Coney's Dick Zigun Takes Time Out To Talk NY

Coney Island USA's director, the 'Mayor', and defender of amusements, Dick Zigun talks New York and his ideal vision of it to Time Out New York.

An ideal New York would have new buildings, all of which are as quality as the Chrysler Building. I’d like to see Coney Island have a Surf Avenue trolley again and ferry service again. But yeah, more Chrysler Buildings—not copies of them, but quality architecture. People like Rem Koolhaas, who just built that outrageous building in Beijing for the Olympics that looks like it can’t even stand up. Rather than what’s going on near Ground Zero, which is sort of bland and not that innovative, you know more Frank Gehrys, more Rem Koolhaas, more Chrysler Buildings, and Coney Island needs the Surf Avenue trolley back. Our transportation system could be a tourist attraction in and of itself. Look at New Orleans; look at San Francisco.

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An ideal New York would have new buildings, all of which are as quality as the Chrysler Building. I’d like to see Coney Island have a Surf Avenue trolley again and ferry service again. But yeah, more Chrysler Buildings—not copies of them, but quality architecture. People like Rem Koolhaas, who just built that outrageous building in Beijing for the Olympics that looks like it can’t even stand up. Rather than what’s going on near Ground Zero, which is sort of bland and not that innovative, you know more Frank Gehrys, more Rem Koolhaas, more Chrysler Buildings, and Coney Island needs the Surf Avenue trolley back. Our transportation system could be a tourist attraction in and of itself. Look at New Orleans; look at San Francisco.

* * * * * * * *

An ideal New York would have new buildings, all of which are as quality as the Chrysler Building. I’d like to see Coney Island have a Surf Avenue trolley again and ferry service again. But yeah, more Chrysler Buildings—not copies of them, but quality architecture. People like Rem Koolhaas, who just built that outrageous building in Beijing for the Olympics that looks like it can’t even stand up. Rather than what’s going on near Ground Zero, which is sort of bland and not that innovative, you know more Frank Gehrys, more Rem Koolhaas, more Chrysler Buildings, and Coney Island needs the Surf Avenue trolley back. Our transportation system could be a tourist attraction in and of itself. Look at New Orleans; look at San Francisco.

The New York 40: Dick Zigun [Time Out NY]