Protesters Fear City Plans Would ‘Spell the End of Coney Island’

A crowd from Coney Island gathers on the steps of city hall on June 10 to protest City rezoning plans for their neighborhood. (Joshua Philipp/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORK—A small army of activists from Coney Island traveled to city hall on Wednesday to challenge plans that they fear will turn the famed-amusement park neighborhood into a bland, corporate empire.

During a press conference on the steps of city hall, they called out their nemesis, developer Thor Equities, and the city on plans to build high-rise hotels and shrink their amusement district.

Juan Rivero from Save Coney Island said that Coney Island is “identifiable in the world’s imagination as an amusement park.”

The city’s plans would reduce Coney Island’s current 60 acres zoned for amusement to a simple 12-acre strip. Four hotels, towering up to 27 stories each would be built on the south side of Surf Avenue and would block view of some of the neighborhood’s landmarks.

The proposed zoning would also allow chain and retail businesses in the amusement zone. Locals fear this would endanger the small, locally owned businesses that make the area unique.

“This would spell the end of Coney Island,” Rivero said, adding that the city is “fighting the very thing that makes Coney Island appealing.”

“It is a squandering of the potential of Coney Island to become a world-class amusement park,” he said.

In the city’s capital budget, Coney Island will receive $133 million for economic development—more than anywhere in New York City, aside from Willets Point, which will receive $424 million.

Dressed in a suit and tie, Rivero stood out from the crowd, which was filled with people donning sailor hats, curly mustaches, and giant bunny suits.

The colorful crew of protesters made it clear that they are not opposed to the city’s funding to turn their neighborhood into a larger tourist attraction. They requested that the city expand Coney Island’s amusement theme, rather than focus on building ritzy hotels and chain stores.

“I’m not here to give the city a hard time,” said Dick Zigun from Coney Island USA.

Zigun said that the protesters are asking that the proposed hotels be built on the northern side of Surf Avenue where they would not block the view of the neighborhood’s attractions.

They are also asking that the proposed 12-acre zoning be changed to 25 acres.

“Those tourists staying in those hotels come for the rides, not the malls,” said Zigun, adding that if requests are not met, “we have a right to agitate and protest.”

World-famous magician, the Great Fredini, was among the familiar faces at the conference. He has performed for more than 25 years and made appearances on The Tonight Show, Monster Garage, and MTV.

He said that the city should use the funds to make “bigger and better rides” to attract more visitors to Coney Island.

“This is a place that means so much to New York,” said the Great Fredini. “There is no reason you should be building high-rises in an amusement park.”

Miss Cyclone added to the comments of the Great Fredini, saying that “Coney Island equals entertainment. It’s not brain surgery.”

The press conference ended with the group joining in song: “Save Coney Island, the whole world wants it to stay.”

Comments from the Mayor’s office were not received in time for the publication of this article. Calls to Thor Equities were also not returned in time for publication.