Over 150 Coney Island residents and fans attended last night’s ImagineConey meeting, held at Our Lady of Solace Church on Mermaid Avenue. See slideshow below. MAS planning committee members presented the public’s submissions to ImagineConey as well as the results of a charrette held in November. MAS also outlined the critical next steps we believe must be taken for Coney Island:
New York City Should Buy the Land for an Amusement Area. At current land values, it is unrealistic to expect private developers to construct amusements in Coney Island. Building on it’s successful effort to purchase a parcel last November, New York City should purchase enough land for a Coney Island Amusement Area of sufficient scale that could then be managed by a private, third-party entity overseeing a mix of large, small and mid-scale operators.
Refine Vision for a Viable Coney Island. Building on the strategic plan developed by the city, key stakeholders should develop a specific master plan for Coney Island that incorporates 25 acres of amusements, excluding retail and hotel uses, to support a minimum of 3.4 million visitors annually. The refined vision should include a signature, iconic ride that re-establishes Coney Island as world-class destination and enough rides to support up to 15,000 visitors at any one time.
Shape the Zoning to Complement Refined Vision. New York City should ensure that its zoning for Coney Island North and West requires entertainment-related uses – including hotels and entertainment-related retail – that complement the activity in the amusement district.
Launch Interim Programming to Support Area in Short-Term. Coney Island cannot be allowed to lie fallow in the upcoming years. Key stakeholders should engage a producer to develop short- and longer-term programming in Coney Island using existing and temporary spaces to ensure activity and attract visitors to Coney Island while long-term development efforts take shape. To view all of the submissions for ImagineConey, click here. To download last night’s presentation, click here.
