City's Coney Plan Approved, Deal With Sitt Near
As expected, the City Council approved the Bloomberg administration’s plans for the rezoning and redevelopment of Coney Island yesterday afternoon, and reports surfaced that the City was close to reaching a deal with its long-time nemesis in the area, Joe Sitt. The Council voted 44-2 in favor of the plan, with only Tony Avella of…
As expected, the City Council approved the Bloomberg administration’s plans for the rezoning and redevelopment of Coney Island yesterday afternoon, and reports surfaced that the City was close to reaching a deal with its long-time nemesis in the area, Joe Sitt. The Council voted 44-2 in favor of the plan, with only Tony Avella of Queens and Charles Barron of Brooklyn opposing it. The deal with Sitt is more interesting. According to The Times, the city would buy six of the ten acress Sitt’s company Thor Equities owns in the footprint, leaving him four acres on Stillwell and Surf Avenues for him to develop; no word on price. Needless to say, the group Save Coney Island wasn’t very pleased with the Council’s vote: This is a sad day for New York City,” said spokesman Juan Rivero. “As a result of this rezoning, people across the city and around the world who love Coney Island could see its historic amusement district shrunk, covered up and blocked off with high-rises, its history destroyed and its potential squandered — all for nothing.”
Council Approves Deal to Upgrade Coney Island [NY Times]
Bloomberg’s Coney Island Plan Passes City Council [NY Daily News]
Council Approves Coney Plan [NY Post]
Photo by John Chevier
Coney Island is a public space as well as an entertainment area. I am all for cleaning up Coney Island- there is no reason why poor and working class people should have to put up with the tawdriness when they take their kids out for a day’s entertainment. For once, can the city please consider the needs of the millions of working class people in this city who have so few options for public recreation? We get the absurd waste of money high line for the wealthy, but there’s no hue and cry for spaces for the working-class.
Coney island’s time has passed. But it could be relevant again. However, the plan for high rise hotels and luxury developments isnt going to work with only a few minor attractions and a long commute into the city.
all things being equal, i’d rather they let disney redevelop it. It could use some Imagineering.
Coney Island is not the first NY neighborhood where services have been decreased and the area allowed to deteriorate so that developers can come in and save the community from blight. Planned shrinkage anyone? As for rent control we’ve heard for years the populist rants about the rich who unfairly have this benefit and how we must get rid of controls to make them pay market rates, whatever that is. Not much concern about housing the poor and middle class. Anyone keeping tabs on the homeless rates? If we keep getting rid of the poor we may all have to clean each other toilets.
6 years- a true Cyclonian never throws up 🙂
“what a wuss, snark! Try the Cyclone 3 times after a big lunch. :-)”
Bxgrl, one of my coworkers tried the Cyclone once after a big lunch, and christened some poor soul’s lawn in Sheepshead Bay as a result…
“riding the Himalaya.”
I HATE that ride! I always get seated next to some fat chick who winds up hermetically sealed onto my body! Ugh.
I have no problem with high income people losing rent control staus- it should be according to income. But why should rich people be the only ones allowed to enjoy living in beautiful areas. Most people work- ergo they pay taxes too. Amusement areas seem to do very well in other parts of the country. Coney Island used to be a tremendous draw but it lost much of its magic over the years. So of course less people went there- pump it up, without turning it into 6Flags or disneyworld, and I guarantee you Coney Island will be the huge family attraction it once was. I love the place- I think it’s awful to see how NYC is becoming a disneyfied version of itself. NYC- the Theme Park. Ugh.
like the sarcasm! but i wasnt saying throw people out. take the amusement park and make it into more useful public space, or revenue generating property such as lux highrises or retail space or whatever. as for santa monica, get rid of rent control and let it float to market rate. s.m. has many people paying a couple hundred a month to live near/on the water, while they drive BMWs and meanwhile the landlords can barely pay for maintenance.
Coney Island is not gritty, sketchy, and dangerous in season. In the dead of winter, maybe. Why is enjoying the uniqueness of the place “slumming it”? Making it more of a year-round destination is a good idea, but completely sucking out all the character is not.