$83 Million Pledged for Coney Island Renovation

NEW YORK — Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled a plan last Wednesday for transforming Coney Island into a year-round entertainment destination and a stronger residential community. Mayor Bloomberg also announced that an additional $50 million would be used to implement the plan after previously pledging $23 million. Combined with the Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s $7 million and Congressman Jerrold Nadler's $3.2 million, a total of $83.2 million is now dedicated to making improvements to Coney Island.

The new “Coney Island Strategic Plan” calls for enhanced entertainment attractions that take advantage of the area’s unique appeal, a new community center for job training and recreational uses, and an increase of affordable housing on vacant city-owned land.

“Coney Island has been much imitated but never duplicated,” said Borough President Marty Markowitz at an event with Mayor Bloomberg and other New York officials on Coney Island’s famed boardwalk. “This plan will preserve Coney's famed freakishness and fun-loving spirit, while residents and businesses benefit from their neighborhood's rebirth as a 24/7 tourist and family destination. The whole world knows that Coney Island is the ultimate in American character and funk.”

The $83.2 million public investment will be used to make necessary infrastructure and public environment improvements. These include the creation of new streets and open space, and better parking and transportation solutions, along with targeted projects that reflect the character of Coney Island, such as improvements to the aquarium, the parachute pavilion and the construction of a community center.

“Coney Island has been called America's playground and it will be so again,” said Markowitz.

According to the city’s Web site, it is anticipated that these public improvements will lead to more than $1 billion in private investment over the next 10 years, creating about 2,000 permanent jobs and 10,000 construction jobs in the area over the next 20 years.

As part of the next phase of the plan, the Department of City Planning will work with the creators of the Coney Island Strategic Plan, the Coney Island Development Corporation, to refine the zoning strategy.

Zoning will mean setting design guidelines and determining the appropriate square footage for entertainment, retail and hotel space as well as the number of residential units and square footage of new parks and open space, while also ensuring the protection of the existing amusement attractions.

The Coney Island Development Corporation was established in Sept. 2003 to develop and implement a comprehensive planning process and economic strategy for Coney Island. The 13-member board has held dozens of meetings with community constituents including amusement operators, local businesses, and residents.

“The Coney Island Development Corporation has produced a brilliant and visionary strategic plan for the future of Coney Island,” said Council Member Domenic Recchia, whose district includes Coney Island.