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]
The only way Coney Island gets off the ground is if NYCHA turns all that public housing into tenant owned limited equity co ops. Yes many folks will sell out or miss their nirtgage payments but this will (1) improve the neighborhood (2) truly empower PHA residents giving them the rights and responsibilities of all homeowners
The only way Coney Island gets off the ground is if NYCHA turns all that public housing into tenant owned limited equity co ops. Yes many folks will sell out or miss their nirtgage payments but this will (1) improve the neighborhood (2) truly empower PHA residents giving them the rights and responsibilities of all homeowners
I was at that meeting. Joe answered every single question the community had like a gentleman. If you look at his track record you’ll notice that he is a successful developer who has a proven track record on improving decaying areas. I live in Coney Island (Luna Park) and i welcome his plan. The area is desolate in the winter. Those of you who don’t live their have to much opinion on things you don’t know about.
Redevelopment would be the greatest opportunity for the entire area (Coney Island, Brighton Beach, etc). It plugs in a major economic hole that has plagued the Coney Island area. There are only 3 rides left worth saving (Cyclone, Wonder Wheel, and Parachute Jump). He is actually planning to build more allot more rides. He hired one of the most prestigious firms in the world to design it. They did the indoor ski park in Dubai. Do research before you start bashing the guy or the plans! And Brownstoner- you’re obviously bias on your NIMBY hell bent ideas. Leave New York because this city was born on development!
What do we care what Joey (i guess you know him personally) builds. Because if he turns out to be wrong about the condo development then the rest of us have to live with the ensuing urban blight (his screw up) for the next 50+ years.
I totally agree with 10:47.
Anon at 10:23 makes the most important point about Coney Island — keeping it a place for public amusements and recreation. There’s a long history of struggle over the beach which you can learn about if you visit the Coney Island museum, but of course attempts to privatize go way back. The danger of condo development is precisely that it threatens to turn Coney into Manhattan Beach.
And in spite of the loud segment of readers of this blog who decry zoning of every kind and would like to see NYC developers yet more unleashed, about half of the poll-takers come down clearly on the side of strictly limiting condo/hotel development.
Anon at 10:23 makes the most important point about Coney Island — keeping it a place for public amusements and recreation. There’s a long history of struggle over the beach which you can learn about if you visit the Coney Island museum, but of course attempts to privatize go way back. The danger of condo development is precisely that it threatens to turn Coney into Manhattan Beach.
And in spite of the loud segment of readers of this blog who decry every zoning of every kind and would like to see NYC developers yet more unleashed, about half of the poll-takers come down clearly on the side of strictly limiting condo/hotel development.
If there is one place in this city that was built for and enjoyed by the average common Joes and Janes of this city, it is Coney Island. More so than Central Park, Prospect Park, which were really both designed for the urban swells. If you pick up any book on Brooklyn, you’d think Coney Island was the entire history of Brooklyn, along with Ebbetts Field.
Anon 10:23 is absolutely correct in all respects. Restore the amusement park, and develop nearby. Some hotels/time shares, some residential. But have the good sense to put the residential far enough away from the amusement park so that the park and beach can do what they are supposed to – provide a great source of fun and enjoyment to the families of all of Brooklyn and beyond.
Ideally, I’d like to see much of the old park restored – keep the iconic rides, and add new attractions. I wouldn’t want to see a completely shiny new Great Adventure like park.
mr. b needs to take some classes (or at least do some reading) on how to form an unbiased survey. he let us know his opinion in the lead paragraph and then puts four choices that fall closer to the realm of his own thoughts on the issue using words and expressions like #1, “fine”, #2, “support”, #3, “i don’t mind”, #4, “i don’t mind”. Finally, choice #5 offers some room for dissent but there is no space to flesh out that argument with varying opinions.