NEW YORK—The Municipal Art Society of New York has big plans for Coney Island. In a meeting with the City’s economic advisers, the urban planning advocacy group and its architects unveiled blueprints for what could be described as Vegas on the East Coast.
Sketches include colored lights that flood the scene, a futuristic scenic railway line, partially covered open spaces, restaurants and shopping, and of course the reconstruction of some historic rides. During its creation, a wide variety of ideas were generated by the Municipal Art Society’s brainstorming team: from kid-friendly exhibits to vaudeville-inspired venues.
The plan is meant to “reestablish Coney Island as a world-class entertainment destination.”
Not only do its creators believe that the designs will revive the local economy, but that it could all be done sustainably. Planners say that by converting the movement of Sandy Hook Bay waters into electricity, the entire island could be taken off the power grid. Gardens would cover the rooftops of restaurants and shops.
One of their bolder proposals involves some enclosed spaces that are LCD screens on all sides. “We are suggesting what we call a digital city,” said George Tsypin, a stage and set designer who worked on the brainstorming committee. The idea is to create a dynamic, ever-changing space that could display the work of local artists.
The City has purchased most of the land that the Society’s plan encompasses, with plans to acquire the rest.
The plan is also meant to boost property values in the surrounding area and attract hotels. The Society plans to pay for the project, which has no price tag yet, initially with public funds. They hope that if done right, corporate funding will follow in exchange for in-park advertisement.
The planners point to Times Square, which saw abundant private investment. “The private investment that followed the public investment was over ten times [that of the public investment] and that happened over an incredibly short time,” said economist David Malmuth.
The Society will take their plan back to the City in a couple weeks to assess what can be started immediately.
