Someone needs to get tough here.
Bloomberg unveils Coney Island plan
November 08. 2007 3:32PMBy:
Kira Bindrim
Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday unveiled a rezoning plan for Coney
Island that would create a 15-acre outdoor amusement park and edge out
property owner Thor Equities, which wants to build condominiums and
time-shares -- a $1.5 billion project that would also require rezoning.
Mr. Bloomberg's 47-acre rezoning would divide Coney Island into three
development zones surrounding Keyspan Park. Coney Island North would
contain 1,800 residential units and 100,000 square feet of retail
space, while Coney Island West would include 2,700 units of housing
and up to 360,000 square feet of retail.
The real changes lie in Coney Island East, a 21-acre segment of land
owned primarily by Joseph Sitt's Thor Equities. The city's plan would
zone Coney East for amusements, hotels and restaurants, thwarting Mr.
Sitt's plans to build condominiums and time-shares in addition to
amusements.
But Mr. Bloomberg will have to get approval from the state
legislature, and acquire the land from Mr. Sitt through a cash or land
swap deal. Only then could the city issue its request to developers
for proposals to build the amusement park. If Mr. Sitt doesn't
cooperate, he would be entitled to rebuild his lots according to
present zoning rules, which prohibit condo and time-share developments.
"We're disappointed by the mayor's presentations, but are optimistic
that a deal can be reached between the city, the landowners and the
community to make Coney Island an even greater place to live and
visit," Mr. Sitt said in a statement.
City planners anticipate a 12- to 18-month rezoning process, which
will include public hearings. Construction could start by mid-2009,
and could take up to 20 years to complete.
"Just imagine the economic impact on this community if a new,
revitalized Coney Island, with its exciting new attractions, could
hold just a fraction of our city's 44 million annual visitors," Mr.
Bloomberg said during a press conference at Coney Island's Gargiulo's
Restaurant.
Mr. Sitt's development plan was never without controversy. City
officials had said his design for an enclosed amusement park seemed
more like a shopping mall, and community leaders complained about the
allocation of seaside locations to residences instead of amusements.
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