NEW YORK | Coney Island Redevelopment

[Tom In Chicago]

^Hey that's my friend Diana. . . that's sad. . . I was going to have my big 40 b-day part there this September!

. . .

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

^Hey that's my friend Diana. . . that's sad. . . I was going to have my big 40 b-day part there this September!
. . .

Yeah, it's disappointing that they won't be able to use that building this year. But she did say she would open up the rink somewhere else, so maybe you can still have your b-day at the rink. It could be years before another use comes for that building.

[NYguy]

More Luna Park construction photos from jimvid at coneyisland.com...

Also from Pablo Jonsey

LARGE

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by NYguy

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories...ll+articles%29

Amphitheater critics give concert promoters an earful

By Joe Maniscalco
April 20, 2010

NIMBYs in action...

alissaphoto
















"Hold everything! You say you're going to build WHAT?"




"How dare you touch my park! I'll burn it down before I let you do anything to harm it..."



Kids in the bandshell




What they're up in arms about...





worldarchitecturenews.com



http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/...ll_be_qui.html

[NYguy]

The fine folks at the coneyisland.com message board provide more Luna Park updates...

From jimvid

And Pablo Jonsey

[NYguy]

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categor..._id=4&id=35356

Coney Island Zoning Lawsuit Loses

by Samuel Newhouse
5-12-2010

The city will guide the revitalization of Coney Island after an opposition lawsuit was thrown out, the New York City Law Department announced this week.

“Save Coney Island,” a group of residents living in the area of Brooklyn’s world-famous amusement park, lost its legal bid to stop the city’s rezoning of 47 acres in the area as part of a redevelopment plan that aims to attract more tourists with new rollercoasters and hotels.

New York County Supreme Court Justice Eileen Rakower sided with the city’s Law Department

After the city bought seven acres in Coney Island from Sitt for $95.6 million in November, they have planned to open a temporary open-air amusement park known as Luna Park on May 29 with 19 new rides.

[NYguy]

Took a walk around Coney Island today, workers still busy at the Luna Park site, as well as some light activity at the Scream Zone site. People seem to be genuinely excited from the few renderings of the new park.


ny1

• Video Link

[NYguy]

A few photos from yesterday (May 13, 2010)

The circus returns to Coney Island this summer (in more ways than one)...

Originally Posted by genop

Three acres of Coney Island up for grabs
Site on which famed Thunderbolt roller coaster once stood hits the market; price not disclosed but NYC paid Joe Sitt $96 million for seven acres nearby last year.

The former site of the famed Thunderbolt roller coaster on Coney Island is up for grabs.

The vacant three-acre site in the Brooklyn amusement district is being sold by Horace Bullard, the owner of the Kansas Fried Chicken chain.

The property was rezoned last year as part of the city's efforts to revive the dormant amusement district. As a result of the rezoning,
the buyer will be limited to developing amusements, small retail and entertainment, although a hotel would be allowed on a portion of the site.

In 1985, Mr. Bullard bought and assembled the five different lots, located at the South side of Surf Avenue between West 15th and 16th streets,
for roughly $1 million, according to public records. In the mid-1980s, Mr. Bullard proposed his own ambitious plans to develop an amusement park
but they ran afoul of local government officials.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article...TATE/100429810

From being covered with weeds just a couple of weeks ago, the site has been cleared. A large portion is zoned for indoor amusements, maybe we'll eventuall get
another Pavilion of Fun on the site...

(before and after)
















One of the Scream Zone sites...




The City is busy trying new types of material for the boardwalk, including concrete. The closer the boardwalk resembles actual "board", the better...







Luna Park construction...

Originally Posted by NYguy

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categor...id=31&id=35245

Fire Sweeps Through Old-Time Coney Arcade on W. 12th Street
May Have To Be Demolished; Beloved Cat Dies in the Blaze

by Raanan Geberer
05-06-2010

CONEY ISLAND – A part of the “old” Coney Island known as the Coney Island Arcade, with booths offering games like Skee-Ball and Pokerino as well as more modern
electronic games, was heavily damaged by fire on Wednesday night.

“I wouldn’t say the building was destroyed, except maybe the roof, but it may have to come down -- the damage was pretty heavy,” said a man who answered
the phone and identified himself as a friend of the owner. “I’m just going through the rubble here.”

The burn is still in the air...




Still, Cone Island seems prepared for what should be its best season in recent years...

[NYguy]

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories...ll+articles%29

Heavy metal machers eye Marty’s amphitheater for Iron Maiden and Metallica



By Joe Maniscalco
May 14, 2010

Come on, feel the noise, Coney!

The concert promotion firm that backs heavy metal super-groups Iron Maiden and Metallica now wants to produce shows at Borough President Markowitz’s proposed $64-million amphitheater in Asser Levy Seaside Park.

Metropolitan Talent — one of the premiere entertainment conglomerates in the country — confirmed this week that it is one of the bidders to operate the mega-theater on Surf Avenue between Ocean Parkway and West Fifth Street.

And this company wants a real presence in Coney Island, a senior producer said, mentioning that the hard rock promoters want to bring in at least 20 “big name shows” every year.

“We’re always looking for new and interesting venues in desirable locations and this seems to fit the bill,” said the executive, Ian Noble.

The rock insider also had choice words for residents who object to the new amphitheater on the grounds that it is too big and too disruptive: You’re not in Kansas anymore. “I was a little shocked by people opposing it,” he said. “A venue [like this] should be welcomed with open arms — it’s Coney Island, not exactly Iowa farmland.”

Two other high-profile promoters who toured the venue on the same day as Metropolitan Talent — the prominent companies Live Nation and Marquee Concerts — may also have bid for the site, though neither returned our calls.

For now, Parks Department officials are remaining mum, too.

Amphitheater opponents insist that Asser Levy Seaside Park is really part of West Brighton Beach and should not be lumped in with Coney Island’s amusement district. For them, efforts to transform the local green space is all about money.

“It’s been clear since day one that [city officials] want to convert the majority of this park into a massive commercial enterprise,” said Geoffrey Croft, president of New York City Park Advocates.

Nobel admitted that he was not aware that city rules restrict amplified performances near synagogues — and there are two within earshot.

“I don’t want to come in there as this capitalist bad guy,” he said. “I would let the democratic process take place. A concession would only go ahead if it honored all the inherited bylaws of the city.”

[NYguy]

Another Luna Park update from ny1

• Video Link

[Rail>Auto]

That was some great photos of the NIMBYs. They will protest anything.

I still like Sitts plan better. I just don't understand why the city had to get so involved in this when they had a private contractor willing to dump $1.5 bil into the area.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Rail>Auto

I still like Sitts plan better. I just don't understand why the city had to get so involved in this when they had a private contractor willing to dump $1.5 bil into the area.

Sitts plan was better than nothing, but it amounted to pretty much eliminating outdoor amusements from Coney Island. Sitt claims his plan is still pretty much as it was, and he still has large portions of Coney Island to develop, though it remains to be seen if he is serious about anything. He's not making any serious efforts to lease the lots he owns now on a temporary basis, and his plans for Coney Island last year were a disaster. If the city hadn't stepped in, no doubt this year would be the same.

The city did the smart thing by mapping the "outdoor" amusement area as parkland, meaning developers can't come in and change what's on the site on a whim. Decades of that has led to Coney's current state of neglect. For all intents and purposes, the outdoor area is now city owned parkland. The indoor amusement area is intended to make the CI a year round destination, indluding indoor waterparks, while the city envisions outdoor areas, like the land around the Wonder Wheel, as an outdoor skating rink in the winter.

And even with all of that, about 2/3 of the CI redevelpment will consists of new residential towers. A lot of people see that as the "gentrification" of Coney Island, but considering the large amount of public housing that was dumped on Coney years ago, things will become more balance, and that will benefit everybody.

[NYguy]

BTW, don't confuse Luna Park or even the Scream Zone with the city's Coney Island redevelopment plan. These are only part of the plan in that a temporary, interim amusement area was always anticipated while the city's plan is implemented (expected to take about a decade). Even Joe Sitt says he's going to sit back and wait until the city completes the various infrastructure improvements necessary to build what is actually a small city before he begins whatever he has planned. In the meantime, he's going to raze some building and put up some fast food restaurants...




This graphic shows the various target dates for redevelopment areas, with the actual amusement area targeted for a 2012 begin date.




Guidlines have been put in place for the architecture of the buildings that will comprise the indoor amusement area, a few generic renderings below...



The new "Wonder Wheel Way" is what will divide the amusement areas...

























Although there will be new towers, height limits have been set in so the towers won't "overwhelm" the amusement area...

[NYguy]

More Luna Park construction photos from agent j loves agent a

[NYguy]

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal...ney-isla-6932/

Luna Park reveals rides for new Coney Island amusement park

Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer

The first phase of the project is to open on Saturday, May 29, with 19 rides, mostly of the whirl-n-hurl carnival variety.

A second phase, scheduled for 2011, will add four thrill rides, including a human slingshot and two roller coasters (a suspended flyer and a motorcycle-themed ride), according to Screamscape.

The 19 opening-day rides:

Thrill rides
* Air Race: Simulates the experience of fighter pilots, sending riders flipping upside-down and generating up to 4 Gs of force.
* Electro Spin – A rocking, spinning Disk’O ride that travels up and down a half-pipe.
* Brooklyn Flyer – A 100-foot-tall tower swing ride.
* Eclipse – A spinning pendulum swing that sends riders 50 feet up in the air.

Roller coasters
* The Tickler – Spinning coaster cars travel along a classic Wild Mouse track.
* Lunar Express - A family coaster with traditional mine car trains.

Family rides
* Beach Shack - A dipping and tilting hurricane-style spinning ride with a seaside theme.
* Coney Tower - Bounce up and down from heights of 40 feet.
* Coney Island Sound – Another tower bounce ride.
* Kite Glider – Lay down in a gondola and fly like a hang glider on a double-oscillating wave-like spinning ride.
* Lynn’s Trapeze – A classic flying carousel swing ride featuring images of historic Coney Island.
* Surf’s Up – Riders stand up on a giant spinning surfboard on an undulating half-pipe track.
* Wild River – A 40-foot-tall log flume water ride.
* Balloon Expedition – Soar up to 40 feet high in a hot air balloon gondola.

Kiddie rides
* Mermaid Parade – A pint-sized log flume with a theme based on the annual Coney Island parade.
* Circus Train - A train ride for the little ones.
* Happy Swing – A giant swing that looks like an oversized swing set.
* Tea Party – Kids control the spinning speed of their own teacup.
* Speed Boat – A themed spinning ride with boats that leap over waves.

[NYguy]

nypost.com


Watch the signature entrance being erected in a great slide show from Pabo Jonsey at the coneyisland.com message board...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablo57...79600719/show/


Or just the photos...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablo57...7623979600719/

[NYguy]

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories...8_2010_bk.html

Luna Park boss: We’ll be ready!

By Joe Maniscalco
May 21, 2010

_____

Never mind all the construction cranes and mud, Luna Park operators say that they will be ready to welcome Coney Island thrill seekers to the amusement park starting at 11 am on Saturday, May 29 as planned.

“As long as the weather assists us, we’re going to make it happen,” Central Amusement International CEO Valerio Ferrari said this week after giving the media a preview tour.

Ten of the 19 new rides made by Italian ride manufacturer Zamperla have already been fully assembled. Only one — described as a “small family ride” — has yet to arrive.

Work crews are expected to begin paving the three-acre site this weekend.

A lot more than just a few summer rides is at stake. Ferrari’s outfit — an offshoot of Italian ride manufacture Zamperla — is building an interim amusement park that may occupy the former Astroland site for up to 10 years — though city officials say it will give way to a permanent new theme park, plus hotels and other amusements years earlier.

Luna Park’s more aggressive rides will be located closer to the main entrance on Surf Avenue, leaving tamer variants near the Boardwalk — similar to the layout of Luna Park’s predecessor, Astroland Amusement Park.

When it’s finally installed, the 25-kilowatt “Luna Park” sign welcoming patrons to Coney Island’s newest amusement park will rise 60 feet over Surf Avenue.

Luna Park operators plan to briefly shut down the amusement park for three days immediately following the Memorial Day holiday in order to finish assembling all of its pieces.

The amusement park as envisioned — with all its rides, games and food services — isn’t expected to be fully operational until about mid-June.

[NYguy]

There's a Coney Island "guide" in today's (Sunday's) edition of the Daily News, includng a Luna Park graphic. Meanwhile, a clip of the signage rising, from Capt_Nemo at the coneyisland.com message board...


• Video Link

[NYguy]

More Luna Park updates from the coneyisland.com message board.

From Pablo Jonsey

From jimvid

[BStyles]

Oh damn...that was fast.

I know where i'm going this weekend!