Danish Amusement Park Looks To Build in Coney Island

Tivoli Gardens of Copenhagen Denmark have expressed interest in building a theme park in Coney Island which could marvel plans for the amusement area released by Thor Equities. The Tivoli Gardens have been in operation for over 164 years and plan to aid Coney Island in maintaining their spirit and enabling it to become a year-round destination.

The New York Post reported:

"We [Tavoli Gardens] aren't trying to create Disneyland in Coney Island, but we're trying to create a demand-oriented model that maintains the neighborhood's character and economic interests," said Robert Lieber, president of the city's Economic....

Lieber and other officials also spent time in the Netherlands last week visiting with officials from the successful Port of Amsterdam to help EDC come up with a master plan for improving industrial maritime business at piers in Red Hook, Brooklyn and other parts of the Big Apple....

With the city planning to rezone Coney Island's amusement district this year to help future development, Lieber said he's still not satisfied with developer Joe Sitt's proposal to build a $1.5 billion hotel-entertainment complex in the heart of the amusement district.

Lieber pointed out that Tivoli is successful year-round without the on-site condos, time-shares or hotels that Sitt has pushed for, despite Denmark's cold winters and the park's many outdoor rides and attractions.

With Sitt controlling 10 acres of prime boardwalk real estate, both he and City Hall will have to reach a compromise or risk Coney Island remaining stagnant.

The city could theoretically try taking Sitt's land through eminent domain, but Lieber said he's "not ready to go there" when asked about condemnation.

TASTY APPLE DANISH EYED FOR CONEY IS. [The New York Post]