March 26, 2007
Last Season of Old Coney Island
As Thor Equities gets closer to sinking its teeth into developing/redeveloping there, Astroland will open up again for its last season this weekend. Astroland owners sold the property to Thor last fall and Carol Hill Albert said back in November, "It's not something we're happy about; it's sad. It was the only logical alternative to going out of business altogether." Now, Albert tells the NY Sun, "I think [Thor Equities founder] Joe Sitt has been taking all the city's attention and energy."
This comes as the Post has a story about Sitt and concerns over his "track record of flipping land for big bucks," as one person puts it. City officials point to Sitt's claims of turning Albee Square Mall on Fulton Street into a grander destination (the same way he's been talking up his Coney Island plans), which ended up with him selling the mall to another developer. And some Brooklyn residents are worried Sitt will keep Surf Avenue a "ghost town" if he puts plans on hold while waiting to see if luxury housing will be allowed. (Albert told the Sun that "You could make money year-round in the amusement business in Coney Island by building a hotel or hotels instead of condos.")
Last week, Curbed had an update about how Thor surprised the Coney Island Development Corp by buying Astroland and over the weekend Kinetic Carnival reminded us that there's a "No Condos in Coney" Demonstration outside of City Hall this Friday: "This fabulous event will be hosted by some of New York's most colorful burlesque performers and speakers from the community!! In addition saving our beloved Coney Island, it is going to be loads of fun!! Glitter!! Face Paint!! Costumes!! Aquatic Spectacles!! Mermaids and more!!"
Gothamist on last year's opening day - will be going this weekend?
Photograph by lornagrl on Flickr
|
I don't mean to be a bother, but Jen Chung's typos have begun to take away from Gothamist's overall quality.
You stay classy, San Diego. I'm Ron Burgundy?
I'm confused. I saw some pics a few days ago which made it look like the demolition was well underway. Lonely go-kart sitting in a torn up lot, that sort of thing.
Anyone have any insight into what's still intact for the season? Boardwalk? Shoot the freak?
I guess it's the end of the real Coney Island as we know it .
Coney has changed over and over again since the beginning. It didn't start with amusement rides so it can never really end. It can only change.
as a coney island native i have to agree with patrick. if you think whats there now is "old" coney island then you would be delusional. its been in a constant state of flux. there have been so many waves of immigration and construction that this new plan doesn't even make me blink. in fact, if you asked most of the people around the neighborhood, they would tell you that they're happy about the improvements that are in store. the only people that are "Sad" to see it change don't live there, they just visit and they enjoy the appeal. you have to think about who lives there and whats good for them. i'd like to see less biased coverage about this issue, gothamist.
What's happening to the Cyclone?
elswieser--
How dare you deny hipsters transplanted from out of town locales the right to whine about changing the "old" Coney Island/Times Sq/Red Hook/Crappy Train Yard?
Everything is in tact except for the batting cages, go karts and bumpber boats , that which is all on the same block together. For now everything else is fine. I just know this will be the last season for coney island period almost. If construction doesnt start soon , crime will be going up in the area.
Cyclone stays. Parachute Jump stays. And, unless I'm mistaken, Dino's WonderWheel hasn't sold to Thor yet.
Michael Hunt- I adore you.
The old Coney Island....needles washing up on shore, muggings on the boardwalk, old and rusty rides...there has not been anything there worthwhile except for the beautiful beach for 50 years....the residents applaud redevelopment....those against are the self-interests that want to keep their monopoly of bad carnival type entertainment and amusements.....we are the full time residents...not the transient bunch that come down for the Mermaid Parade or visit twice a year......let that jewel that is Coney Island SHINE!!!!!and to the selfless people that won't let Coney Island move forward.....take you wagon and move it somewhere else.....
For me, Coney Island died the day the Jumbo Jet left...
Ok, maybe not, but I hate to lose our old Coney Island.
I now look forward to the point, in ten years or so, when I laugh my ass off reading the NY Times about how much money was lost investing in Coney Island condos during the previous decade.
"What were they thinking?" I will ask my child after we pay 20 bucks to ride the Wonder Wheel and stare out to where there once was sand under the boardwalk.
If you're concerned about or interested in the preservation of the culture of Coney Island... Consider participating in this year's Coney Island gala benefit! It's guaranteed to be much fun and be for a worthwhile cause.
Visit ConeyIsland dot com slash benefit (Sorry, URLs are not permitted in comments without being validated by Typekey.)
Thank goodness they are tearing it all down! It's about time. I welcome the change and the better quality of life it will bring. I grew up in Coney Island and my family still lives there. Property value is on the rise and residents welcome the change.
The only people that are complaining about the redevelopment are the “trendies” that come down to Coney Island from Manhattan or Williamsburg during the Mermaid Parade, Siren Festival and maybe a Cylcone game or two. IF YOU CURRENTLY DO NOT LIVE OR HAVE HAD TO GROW UP IN CONEY ISLAND AND DEAL WITH EVERYTHING THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT (CRIME, HOMELESS, ABANDON LOTS, CONSTANT FEELING OF BEING UNSAFE, ...etc) THEN YOU HAVE NO SAY!!!
Walk around Coney Island at night, wait for the bus at night and see how you like Mermaid or Surf Avenue then. There is a lot more to Coney Island than the amusement park... people actually live there and long for a better life.
Residents can soon proudly say they live in Coney Island. This renovation project is the best thing to happen to Coney Island. I await the day it won't be referred to as "the ghetto."
Well, I did some research and there are many speculations of what they are going to be doing that are after the demolition. they might be putting another amusement park there and they are calling it Coney Island Park. Also they might be putting a Nickelodeon-themed hotel. SO its not all bad. Although I will miss Astroland!!