Under the plan proposed by the mayor, Coney Island would be reborn
as a year-round destination with amusements and a comprehensive
rezoning of the neighborhood for new housing, hotels, stores and park
space.
“We all recognize that Coney Island just isn’t what it could be,”
said Bloomberg. “Its amusements haven’t kept pace with changing times
and tastes, and for much of the year, activity in the area lags badly.”
The plan calls for rezoning the northern end of Coney Island for
hotels, residential and retail space, and transforming the streetscape
on the west. On the east, the city wants to rezone 21 acres as
parkland, much of which is now privately owned. It would be designated
as a giant amusement park, with a looping, high-speed roller coaster
spanning the area.
The famed cyclone and the parachute jump, as well as the wonder wheel, would stay put.
The city says it is searching for a new developer to lease the
amusement area, challenging the role of current developer Joe Sitt of
Thor Equities. The city has blocked his mega-proposal because of
objections to his plans for time shares and luxury condos.