A Push Toward Preservation in Coney Island
On the heels of Joe Sitt’s statement that the old buildings in Coney Island are “just horrible, rundown relics with nothing exciting about them, the preservationist group Save Coney Island has released renderings of what two of Coney Island’s historical buildings could become if they were preserved, restored, and reused. Among the threatened buildings are…
On the heels of Joe Sitt’s statement that the old buildings in Coney Island are “just horrible, rundown relics with nothing exciting about them, the preservationist group Save Coney Island has released renderings of what two of Coney Island’s historical buildings could become if they were preserved, restored, and reused. Among the threatened buildings are the Glasshorn, Henderson’s Music Hall (Save Coney Island’s rendering pictured above, compared with Sitt’s below), the Shore Hotel, and the Coney Island Bank. While the group fully supports the opening of Luna Park, they are racing against the clock to establish a Coney Island Historic District to protect these buildings from Thor’s wrecking ball. These historic buildings could be the foundation for a spectacular and unique 21st century Coney Island, said Save Coney Island spokesman Juan Rivero. But for that too happen we need to think more creatively about the enormous potential of Coney’s built legacy.
Save Landmarks of Coney Island from Cyclone Sitt [NY Daily News]
Sitt Disses Coney’s Historical Buildings [Brownstoner]
The Gutting of the Henderson Begins [Brownstoner]
Thor Reveals Soulless Vision for Surf Ave. [Brownstoner]
Thor and City Close on Coney Deal [Brownstoner]
1 – you need to put rooftop mini-golf in among the billboards, and they shouldn’t say anything lame, like “Coney Island Historic District.” 2 – I don’t think artisanal food and highbrow movies quite fit in Coney Island – so what if it ain’t Aspen or Santa Barbara. 3 – what’s up with all the lights on at the 2nd floor? Isn’t that supposed to be a haunted house or a burlesque or something? 4 – if you wanted to really celebrate Coney Island, would you do it with burgers and fries and tacos? 5 – what’s missing from both renderings? All the car traffic and parking on the street. If you were serious about making Cone a classic, urban, vital place, wouldn’t you address the streetscape before focusing on the buildings? At least Sitt’s honest about what he can do. I’m sure that fast food and arcade games are economically the best bet for him.
Neither renderings show the slightest imagination.
“These historic buildings could be the foundation for a spectacular and unique 21st century Coney Island”
Hate to post twice but seriously – those historic buildings HAVE BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME and they have hardly provided a foundation for anything. They are just old and there used to be a difference between ‘old’ and ‘landmark status’ (which used to mean old and important in some way). These buildings are not the Penn Station of Coney Island by a long shot.
sitt’s right
Stop the madness!!!!
May I be frank? The existing buildings are POS’s, and the sooner they are knocked down, the better. Yes, a strip mall with Taco Bell would be better.
Isn’t there a saying… “You must choose your battles.”
I hate to say it, but I like the Sitt one better. It looks more like Coney Island. The preservationists one looks like a block in Queens with a Sleepys and an HR Block.
Not fair to compare these two renderings – the Sitt one is only temporary until the economy improves.
Really?