Thor's Big-Box Dreams for Coney Island
Critics of Thor Equities’ efforts to boost the maximum retail size limit for the new Coney Island zoning from 2,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet have long feared that the developer wants to turn the historic amusements area into another charmless strip mall. They appear to have had it right: According to a pitch…
Critics of Thor Equities’ efforts to boost the maximum retail size limit for the new Coney Island zoning from 2,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet have long feared that the developer wants to turn the historic amusements area into another charmless strip mall. They appear to have had it right: According to a pitch book that a tipster tells us was used to (unsuccessfully) lobby Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the kind of tenants Thor is dreaming about for Coney include such charming mom-and-pops as Toys R Us, Bass Pro Shops and the Hard Rock Cafe. Gag us with a spoon! The pitch also included a push to prevent the extension of Bowery Street between Jones Walk and West 10th Street because it would “eliminate the opportunity to provide a main attraction or destination.”
Cozy in Coney: Sitt and Recchia [Brownstoner]
City Makes Sitt an Offer He Can Refuse [Brownstoner]
Ohhhhh, the old in-law conundrum, enough to make the sanest person lose their perspective! 😉
Coney Island isn’t and shouldn’t be Times Square. It has a personality and ambiance that’s legendary and if the City and Thor were smart, they would bring COney Island back to what it was instead of Thor trying to make it another “shopping” destination and waterfront haven for the rich. Once those luxury condos go up, you’ll get those who feel entitled to the beach and complaining bout the “riff-raff” that go their. Then they’ll start yapping about how they must protect their investments and how to privatize the beach. It’s happened before.
My in-laws live in Brighton Beach – and I am tired of taking them shopping to Caesar’s Bay or other crappy strip malls.
And I think ‘improvement’ is in the eye of the beholder – Times Square is a good example. Some people still lament the loss of ‘the gritty, pre-Disney’ district that had long lost its luster (and, I dare say, regained it – and Disney is gone!).
Bupe — you may not think Coney Island is not a destination, but I know many people of all ages who do, including my 14 year old daughter and her friends who just went last weekend. They love it just the way it is and cannot imagine why it needs to be “improved”.
Come clean, what is your vested interest in this project? It can’t be because of improved shopping options.
Thor may suck many body parts (thus the need for a controlled gag reflex), but the Russian-American community has many a ruble to spend – have you seen the Oceania condos and other new developments that have gone up (and are still selling out) in the area?
I am sure Thor counted their pennies before deciding to invest in real estate in this economy (and actually expand, rather than shrink, their project).
Coney Island has not been a destination in forever… The first (and last) time I rode on the Cyclone, I think I slipped a couple of discs in my back (and lost the precious few brain cells I had left).
This makes me sad–and angry. Once you start Coney Island down this path it will never again be a destination. Whatever happened to the Danish people that were going to an amusement area ala Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen? I’d rather see this turned into a family-friendly kiddie park than to see it become a strip mall hell.
THOR: the Worse God of Blunder
hells to the NO. Thor sucks ass. they bought out my office building by the way and are jacking up the rent in 2010 nearly almost double. F them. plus they fired our beloved security guard of many years and replaced him with part time kids who make literally mininum wage. they can go screw themselves for their stupid plans to take over things that didnt need to be taken over.
also people who LIVE on coney island cant afford pier one imports so it’s a stupid STUPID business model.
*rob*
The area desperately needs an infusion of cash. And unlike AY, this appears to be a viable plan.
Many people are very nostalgic about Coney Island – but when was the last time anybody went there beside the Mermaid parade?
We might need to keep the gag reflex to a minimum to see the lot of this part of Bklyn improved.
And if this means significant improvements to the Aquariaum – for the love of poor animals there, let there be Thor!
What a shame. who wants to go all the way down there to shop anyway? I thought they were going to try to make this an attraction. I’m all for progress, but Toys ‘R’ Us? DSW?
LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME is correct.