"New Spin on Coney Island" Announced

[-LILDAREDEVIL5-]

I was VERY excited to open the Daily News today and find this on the inside cover:

 

 

City officals lay out grand 47-acre Coney Island plan

The Coney Island of the future will be a kaleidoscope of thrill rides, soaring apartment towers and plenty of places to shop, Mayor Bloomberg said Thursday.

"We all recognize that Coney Island just isn't what it could be," Bloomberg said at a Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday at Gargiulo's restaurant.

"Its amusements haven't kept pace with changing times and tastes, and for much of the year, activity in the area lags badly."

In the most comprehensive look at the Brooklyn beachfront area since 1964, city officials laid out plans for a 15-acre, year-round amusement park, 4,500 new apartments and condos, and blocks of glitzy stores along Surf Ave.

The 47-acre plan also would include a grassy 65,000-square-foot park near W. 23rd St., a refurbished Parachute Jump, the return of the B&B Carousell, water parks, Boardwalk shops and new benches and lighting.

The project could spell trouble for developer Thor Equities, its owner, Joe Sitt, and others who have property within a 15-acre swath now proposed for city-owned parkland.

Under the new plan, the area east of KeySpan Park would be turned into a single amusement park with roller coasters and other rides - all operated by one concessionaire - and zoned to include entertainment venues and restaurants.

Thor, which owns Astroland and other Coney Island properties, and Dennis Vourderis, who owns Deno's Amusement Park, will be given the opportunity to sell property within the site to the city. A land swap involving a city-owned parking lot also could be part of a deal.

"[Thor] doesn't have the experience" to run the new amusement park, said Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, who insisted the city would not seize land through eminent domain. "[Amusement development] is a highly technical area that is very different than any other form of real estate."

Once approved, the development could take up to 20 years to complete - and ground won't be broken until 2009. The 47-acre zoning and development plan could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, in part through city subsidies.

Sitt, who began buying property in the area in 2005 and has accumulated about 11.3 acres, had envisioned a $1.5 billion project with amusement rides, hotels, residential towers and retail components.

His plans to build residential and retail projects outside the 15 acres planned for protected parkland would not be affected.

"We're disappointed by the mayor's presentation, but are optimistic that a deal can be reached between the city, the land owners and the community to make Coney Island an even greater place to live and visit," Sitt said in a statement.

CONCEPT PICTURES

 

I think it sounds really cool.And,for those of you who may be worried,the Cyclone will not be altered in any way according to this.The new coaster track looks like a Vekoma to me.But since it says the company will do both the coasters and thrill rides,it may not be Vekoma.Whatever it is,it will be fun and help out Coney Island.

 

Link:http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007...e_coney-2.html

[CoasterFanatic]

The Coney Island of the future will be a kaleidoscope of thrill rides, soaring apartment towers and plenty of places to shop, Mayor Bloomberg said Thursday.

 

If they get zoning for residential properties, you can kiss the rest of this concept goodbye.

[Skramp]

It's like deja vu.......http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39864

[Axman]

I like this proposal better than the last one.

[Meteornotes]

There's already a topic about this on the first page. Please use that one to continue your discussion. Thanks.

 

dt