Related HOOPLA!

photo by pea. - Flickr.com

A slight error on the map that was posted here outlining the Thor properties was brought to our attention by a Coney-Isle-O-Phile who goes by the name of Thor-Hater, a business operator in Coney and also a frequent commentator on the Coney Island USA bulletin boards, which is in fact where KC first learned about the Thor tenants being given 'eviction' notices.

Also, to correct a misstatement in the Gothamist web site:
Kinetic Carnival did not speak with Mr. Dick Zigun. Zigun was replying to Thor-Hater on the CIUSA board.

map correction:
Thor does not own the building on the corner of W.12th & Surf Ave housing the Coney Island USA to the Surf Express car service.

Related links:
Coney developers forcing out rides, games, shops [Daily News]
New Home for Coney Island Sideshow and Museum? [Gowanus Lounge]
Rides, Games and Shops Being Forced Out of Coney Island [MetaDish]
Developer Starting to Empty Out Its Coney Properties? [Gowanus Lounge]
Some Coney Island Rides Won't See Another Summer [Gothamist]
NEW LIFE FOR CONEY I. FAVES

[NYP]
Coney Island Death Watch: Brand New Wednesday Evictions [Gowanus Lounge]
Coney Island Clean Out Starting? [Curbed]

Other links:
Coney Forced to Hold Its Water As City Makes Big Promises [Courier Life]
The Other Coney Island [runs/brooklyn]

Images:
Color the Sky with You
Haunted by Coney Island [AutoBiographical Digitizer]
Balloon~mA, cAN WE gO Ta cONeY IsLAnD?

Media:

ABC reporter went to Coney Island to interview Thor tenants

click to view

Thor begins to stomp out development foot print on Coney

First structure to possibly go to make way for the new Coney is the Henderson building on the corner of Stillwell Ave./Henderson Walk & Surf Ave to the Bowery. The property now owned by Thor Equities, which as early as last week assured their tenants not to worry about being evicted for the next year has now turned around and handed most of its tenants a 90 day notice to vacate the premises.

[photo by betty blade - Flickr.com]

Speculation had it that the building was structurally unsound and must be taken down. But Dick Zigun, of Coney Island U.S.A. and on the board of directors at CIDC, Coney Island Development Corporation has confirmed and said, “Bringing in a structural engineer or the Buildings Department to certify that Henderson's might be in bad shape would obviously be a strong arm tactic to negotiate a sooner rather than later vacancy by tenants in Henderson's who do have leases such as Popeyes.” But, he adds, “...all in all this seems to be more about a general emptying of newly acquired properties of tenants rather than a specific issue with the structural integrity of Henderson's building.

For the sake of accuracy, I have been told that Thor's tenants on the Boardwalk including Ruby's and Cha-Cha's and Ocean Grill House were not given notice. And Norman Kaufman says he was not given any notice for his miniature golf or batting cage or go-karts.”

With that, Zigun confirms that Thor has given notice to most of their newly acquired tenants in the Henderson's building and beyond! Those include owner and operator of the Zipper and Spider rides on West 12th, McCullough's Kiddie Park at Bowery & West 12th, Caesar's games on the Bowery, and Slim who operates Balloon Racing game on the Bowery.

[photo by jessrawk - Flickr.com]
Regardless, of who has been given notices as of yet. This is just the beginning of Thor clearing its land up for the zone that will mark the first construction site towards the revitalization of the New Coney.

During the last year Zigun and his organization attempted to save the Henderson’s Building as well as other structures in the amusement area by nominating them for landmark status with the Landmark Preservations Society.

The building, known as the Old Henderson Dance Hall on Stillwell has hosted fleabag hotels (Surf Hotel) and amusements and a night club (Velocity)

Zigun laments, “Although this all breaks my heart...it is not unexpected. If tenants are seasonal and do not have leases...and if Thor is the new owner of property then they have a right under the American system of capitalism and private property to do this. If they are going to build something new then we all know they have to demolish what is old and not land-marked. Let us not be naive and admit that this is what is coming to some of old Coney Island whether for summer of 2007 or 2008".

Coney Island Book - Past and Present

Originally posted on the Gowanus Lounge blog where they were invited to download the book from its author - this 152-page book rummages through history and old stories about Coney Island. It is a rare glimpse into photos and a different prospective on Coney’s history.

Through his journey in the book, Author Professor Solomon meets with old timers, searches for antiques, and shares his personal accounts of his childhood memories of Coney and what he felt was a huge change for the worse as he revisited the fabled site years later.


Fun Find: Free PDF of Coney Island Book [Gowanus Lounge]

Coney Island - Past and Present

by Professor Solomon

152 pages. Illustrated.
Free download of entire book: coneyisland.pdf (41.2 MB file)
Paperback Edition available from Amazon.com.

CREEP SHOW AT THE FREAK SHOW

Seems as though all the recent activity in Coney has been happening at Coney Island U.S.A.
And it's not over yet! This weekend:
THE PIRATES OF CONEY ISLAND Starts!!!!!!
Avast! This year's Creepshow at the Freakshow is more lavish and frightening than ever! Come see "Pirates of Coney Island”, a guided tour of Coney Island’s newest immersive entertainment experience... presented by the briny magnate of amusements himself, Dead Disney!

Sideshows by the Seashore
3006 W. 12th St. @ Surf Ave.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22
And all week October 25-31
Shows run continuously from 7 to 11 PM
Tickets $8 for Adults, $5 for kids under 12

Film Festival Photo Gallery

Check out the pictures of the this year's event

Coney Island Film Festival 2006 AWARD WINNERS

BEST FEATURE:
" Pervert!" - Jonathan Yudis. South Pasadena, CA USA, Feature 01:24:00 Sex. Death. Freedom. These three ingredients combine to create an orgiastic homage to the outrageous -- perhaps the most outrageous movie ever to be committed to celluloid -- Pervert!

BEST SHORT:
"The Day of the Grackle" - Michael Berry. Los Angeles, CA USA, Short 00:14:50 A mild-mannered man's world is invaded by a ferocious, territorial bird, thrusting him into an escalating, action-filled battle that inadvertently transforms his life into something far beyond his dreams.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

" Holes In My Shoes" - David Wachs. United Kingdom, Documentary Feature 01:30:00 94-year-old New Yorker Jack Beers, has broken the age barrier full force!

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
"Messenger" - Gary Beeber. Sag Harbor, NY USA, Documentary Short 00:27:52 We follow Kamikaze (the legendary bicycle messenger, and world-class character) for one year as he works the gritty streets of Manhattan. Kamikaze, who just turned 50 has worked as a biker in NYC for over 25 years.



BEST EXPERIMENTAL:
" I Live In Brooklyn" - Bombonia Bombonia. Brooklyn, NY USA, Documentary Short 00:06:20 The arrival of an alien to NYC.

BEST ANIMATION:

"Guide Dog" - Bill Plympton. New York, NY USA, Animation 00:05:15 'Guide Dog' is a sequel to the Oscar nominated short 'Guard Dog'. This time our hero dog helps blind people with typical disastrous results.

BEST "MADE IN CONEY" SHORT:

" I Wonder" - Chris DePierro & Amanda Jencsiks. Fort Lee, NJ USA, Short 00:05:30Based on a true story. Amy visits Coney Island in search of precious childhood moments that she shared with her now deceased father; but can she let go of past regrets and leave with the memory of a lifetime?



The Coney Island Film Festival thanks you for making this our most successful
festival ever! Photo gallery coming soon!

Dunking The Nets Into Coney

The local community organization opposed to the location of the Nets basketball arena in Prospect Heights as part of the Atlantic Yards Project - Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn is making the case about having Prospect Heights be spared of the Nets arena and letting Coney deal with another sports complex to the already diminishing amusement district.

In a study by urban planner Simon Bertrang on behalf of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, Bertrang sets out to prove the failure in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) issued by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) for determining the Prospect Heights site as the most feasible site for the arena by ignoring two out of three studies conducted three decades apart. The last two which designates Coney as the most suited site for the arena.

In the Bertrang study he goes on to mention the following:
There is NO evidence or argument made in the DEIS as to why an arena should be located at FCRC/ESDC’s chosen Prospect Heights location or why a proposed Brooklyn arena must be developed in conjunction with a major residential development. ESDC has made a gross error by ignoring the results of the 1984 and 1994 studies that found Coney Island to be the best site in the borough for a multi-use arena.

The two Coney sites mentioned in the last two studies are the “Gateway site” owned by KeySpan Energy and the “Waterfront site” adjacent to Keyspan which holds two possible positions there. First being right over the parking lot of Abe Stark Rink or slightly off to the west which are part privately-owned underutilized parcels and would require acquisition. In addition the rink would have to be demolished.
The “Gateway site” seems no longer the ideal site due to the fact that it would require easier access from the belt and a pedestrian bridge to cross the creek. Plus it would be tucked further away from the bustle of Coney’s waterfront. Who says Neptune Avenue can’t be part of Coney’s revitalization. Neptune Avenue has been neglected. One can envision Neptune with office buildings and even museums.

Other issues the studies debate are the transportation centers of both Stillwell Station and hub at Atlantic Terminal

Bertrang writes:

The Coney Island subway lines have low existing passenger loads and substantial reserve capacities. In addition, the Stillwell Avenue station is a newly renovated jewel – with wide ramps and platforms designed to handle a surge in crowds and efficient vertical movement from platform to street. The Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street station on the other hand has no reserve capacity – the platforms and trains are overcrowded, the platforms narrow and the maze of underground corridors connecting the various platforms confusing. If mass transit’s capacity to absorb new riders, especially the kind of surge in riders associated with the beginning or end of an NBA game in New York City, is taken into account, the Coney Island sites are far superior.

The Atlantic Yard Report

blog writes:
Moreover, an arena in Coney Island would help revitalize the area--indeed, the neighborhood still awaits major investment and refurbishing or replacement of vast public housing complexes. Bertrang suggests redevelopment in Prospect Heights "with appropriately scaled development" would be appropriate and welcomed. He adds:However, nothing in the economic development goals of the Prospect Heights neighborhood necessitates an arena - in fact, an arena may be a drag on the project – creating an infrastructure headache, requiring the expensive relocation of the rail yards, and necessitating the use of eminent domain and the delays associated with its application.Unmentioned here, or in the DEIS, is one of the main reasons for the arena: to leverage state and city funds, and political support, for a much larger development project. As the Slatin Report last month

quoted a pro-development city official:The arena, the official complained, is a "Trojan Horse" that the developer used to sneak an overly dense project into Brooklyn.

All in all many agree that the Nets arena should be housed in Coney Island. But with proposed high-end retail, luxury hotels, and more residential buildings - let’s be careful not to eradicate, almost completely, what Coney has meant since the days of Sodom by the Sea and that is the fervor of its amusement district.

An arena in Coney? DEIS ignores the most recent studies [Atlantic Yards Report]

Report on Three Deades of Locational Analysis for a Brooklyn Arena [DDB Study]