Another Snag for Marty's Amphitheatre

It's been a rough road for the Asser Levy amphitheatre, Marty Markowitz's dream project. Ever since the $64 million project was announced, various neighborhood factions have attacked it for being both a misallocation of resources, noisy and disrespectful to the synagogue nearby. Now, the Brooklyn Paper reports, the Parks Department has "put the brakes" on the project, allegedly in a capitulation to the community opposition. “We’re hopeful that this results in a drastically different plan for the park,” said Geoffrey Croft, president of anti-amphitheatre group NYC Park Advocates.
Coney Arena Opponents Now Dwelling on Sound [Brownstoner]
Coney's Potato Chip Amphitheater Revealed [Brownstoner]
Community Concerns About Marty's Coney Concert Space [Brownstoner]

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Nice idea but a tough sell in this climate. I hate to see organized religion carry the day though--they get enough breaks as it is.

Posted by: Atlantic Frantic at September 14, 2009 10:37 AM

I think the Ambian butterfly landed.

Oddly enough, I don't hate it. It looks like a cool amphitheatre. As to the sound, do they have concerts in the old bandshell while services are going on? If the architects are correct, and this new design cuts the sound even more, then I wouldn't think they have a leg to stand on, if they haven't complained about the old bandshell noise. Besides, how can a building be disrespectful to another building? People certainly can, and I hope that some kind of middle ground can be found.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 14, 2009 10:52 AM

I don't get the noise complaint since this would probably be quieter than the current open bandshell, but I don't think it's a good idea in this smallish park. I can't really tell how big the proposed amphiteater is compared to the rest of the park, but it does appear to have walls all around. The structure certainly doesn't look large enough to accommodate the crowds that show up for the summer concerts. Those crowds spill out to the entire park, the surrounding sidewalks, across the street and even on the boardwalk. The cool thing about the current bandshell layout and orientation is that people can stand pretty far away and still see and hear the concert. The proposed amphitheater looks way too small to accommodate all those people, yet it looks too large to leave much park for the neighborhood on non-concert days.

Posted by: bessie2 at September 14, 2009 11:15 AM

New York City needs an outdoor venue accessible to mass transit that can compete in size with the one at Jones Beach.

Posted by: slick at September 14, 2009 2:40 PM

Brooklyn: The City that Doesn't Work. Nothing has changed forty years and nothing ever will!

Posted by: Polemicist at September 14, 2009 4:54 PM

Asser is a really unfortunate name.

Posted by: sub letter at September 14, 2009 5:45 PM

what a wonderful design

Posted by: dutchman at September 14, 2009 8:20 PM

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September 14, 2009

Another Snag for Marty's Amphitheatre

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