Thor Taking Hammer to Coney Bank Building
Last April, the blog Amusing the Zillion wrote about rumors that Thor Equities, Joe Sitt’s entity that still owns large chunks of Coney Island even after selling off a big piece to the city at the end of last year, had quietly begun bidding out the demolition of Coney Island’s oldest building, the Grashorn, and…
Last April, the blog Amusing the Zillion wrote about rumors that Thor Equities, Joe Sitt’s entity that still owns large chunks of Coney Island even after selling off a big piece to the city at the end of last year, had quietly begun bidding out the demolition of Coney Island’s oldest building, the Grashorn, and the Coney Island Bank Building. Now, according to this DOB application and bulletin board posting, it looks like Thor is moving ahead with its demolition plans. The lack of imagination and respect for the past is astounding. There’s one interior photo on the jump and you can check out a ton more on Scouting NY.
I have to admit, while I also think this is a beautiful building that I’d like to see preserved, we’re not helping anything by lacking the creativity to come up with any good uses. A community center (whatever that means) or art space are two things the current owner wouldn’t and probably couldn’t do. Aren’t there any suggestions that are useful? I’ve always imagined that the bank would make a great entrance space for a small hotel or restaurant, for example. It might be hard to reconfigure it to be a ride of some sort, although not impossible. Of course, it’s screaming to be a bank, but I’m not sure that fits the current zoning. What else could Thor do with it, if Thor were interested in actually using it?
Thank you, Carol Gardens.
How does pointing out that there is another beautiful abandoned bank building in Brooklyn make a case for Joe Sitt flattening the historic properties he owns without considering the possibility of reuse? He just wants to demolish as quickly as he can so it will be a done deal.
Good post, Polemicist. You make many good points, which is probably why your usual detractors have not responded.
I know exactly which building you are talking about, Polemicist. It really is a beautiful structure, though I had no idea how long it had been vacant. I remember it from my youth (MANY years ago) when I lived just west of Pitkin and Howard Avenues. I wish the building could be renovated. There has been some recent rejuvenation in the area, from what I have seen riding my bike recently.
There are probably a hundred buildings like this in Brooklyn.
And, IMHO, it doesn’t look like it’s in very good shape. Water damage seems clear to me.
I worked on a Chase bank building in Brownsville several years ago. Completely surrounded by housing projects. the upper floors were all abandoned offices – many abandoned just as if the citizenry fled the moment the housing projects came in and the neighborhood was inundated.
Classic desks, dentist chairs, those great old translucent glass doors with etched letters…. It was filled with architects, law firms, and the like.
I imagine that thing is still sitting there on Pitkin Ave, waiting to be developed.
My point? Everyone is sitting here badmouthing Joe Sitt, and throwing out unprofitable ideas like a community center.. If you really want to preserve an old bank building, check out that Pitkin Ave Chase branch. That’s more worth your time and will really help a neighborhood that is down and out.
I hate Joe Sitt more and more with every passing day.
What a wonderful space for a community center and a performing arts venue.
Wait, isn’t Joe “Flip” the greatest hop for Coney Island?
That’s what his Spin Doctors say. They wouldn’t lie.