Bloomberg Cheers Marty’s Pro-Amusementness

After Borough President Marty Markowitz stands up for the city’s plan to protect Coney Island from big box retail and developer vulnerability, New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg gives him praise for his recommendations.

As Bloomberg said when commending Marty Markowitz on his recommendations for the city’s plan to revitalize Coney Island:

"Coney has always been a place where families of every economic means could come to play and to dream. It’s where I spent summers as a child and remains an essential part of childhood for generations of children past, present and future. It’s not about profits, it’s about families".

For pro-amusement-like minds, this is a step in the right direction. For those who wish big development to come to Coney without staying true to what Coney Island has been throughout its history is in tune with the same type of thinkers who helped bring about a boring public park space that you could see anywhere else, subsidized housing that you have everywhere else, another airport where you have enough, big box stores where you could put somewhere else in Brooklyn, another abandoned lot which is an eye sore, another expressway where we have enough, more condo towers where there are too much, a freight yard that should be covered, a truck facility that should be left for an industrial zoned area, and another mall where we have enough!

That is what has happened to all of New York City’s past amusement parks!

Here is a list of NYC’s past amusement parks and what has happened to them now. The information posted on the Coney Island USA message board by frequent and informative poster, Switchback.

• Rockaway Playland turned into subsidized houses
• Bergen Beach Amusement Park turned into an open-space public park
• North Beach Amusement Park turned into LaGuardia Airport
• Adventures Inn turned into an abandoned small airport beside to big box stores
• Kiddy City turned into an abandoned lot
• Golden City Amusement Park turned into part of the Belt Parkway
• Palisades Amusement Park turned into condo towers
• Sand Lane Amusement Park turned into a developer’s empty lot
• Freedomland turned into Co-op city
• Oak Point Amusement Park turned into a freight yard
• Starlight Park turned into a truck facility
• Fairyland Queens amusement park turned into Queens Center Mall

Even though Coney Island as a whole is what we are trying to protect. Coney Island has already suffered losses of its own amusement parks to these similar downfalls:

Steeplechase Park turned into a minor-league baseball stadium, Astroland Park turned into a temporary parking lot and temporary weekend-only flea market, and Luna Park turned into Luna Houses.


Mayor Commends B’klyn BP for Coney Recommendations [Brooklyn Dailey Eagle]

Marty Makes Good With CB13's Blunder

The Coney Island revitalization-plan baton has been passed on by Marty Markowitz to the City planning commission with a couple of repairs. After passing through the community board 13 and sprouting a few advisory stipulation blunders, the city’s plan landed on the lap of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz where he cut two of their twenty recommendations and added some glitz.

Marty opposed a recent recommendation by CB13 that called for an increase in retail space which would allow big box retail. A change from 250 square feet to 10,000 square feet along the strip on Surf Avenue.

Another provision that came out of the CB13 rezoning hearing was to eliminate the city’s safeguard of 12 acres of parkland to protect it from the wrong kind of development in the future. Marty also recommended this provision against parkland to be axed out as well.

On top of it all, Marty wants to sprinkle the glam of glitz over the island by calling to put in place a design committee to ensure that any future development come with that over-the-top-honky-tonk look and quality. He also demands MORE AMUSEMENTS! Go Marty go!

The parkland and retails-space changes by Marty go directly against the wishes of Thor Equities who lobbied to win over CB13 officials. However, it now is clear they failed to win over Marty. In a tool to woe Marty, Thor Equities included in a pitch book illustrating their big-box retail dreams for Coney Island.

As Brownstoner reported:

According to a pitch book that a tipster tells us was used to (unsuccessfully) lobby Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the kind of tenants Thor is dreaming about for Coney include such charming mom-and-pops as Toys R Us, Bass Pro Shops and the Hard Rock Cafe. Gag us with a spoon!

At least Marty knows what’s good for Coney. Especially, in the eyes of Coney lovers and pro-amusement enthusiasts. However, some feel that what Coney Island really needs is a pure money-making fix for a useless pocket of the city.

A pro-Thor commentator on the Brownstoner blog feels that the area “desperately needs an infusion of cash” He said, “Many people are very nostalgic about Coney Island - but when was the last time anybody went there beside the Mermaid parade?”

So if we’re going to feel like gagging about a 'Toy’s-R-Us' or a 'Pier 1' in Coney, he recommends we keep our gag reflects to a minimum.

The baton is now being passed to City Planning officials which have 60 days to accept the plan and add their own recommendations. It’s expected to receive a few minor scratches before being tossed onto the City Council for approval.


Markowitz tosses two controversial boons to Thor Equities [NY Daily News]

Video Rewind - 1989 Amos Wengler's Yodeling Mermaid Song

Video Rewind flashes goes back to pre-Coney redevelopment saga years takes a look at 'Coney's lull years'. From the late 70's to the turn of the century when Coney Island was still going but almost in an state of comatose caused by the first amusement-haters, Robert Moses and Fred Trump. And ends with the next big change in Coney Island that started with the creation of something bigger; the ballpark and the new subway station. That sparked the interest of the city followed by the big developer to finally redevelop Coney Island.

Here's a younger Amos Wengler strumming and yodeling back in the late 80's in Coney Island.

The Mermaid Parade - Amos Wengler

Description:
World famous Amos Wengler sings his smash hit - The Mermaid Parade on the boardwalk at Coney Island way back in 1989. THis is from the documentary film Mermaids on Parade by Terry Murphy

Posted by ratfink43 [YouTube]

The Bids Are On Again For Coney Beach Adventures

Bids have been solicited in hopes to bring a 'beach adventure park' for Coney Island. But it isn’t the first time. If no bids are gained Coney could be left with the same banana boat served frozen.

New York City’s Department of Parks & Recreation put out bids for the third time in hopes of bringing adventurous and quite unsafe attractions to the Coney Island beach. The banana boats that were previously considered are not on the list per-se but will still be welcomed. The last proposals by the city were in 2005 and again in 2007 to no avail.

Image above right courtesy of kate at yr own risk (Flickr.com)

The NY Daily News reports:

Parks Department officials began soliciting bids Wednesday for a Beach Adventure park on the sand near Steeplechase Pier that could also include giant inflatable slides, trampolines, climbing walls and trapeze swings.

The bids are due in my May 22 but the city may be coming up empty again. It’s quite difficult to imagine these activities being set up in Coney Island. For one, the safety issue could buckle anything trying to actually materialize and make possible.

"Why not?" said Spiegel. "They do stuff like that in the Bahamas. I don't see why you couldn't do it in Coney Island."

Without trying to sound cynical, Coney Island isn’t the Bahamas and the waters here are not the perky blue there. Also it seems obvious that there is much more involved to prepare the beach and shoreline for these activities.

"We want the biggest, baddest inflatable rides you've ever seen," said Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Julius Spiegel to the NY Daily News.

Why not? Inflatables are hot items thanks to Thor Equities!

Parks Department begins soliciting bids for new Coney Island [NY Daily News]

PB Markowitz Guarantees Glitz! Bling bling?...Forgetaboutdit!

Issuing a breakdown of his full recommendation report to the City Planning Commission that past April 30th, Borough President, Marty Markowitz approves the city's current rezoning and redevelopment plans for Coney Island, yet differs on a small number of issues. He compiled a list of recommendations.

Summary of Recommendations:
1. More Amusements: Increase Amusements in Coney Island Special District
2. Guarantee Glitz: Create Design Committee to Ensure Awe-Inspiring Architecture
3. Build With Coney, By Coney, For Coney: Build in Community Opportunities: Local Jobs, Housing, Rewards and Resources

Guarantee Glitz: Create Design Committee to Ensure Awe-Inspiring Architecture
Coney Island has always been known for its awe-inspiring architecture and ambiance—the famous Luna Park was fondly described as “Electric Eden.” The recommendations call for establishing a Coney Island Design Committee charged with ensuring the development of the Coney Island amusement area (i.e. the Special Coney Island District) remains unique, creative and iconic with regard to elements such as architecture, signage, lighting and the preservation of appropriate buildings and amusements, as well as the upholding of certain aesthetic values for thrilling, over-the-top design both now and in the future.

Markowitz will have to have plenty of faith for the city since it hasn't been able to complete a much simpler promise they kept shouting since 2007. That certain 'bling bling' that Markowits asked the city to do after the Parachute Jump lighting simply didn't happen.

The full statement can be read in its entirety at the Coney Island USA message board.

2009 Siren Music Festival Official Lineup

The 9th Annual Siren Music Festival presented by The Village Voice has announced its initial lineup of bands that will rock on two stages in Coney Island this summer; Saturday, July 18, 2009. The music festival will feature international, national and local bands and DJs.

The Village Voice SIREN MUSIC FESTIVAL™ has solidified its status as a leading New York City outdoor music festival, drawing over 100,000 music fans by showcasing indie rock veterans and emerging artists.


Budweiser returns to the Village Voice SIREN MUSIC FESTIVAL™ as the exclusive beer sponsor for the 9th consecutive year. Other sponsors include Metro PCS and Coney Island Cyclone Roller Coaster. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.


It's a shame you can't expect the Coney Island Lager to be a sponsor due to direct competition with Budweiser.

Coney Island Symposium Today

"Which way Coney Island?", in a symposium on it's future at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute tonight at 7 pm, April 29th 2009.

New York City Planning Commissioner Amanda M. Burden will be among the speakers at “Which Way Coney Island? A Symposium on Its Future,” on Wednesday, April 29, 7 p.m., at New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute (20 Cooper Square, 7th Floor, between 5th and 6th Streets). Subways: 6 (Astor Place); R, W (8th Street). The event, which brings together many of the most important voices in the debate over the future of Coney Island, is free and open to the public.

In recent months, New Yorkers have been wondering what’s in store for Coney Island, New York City’s famous amusement park. For more than a century, Coney Island has been New York City’s playground, amusement park and, in the words of entertainer and symposium panelist Dick Zigun, the “Capital of the Weird.” But it is also a neighborhood facing serious struggles.

Moderated by NYU Journalism Professor Suketa Mehta, author of Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found, the symposium will feature the city’s proposed comprehensive plan for Coney Island, currently in public review, with a presentation by New York City Planning and responses by the Municipal Art Society and Thor Equities, LLC, a major landowner in the amusements section. Panelists include: Purnima Kapur, Brooklyn director of City Planning; Dan Jennings, Thor Equities; Melissa Baldock, Kress/RFR fellow for Historic Preservation and Public Policy, the Municipal Art Society; Charles Bendit, Taconic Investments; Alberto Vourvoulias-Bush, El Diario/La Prensa; Dick Zigun, Coney Island Circus Sideshow; and Ahsanullah “Bobby” Khan, Coney Island Avenue Project.