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Coney Island
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For more than a century, New Yorkers and visitors alike have enjoyed the fascination, freedom and diversity of the world famous urban amusement destination known as, “The People’s Playground.”
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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
- Borough: Brooklyn
- 19-Block Rezoning
- 27-Acre Amusement & Entertainment District
- Up to 5000 new units of housing, 900 units of affordable housing
- 6,000 new permanent jobs
- 25,000 construction jobs
- $14 billion in economic activity over the next 30 years
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Additionally, Coney Island is home to 50,000 residents, many of whom are low- and middle-income. Through zoning, mapping, and capital investments, the City’s Comprehensive Plan for Coney Island will reinvigorate this fabled amusement and entertainment destination while bringing much-needed housing, retail, services, amenities and career opportunities to the larger neighborhood.
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| THE AMUSEMENT AREA |
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Coney Island of the late-19th and early-20th century was a site to behold. Steeplechase Park, Dreamland, Luna Park and everything around and between them established Coney as the world’s most iconic urban amusement park.
Today, Coney Island is still a favorite summer destination. On any summer day, Coney’s beach and boardwalk teem with a wondrously eclectic mix of families and freaks. They ride the landmark Wonder Wheel and Cyclone, and visit the New York Aquarium and Coney Island Sideshow. Since 2001, the Brooklyn Cyclones have played 32 home games a year at KeySpan Park, and the Mermaid Parade, Nathan’s Famous’ Hot Dog Eating Contest and the Siren Music Festival make the list of New York’s favorite events. The millions of visitors that come each year serve as a testament to the enduring love for this magical place.
But, Coney Island today is not what it once was. The wonderful attractions that represent Coney’s vibrancy are surrounded by far too many vacant lots. Two-thirds of the property within the amusement area is vacant or underutilized. Fewer than 3 acres are dedicated to the rides, sideshows and games that have symbolized Coney Island for generations. The reality of Coney Island’s amusement core falls far short of its potential.
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| THE LARGER NEIGHBORHOOD |
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Coney Island is also a residential neighborhood; like the amusement area, brimming with potential, but lacking in opportunities.
- The unemployment rate in Coney Island is more than twice as high as the rest of the city.
- Much of the housing stock in Coney Island is subsidized through government programs, and one in six residents lives in a NYCHA development; the area lacks a diversity of housing and offers few options to current or prospective residents.
- The commercial development boom that has benefited surrounding neighborhoods in recent years has largely missed Coney Island; the neighborhood still lacks basic retail and services, such as bookstores, groceries, and sit-down restaurants.
- Long-vacant lots and seasonally-shuttered businesses have contributed to a decreased quality of life in much of the Coney Island neighborhood; lapses in infrastructure point to a clear need for both private and public investment under a comprehensive plan for neighborhood improvement.
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| CIDC AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN |
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In September 2003, the Mayor, the City Council and the Brooklyn Borough President formed the Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC) to spearhead and implement a comprehensive planning process for Coney Island and create a coordinated economic development strategy for the area.
After a long public outreach process, in September 2005, the CIDC released the Coney Island Strategic Plan, which outlined key goals:
- Year-round activity through new entertainment, retail and mixed-income residential.
- Enhanced amusement and seaside resort attractions.
- A vibrant neighborhood with activity and opportunities for everyone.
For detailed information on The Strategic Plan, please visit the CIDC website.
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| REZONING & LAND USE |
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The key initiative that developed out of the Strategic Plan is a 19-block rezoning of the center of Coney Island, stretching roughly from the New York Aquarium to West 24th Street and from Mermaid Avenue to the Boardwalk. Current zoning in this area permits only low density, outdoor amusement uses and excludes complimentary uses, such as sit-down restaurants and cafés, which can support and enhance the amusement uses.
The Rezoning Plan establishes a 27-acre amusement area between KeySpan Park and the New York Aquarium, striking a balance between the preservation of Coney’s history and the development of a year-round future. Density and height limits, building orientation requirements and the mapping of 9 acres as parkland, will ensure views, contextual transitions and the permanency of amusements. At the same time, the plan encourages new, visionary forms of entertainment such as dark rides and virtual reality games, and complimentary uses such as sit-down restaurants, bars, hotels, event spaces, concert halls, movie theaters and bowling alleys.
To the north of Surf Avenue and west of KeySpan Park, the zoning changes will foster 4,000 to 5,000 new units of housing and 500,000 square feet of new neighborhood retail. The City’s Inclusionary Zoning program (being used for the first time in South Brooklyn) will facilitate the production of approximately 900 units of affordable housing.
In January 2009, the rezoning proposal entered City of New York’s land use review process (ULURP). After receiving approvals with modifications from Brooklyn Community Board 13, the Brooklyn Borough President, and the City Planning Commission, the New York City Council adopted the proposal, with modifications, on July 29, 2009, paving the way for the revitalization of Coney Island in the years to come.
For detailed information on the proposed rezoning, please visit the Department of City Planning website.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
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| CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
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Since the Coney Island Strategic Plan was released in 2005, the City has progressed on several notable capital projects:
- Selection of Coney Island Commons LLC to develop more than 100 units of affordable housing and a 40,000-square-foot community center to be operated by the YMCA of Greater New York in western Coney Island
- Acquisition of the historic B&B Carousell for restoration by a specialist who will return the 50-horse carousel to its former grandeur
- Refurbishing and relighting the iconic Parachute Jump, with the support of the Borough President
- Beginning to design Steeplechase Plaza, a new pedestrian plaza linking the amusement area with the western Coney Island and the Boardwalk, which will feature a performance green and space for potential activities such as a skate park or water feature. The inviting new public space will also become home to the restored B&B Carousell.
- Developing designs for various capital improvements including attractive streetscapes, new open spaces, and improved parking and transportation solutions. Over $100 million in public funds has been committed to the Coney Island area since 2005.
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| COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
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CIDC and the City are committed to engaging the community in the development process, and working to expand their opportunities to improve their neighborhood. Outreach activities have included:
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| SUMMER 2009 |
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For the Summer 2009 Season, NYCEDC and its partners are actively working to market and program Coney Island. In addition to ongoing maintenance of the beach and boardwalk, the CIDC is operating the Coney Island Fun Guide website, a resource for events, rides, amusements, eating and shopping in Coney Island. While the Rezoning Plan progresses, Coney Island is still vibrant, fun and fascinating. CIDC is proud to be collaborating with the Coney Island community to get the word out that Coney Island in 2009 is “Really Fun, Really OPEN”.
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