Marty Weighs In On City's Coney Plan
In a press release yesterday, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz released his testimony on the City’s plan for Coney Island. Here’s an excerpt: I am pleased to approve the City’s plan, along with what I view as some improvements. My recommendations can be summed up this way: Number one, add more amusements. Number two, guarantee…
In a press release yesterday, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz released his testimony on the City’s plan for Coney Island. Here’s an excerpt:
I am pleased to approve the City’s plan, along with what I view as some improvements. My recommendations can be summed up this way: Number one, add more amusements. Number two, guarantee that famous Coney Island glitz and bling by creating a design committee to ensure awe-inspiring architecture. And finally, make sure that anything we build we build with Coney, by Coney and for Coney—that is, we must ensure that the local community gets the jobs, affordable housing, rewards and resources that come along with revitalization. The local community deserves nothing less!
Let me start with my call for more amusements. As you know, it has always been my goal to ensure Coney Island remains an amusement park. That is to say, it should not be a place for quote-unquote big-box retail. As you know, I have not agreed with the community board in allowing greater square footage for retail. Clubs—yes! Restaurants—yes! Bowling alleys—sure! Hotels—of course! Hotels are part of the Coney tradition (there was once a hotel shaped like an elephant!) but Coney Island must not become a mall. It must be an amusement park—a vibrant part of this City’s tourist economy.
Photo by the waving cat
Right about now, all the Russians from Brighton are dusting off their bling to bring ‘glitz’ to the area for the summer.
I second what Benson said.
“While we’re at it, why not set up a farming committee to bring back Brooklyn’s glory days as a prime producer of cabbage? Hey, how about tearing down most of the homes in Gravesend and bring back its glory days as a racetrack venue?”
and why not dig up the belt parkway under which you are guaranteed to find the remains of old mobsters?
I spend 6-10 days at Coney every summer and I can tell you that it is viable and bustling- despite Joe Sitt’s desperate attempts to ruin it. Most of his promises have been hollow and his actions half-assed. I never know what to make of Marty’s grand proclamations, but I tend to agree with this vision much more than others.
Bxgrl and all;
If CI is so great in its present state, then why did all the proprieters sell out to Mr. Sitt? Note that this is not an AY situation. No eminent domain is involved. Sitt owns the land, and should be able to make money on it.
I’m still waiting for the photos of the present-day “glitz” of CI. I think the photo that Mr. B., posted actually captures CI perfectly.
In answer to your question: I’ve been to CI many times, and always come away disgusted at the trash and neglect. You would think that the proprietors (prior to selling to Sitt) would have taken some minimal pride in their area and arranged for the litter baskets to be emptied periodically. Instead, the trash just overflows from them. Not my cup of tea, to say the least.
Step 1: Add a second Shoot the Freak.
Coney Island is PACKED to the gills every spring/summer weekend that has decent weather. I do agree that it is not a year-round destination, however. So to add indoor activities and hotels would be great. But to say that it has not been a functioning amusement district is wrong. It retains the Cyclone, Wonderwheel, Sideshows by the Sea, Nathan’s, the stadium (a fine addition!), a huge beach, an aquarium, the iconic Parachute Jump, etc. The core amusement district is not that big, so I actually agree with MM on this–it is worth saving and building upon, rather than knocking most of it down to put up something generic. Sitt is going to make out like a bandit in any case.
When was the last itme you were in Coney Island, benson? Everytime I’ve been, it’s been crowded with families and people out enjoying the beach and the amusements. It may not be your cup of tea but Sitt would make it disappear or make it so expensive that the majority of NYers who can’t afford pricey entertainment would lose one of the few palces they can go to enjoy the sun and the water.
What’s the big deal with building up the waterfront on a small scale and going with the iconic Coney Island? Does everything have to look like Donald Trump tossed pixie dust on it and it has to be glossy, plastic and fake?
Glitz?!?!
More like gritz.
“guarantee that famous Coney Island glitz and “bling†by creating a design committee to ensure awe-inspiring architecture”
Where to begin?
Let me try with just a couple of questions:
-can someone point out the “famous Coney Island glitz”, without referring to a photograph more than 50 years old?
-can someone please point out the last time a “design committee” produced “awe-inspiring architecture”?
How long will folks hold onto the memories of 50-years-ago–and-counting faded glory, and adjust to present-day reality? Folks are not going to cancel plans to go to Disneyworld to visit CI instead. Its days as a premier amusement park area are OVER. Everyone criticizes Mr. Sitt and his plans, but he is the only one actually putting skin in the game.
While we’re at it, why not set up a farming committee to bring back Brooklyn’s glory days as a prime producer of cabbage? Hey, how about tearing down most of the homes in Gravesend and bring back its glory days as a racetrack venue?