Coney Island: How Much Do You Give a Sitt?
As most readers are probably aware by now, developer Joseph Sitt’s company Thor Equities has spent in the neighborhood of $120 million amassing a large swath of property along the Coney Island waterfront, including the land upon which Astroland currently sits. In addition to a complete makeover of the amusement park, the company’s original plan…
As most readers are probably aware by now, developer Joseph Sitt’s company Thor Equities has spent in the neighborhood of $120 million amassing a large swath of property along the Coney Island waterfront, including the land upon which Astroland currently sits. In addition to a complete makeover of the amusement park, the company’s original plan called for a number of large, presumably pricey condos along the boardwalk. In the face of a broad pushback from community (and city residents in general), Sitt sent his designers back to the drawing board and unveiled a new proposal last week that substituted hotels and time-shares for condos and sought to reduce the density of the project. Thor’s Coney Plan 2.0 did not seem to appease the critics, though, including the city’s Economic Development Corporation. Community Board 13’s Chuck Reichenthal summed it up when he said that, The community and the Coney Island Development Corporation have all indicated that residential and amusements don’t go together.” On Tuesday night, Sitt showed up for a local community meeting to try to rally support for his plan, saying that he didn’t want to build it unless residents were in favor. (He also noted that he wanted the support of the press and the blogs.) When we wrote about the new plan last week, we wondered aloud, “If you’re already going to turn it into Disney World, what’s the big deal is about having some condos in the mix?” An editorial this week in The Brooklyn Paper titled “Let Joe Sitt Build” asked essentially the same question. Anyway, given Sitt’s interest in gauging public opinion, we thought we’d run one of our polls below.
Thor Backs Away from Coney Condo Plan [Brownstoner] GMAP
CI Plan Is Scaled Back, but Critics Are Skeptical [NY Times]
Sitt Speaks in Coney Island [Gowanus Lounge]
Let Joe Sitt Build [Brooklyn Paper]
They are taking too long to make the fabulous Parachute Jump operational again.
I hope Mr. Marty Markowitz and Mayor Bloomberg are really delivering this time. All that money to light it up is nice, but people really want to see it operational again. Coney Island is really losing out on this one. Why, thousands would pay to ride it. This ride alone would attract throngs of people to the area and jumpstart the revitalization.
Why can’t they just hurry up and get it started. It truly is an amazing wonder of the past. I am afraid it may be too late for many people who are hoping to see it operate again. For them, it is a dream that may not come true!!!!! Tired of all the hoop a-la!!! Get those parachutes going!!!!!
They are taking too long to make the fabulous Parachute Jump operational again.
I hope Mr. Marty Markowitz and Mayor Bloomberg are really delivering this time. All that money to light it up is nice, but people really want to see it operational again. Coney Island is really losing out on this one. Why, thousands would pay to ride it. This ride alone would attract throngs of people to the area and jumpstart the revitalization.
Why can’t they just hurry up and get it started. It truly is an amazing wonder of the past. I am afraid it may be too late for many people who are hoping to see it operate again. For them, it is a dream that may not come true!!!!! Tired of all the hoop a-la!!! Get those parachutes going!!!!!
Coney Island has been the “safety valve” of a high-pressure city for more than a century. Don’t underestimate the importance of having an affordable amusement area accessible by subway from any point in the city.
Take that away, and turn it into another residential neighborhood, and you’re just driving another nail into the coffin of New York City. The things that make New York unique are being killed off by the day; must Coney be yet another casualty in the quest for a quick buck?
Build new amusements. Build new rides. Build new entertainment. Don’t build housing of any type in the amusement zone.
In other countries, a place with a history like Coney Island’s would not be treated this way.
Nostalgia is great and it is a “magical place” but the magic has faded and the area needs a lift. Needs more than seasonal amusements on concrete surrounded by chain link.
btw: Rentals is better than empty lots.
Year round opportunities and jobs do not mean tearing down a magical place. I think people are so bitter about Coney they fail to realize how amazing a functional amusement zone is in a major city and just a Subway ride away. The biggest problem it’s had has to do with it’s infrastructure. Clean it up and build a few more buildings appropriate for housing of amusements and the place will be great. No need to bulldoze the past to put up a condo that few would buy or invest in.
FYI, there are condos/co-ops that were built on Stillwell that were being offered for sale. But when that failed, they are now rentals. Don’t kid yourself into thinking building condos/co-ops will just magically bring investors.
Don’t lose decades of history just so one group can flip it to turn a profit.
I am a fan of Condos, but Coney Island??? Why on earth would I spend a million dollars on a condo that is right next to new york city’s busiest beach? Why would I want to live next to the noisy rides that sitt wants to build? Why would I want to spend july fourth trapped indoors because they are having a hot dog eating contest? Why would I want to live in the same neighborhood with nyc’s most dangerous gangs? This guy sitt is nuts. No one is going to buy his condos. I am not. If I was going to move to Coney Island then I would move to the sea gate community where I would be safe. The city did him a favor by putting the kabosh on his plans. He would have spent billions on buildings that no one moves into.
No Jack, many people are just sick & tired of Coney Island being sick & tired. Coney Island is seedy & needs a facelift, bad. Forget the amusement pipe dreams. Coney needs more year round opportunities and jobs. Condos & hotels & retail are inevitable. Change is coming & it’s long overdue.
Bruin, Niccolo Machiavelli & Alexander are all the same person. An OCD troll that goes by the name of MUSCLEMONSTER13 on the Coney Island USA message boards and constantly harasses people who disagree with him. He’s been banned from that site dozens of times.