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For generations, Coney Island has been synonymous with summer, home to the world’s greatest urban amusement park. However, it is so much more than that—with 30,000 residents, it is a vibrant, hardworking, and resilient neighborhood at the heart of New York City’s economic and cultural life.

Over the past 10 years, Coney Island has made enormous progress thanks to investment from the City, elected leaders, and the community and business organizations that know the neighborhood best.

Driving Investment. Strengthening the Neighborhood.

Since a historic 2009 rezoning, the City has partnered with community leaders to deliver:

  • $400 million in public and private investment.
  • The creation of hundreds of new jobs, made more accessible to Coney Islanders by HireNYC and the Mermaid Avenue Workforce1 Center.
  • 35 new businesses in the last five years.
  • Expansion and preservation of the historic amusement and entertainment district, including the Parachute Jump, New York Aquarium, Steeplechase Plaza, B&B Carousell, Thunderbolt, and Luna Park.
  • Renovations to the Stillwell Avenue and W8th Street Subway Stations.
  • Ford Amphitheater, a 5,000-seat amphitheater offering free community concerts.

And we're just getting started.

Project Highlights

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By The Numbers

4,500

New units of housing, with 1,100 units of affordable housing.

Surf Vets Place. Photo by NYCEDC.
Surf Vets Place
Wonder Wheel. Photo by Julienne Schaer/NYC&Company.
Wonder Wheel
Investing in Infrastructure

Over 50 blocks of new sewers, water mains, and utilities to enhance storm water management and responsibly accommodate growth.

By The Numbers

500K

Square feet of planned new commercial space on public and private property at Surf and Mermaid Avenues

Delivering for Vets

Surf Vets Place, a mixed-use development, including commercial space and 135 units of affordable housing and supportive units for formerly homeless veterans.

Coney Island. Photo by Alexander Thompson/NYC and Company.

Putting Community First

NYCEDC and City partners are working together to strengthen the entire neighborhood by creating new affordable housing, high-quality retail, connections to jobs, new amenities, and public open space. We've made significant strides, including:

  • Building Coney Commons, a 44,000-square-foot YMCA with an indoor pool and gymnasium, as well as affordable housing.

Over 800 units of additional affordable housing are currently being developed, with more in the works, including: 

  • 446 units of affordable housing at 2926 W19th Street. 
  • 220 units of affordable housing at 3003 W21st Street. 
  • A housing lottery to tenant Surf Vets Place, a mixed-use development with 135 units of affordable housing for homeless veterans and 7,000 square feet of retail space

In addition, major new office spaces will be opening in the neighborhood, including a new 66,000- square-foot social service center for the NYC Human Resources Administration.

Infrastructure Upgrades

The City is advancing Coney Island’s infrastructure needs, including:

  • Reconstructing and enlarging three existing outfalls.
  • Installing new stormwater collection sewers.
  • Relocating and upgrading sanitary sewer lines.
  • Reconstructing streets.

This work extends from Surf Avenue to Neptune Avenue, and from W17th Street to W20th Street. There will also be new street trees, public seating, and historic lighting to create a more vibrant pedestrian experience and stronger business corridors.

Key Documents
  • Coney Island Neighborhood 360 Commercial district needs assessment, NYC Department of Small Business Services