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Old Posted Jan 20, 2009, 11:42 PM
KennyNYC KennyNYC is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2009
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New York Post

CONEY IS. PLAN BITES NATHAN'S


By RICH CALDER

Last updated: 10:10 am
January 20, 2009
Posted: 3:25 am
January 20, 2009

Mayor Bloomberg's plan to revitalize Coney Island could mean the end of the original Nathan's Famous hot-dog stand.

That revelation is hidden deep within the draft of the 47-acre rezoning plan's environmental-impact statement, which the city submitted yesterday.

The Nathan's site - which opened at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in 1916 - could make way for more lucrative development should land values skyrocket once the rezoning is approved.

"Nathan's Famous restaurant . . . is assumed to be replaced under the proposed actions with a new building containing hotel, amusement, retail and enhancing uses," according to the city document.

Nathan's-- which owns the building at 1308 Surf Avenue and has a right to sell for big bucks -- could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But Andrew Brent, a spokesman for the mayor, said any talk of Nathan's leaving is premature.

"Nathan's is one of Coney Island's treasured assets, and it's continued success in its current location is absolutely a part of the administration's plan to grow and revitalize the amusement district."

Another city official said the rezoning could possibly open the door to the frankfurter king expanding the site with "possibly a sit-down restaurant, catering or even a hot-dog ride."

Nathan's operates a smaller stand in the amusement district a block away on the boardwalk, but it rents the stand from developer Joe Sitt, who is in the process of trying to sell his Coney Island properties to the city.

The report comes in light of the city getting set today to kick off the seven-month public review process for the $2.5 billion rezoning plan.

The Nathan's Surf Avenue stand abuts where the city wants to build a new 9.39 acre outdoor amusement park nestled between the Parachute Jump to the west and the Cyclone rollercoaster to the east.

A new strip, dubbed "Wonder Wheel Way," would connect three landmarks, the Parachute Jump, Wonder Wheel and Cyclone.

The park would be part of a 27-acre "entertainment and amusement district" that would also include indoor rides, games and other entertainment and high-rise hotels.

"The plan to revitalize Coney Island will substantially increase the storied amusement area, creating a year-round attraction that will bring tourists and visitors to Brooklyn," Mayor Bloomberg said.

"This plan protects and preserves the unique character of Coney Island while bringing new housing, shops and recreational facilities to a community that needs more of each."

Many Coney Islanders, however, want to see a larger amusement area - saying up to 61 acres is now zoned for rides in the area, although city officials are quick to point out that just few precious acres now offer them.

Some civic leaders are calling on the city to revert to an earlier plan that had 15 acres set aside for the outdoor park and are planning organized protests.

The city plan also includes erecting 4,500 units of new housing north of Surf Avenue and west of Keyspan Park - roughly 900 of which would be affordable units -- and 500,000 square feet of neighborhood retail.

***

The draft EIS that was completed earlier this month can be found at http://www.nyc.gov/html/oec/html/ceq...07K_DEIS.shtml
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