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Early Addition
As the redevelopment of Coney Island keeps moving ahead, it's starting to become clear what will be around next summer and what won't. Thor Equities, the developer with 10 acres of Coney Island land, has been letting various tenants know whether their leases are up or if they get to stick around. The NY Post put a positive spin on things, noting that "11 boardwalk businesses would be allowed to remain open at least one more summer" and that the attractions - "including Ruby's Bar and Grill, Cha-Cha's and Shoot the Freak paintball - will be given the opportunity to move into the proposed complex."
The Daily News takes a more dire approach, reporting that eight tenants were given notice, including the Zipper, the Spider, go-carts, batting cages and carny games. "Six tenants are in the Henderson Building on Stillwell Ave., a turn-of-the century structure that once housed a dance hall and hotel. The other two are are along W. 12th St. and Stillwell Ave. Combined, they operate more than a dozen businesses."
Kinetic Carnival spoke to Dick Zigun of Coney Island U.S.A. who said:
"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".More about Coney Island redvelopment here at the Coney Island Development Corporation and Curbed's been wondering if the new Coney Island will be Glam Rock or Empty Death Rock. And there's more redevelopment afoot as the New York Aquarium in Coney Island is reviewing new designs.
Photograph of Coney Island at night by chinycjo on Flickr
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This is not a great way to start the day. We all have our vision of what Coney should be, but there's a fair number of us that like it just the way it is. I've had some good memories in those batting cages, and I'll miss seeing the Zipper as you come down over the wonder wheel.
Let's face it, these are pretty mediocre rides, maybe w/an exception of the go-carts. But my biggest fear is that this is the beginning of the end...I believe the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel have some sort of landmark status, correct? But is that the same as being a landmarked building? Will C.I. become an upscale waterfront shopping destination like Sag Harbor, with only The Cyclone and Wonder Wheel looming over a mini-mall?
This is sad. I really hope they never fuck w/The Cyclone, The Wonder Wheel, or The Bump-bump-bump-your-ass off Bumper cars. Classic rides and all so much fun!
New York is gone.
The rides they are kicking out are old run down carnival type rides. Some of the same rides can already be found in Astroland and/or the Wonder Wheel Park.
Whatever is put in their place will undoubedly be better, nicer, and will probably give people a reason to come to CI year round.
I'm going to miss Ruby's when its gone. But lets be honest, its a freakin dump.
"Whatever is put in their place will undoubedly be better, nicer, and will probably give people a reason to come to CI year round."
hmmm, like what? Applebee's? Target? Starbucks? Yeah, really great. If I want that I can go to New Jersey.
Aren't the Ruby's bathrooms already designated landmarks (like CB's)?
#4 is Condos better? because that's what is down the pike, not amusements. Gothamist please don't quote Kinetic Carnival. While the blogger doing it is well inntenioned he is just grabbing quotes off of the coneyisland.com bulletin board and not crediting as such. THAT is where you should be grabbing your insider information from.
#4, what is coming down the pike will not be an improvement. Get ready for a homogenized, gentrified Coney, complete with Starbucks, obnoxious yuppies and ugly hi-rise housing and hotels that only the very rich can afford. That's not what the neighborhood should be about.
They're not revitalizing or restoring Coney Island...they are destroying it. It's a sad NY right now. Everything unique is slowly being obliterated, and even Coney Island isn't safe.
Maybe they can open a Shake Shack there! Yummers!
If you look at the history of CI you will see that it is a place that except for the last 50 years, it was always changing. At one time it was a place that people from all over the world came. There were hotels all over the place. To me it looks like they ARE making CI what it once was. What is there now is the outcome of projects and the old ghetto CI of the 70's and early 80's.