Burden To Municipal Art Society: Don’t Mess With City’s Coney Plans
On Friday, we wrote about how the Municipal Art Society is putting together a design forum to come up with ideas for the redevelopment of Coney Island, kicking off the initiative today.
But this weekend, a Department of City Planning spokeswoman sent over a statement from planning director Amanda Burden that effectively fired a shot over the Municipal Art Society's bow, saying that the city welcomes new ideas—but not any that would change or interfere with its own rezoning plan for the area.
"It is imperative that the rezoning process and timeline not be jeopardized by any reconsideration of our proposed rezoning boundaries or urban design parameters," Ms. Burden said in the statement.
The reason? Timing. The city wants to act quickly to rezone the area, starting the seven-month review process by early next year. "[O]therwise the Coney Island amusement area that we know and love will cease to exist," the statement said.
Full statement below:
As part of the public planning process, the City has engaged in scores of meetings with a wide variety of local and citywide stakeholders in shaping its current rezoning proposal for a year-round 27-acre amusement district with outdoor and enclosed amusements. We of course welcome innovative ideas for a 21st century destination that keeps and enhances Coney Island's unique edgy character and open accessibility.
However, it is imperative that the rezoning process and timeline not be jeopardized by any reconsideration of our proposed rezoning boundaries or urban design parameters. After two scoping sessions and significant public input, we expect to begin the public approval process in early 2009, which will culminate in a vote on the plan by the City Council in the summer of 2009. It is imperative that this rezoning proceed expeditiously, otherwise the Coney Island amusement area that we know and love will cease to exist. We welcome ideas about how to best design, structure and program a year-round amusement district with an open and accessible Amusement Park as its centerpiece.
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Once again, I'd like to thank the city for all their hard work in helping my company (Whor Equities) turn Coney into parking lots with schoolbuses on them and temporary blow-up bouncy castle rides.
Coney Island friends and fans to Amanda Burden and City of NY Planning Dept: Don't mess with Coney Island's "C-7" Amusement Zoning! Yes to revitalization, but....
No to the shrinkage of the amusement district from 61 acres to 9 acres! No to 26 New High Rises of up to 30 stories each in the current amusement district! Most especially no to high rises on the south side of Surf Avenue!
I am confused.
???
Which rezoning plan is Amanda worried that the MAS would interfere with?
The one they originally had where the only buildings would be west of the baseball stadium and would only be allowed providing the ground floors were leased to arcades, movie theaters, and entertainment retail?
Or the one Bloomberg announced less than a year ago where he gave in to Taconic and was allowing high scale condo towers west of the baseball stadium and on the south side of Surf av. with no requierment for any businesses on the ground floor?
Or the one they came up with three months after that giving in to Thor Equities where the amusement area is reduced to only nine acres?
Or perhaps the zoning plan we have yet to see where Bloomberg completely gives in to both Taconic and Thor Equities and completely eliminates all amusements and entertainment in favor of high scale condo towers?
The only ones in a rush to get Coney Island rezoned are Teconic, Thor Equities, and Mayor Bloomberg. The entire rest of this city wants the amusement parks restored, not eliminated.
Please don't rezone the amusement area! The people of NY and the World know Coney Island and the People's Playground! Why change it? Leave the amusement zone C7 and the rest can be done around the 61 acres of amusement areas! Restore the Coney Island of Yesteryear and bring it up to date! Bring in New Rides and New Life! No to Condo's and High Rises! Help the community to grow not to be thrown out of the very place were they were raised because of expensive Condo's. Coney Island was the only place my singlemom was able to take me to when I was young. I am sure I am not the only one who remembers Coney Island the way I do! It was amazing! I have many wonderful memories and they will never die! Please don't KILL CONEY ISLAND! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SAVE CONEY ISLAND! FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY!
Scrap the "timeline",scrap the plans and rezoning.
For a proper Coney Island developoment-save all existing businesses and buildings currently operating in Coney.Then,get that old 1909(?) aerial view perpective map of Coney Island,and copy that.Not necessarily ride for ride,but,lot for lot.Notice how many different size lots there used to be.And every lot had a different owner and business.This development method greatly increases the odds of some quirky oddball business or building to pop up and attract crowds(money).This odd idea will in turn bring business for other businesses on the street.Look how 100 years ago a small little private business created this thing called a "hot dog".How many jobs since then has that idea created?
It is a proven false development strategy to only allow a few amusement designers and developers to occupy whole neighborhoods and streets.It makes matters worse when huge corporations are allowed to do this-no fresh unique ideas come from corporate "design by commitee" equations.
Break up the existing vacant lots into a variety of sizes.Big mega corporations can have their big lots-like Luna Park,Dreamland and SteepleCh. once had ,but mix it up so they have to compete side by side with the ma and pa's.It is a good symbiotic relationship that ensures a vibrant street,neighborhood and economy.
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