It was the playground for New York. It was the beach everybody went to. I love seeing photos from that time. Coney Island declined in the (I’m guessing here) probably 1950’s, 60’s. It lost a lot of the buildings that made it to vibrant. It became a desolate area. There was resurgance a couple of years ago (again guessing here, but 10-15 years ago) and the area got cleaned up. I would love to see the area thrive again for the public to enjoy. Coney Island is easily reachable by train, giving every NY access to the ocean. I hope they do the right thing in the area and create a ‘Coney Island’ that every New Yorker wants to and can enjoy.

Agree with Biff, The Aquarium is great, if you haven’t been, it’s a must. But then again, it has a very special place in my heart (I had my wedding reception there).

Posted by: bayridgegirl at November 13, 2008 10:47 AM

Manhattan Beach to the east of Coney Island is also a less known, but much nicer beach than Coney Island. Rob, it's worth seeing too.

Posted by: Biff Champion at November 13, 2008 11:01 AM

"Coney Island epitomizes what New York is. The history of the area, the grandeur it had, the changing landscape. In its heyday, it was a destination for every New Yorker, a resort town per se. It was the playground for New York. It was the beach everybody went to. I love seeing photos from that time. Coney Island declined in the (I’m guessing here) probably 1950’s, 60’s. It lost a lot of the buildings that made it to vibrant. It became a desolate area. There was resurgance a couple of years ago (again guessing here, but 10-15 years ago) and the area got cleaned up. I would love to see the area thrive again for the public to enjoy. Coney Island is easily reachable by train, giving every NY access to the ocean. I hope they do the right thing in the area and create a ‘Coney Island’ that every New Yorker wants to and can enjoy."

I heartily agree.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at November 13, 2008 11:15 AM

I love those old photos of Coney Island as well. And what we think is crowded when we go to places like that now is nothing when you see the masses of people covering virtually every inch of sand in those pictures. And they all seem to be having such a great time too.

Posted by: Biff Champion at November 13, 2008 11:19 AM

MM - did you cut and paste what I think should be QOTD in your post so you can get QOTD :)

I'm on to you, Montrose.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at November 13, 2008 11:38 AM

Biff, Why do you have to agree with everything I say, Why are you liking what I like....you just want to be like me...cause I'm Quote of the Day Honoree.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at November 13, 2008 11:40 AM

I think the economic crisis is freaking everybody out. This board has been so *weird* over the last few days! ;)

Posted by: spnder at November 13, 2008 12:54 PM

RoyalPalaceNY.com

My favorite place in Coney Island in the winter.

Posted by: Polemicist at November 13, 2008 1:53 PM

I used to live in CI. (Does anyone call it that anymore?) It's always sad when public spaces, especially beaches, are developed for private uses. Coney Island's amusement area should should be rehabbed to its former splendor and the beach allowed to stay public.

Posted by: i_heart_brooklyn at November 14, 2008 1:26 AM

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November 13, 2008

The Future of Coney Island

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