From the CONEY ISLAND Land Use Hearing City Hall 04/01/09

[HaroldBlvd]

Yesterday I was at the City Council hearing called by Counciman Dominic Recchia (John Dewey HS Alum '77, I'm class of '75 along with Spike Lee) regarding land use in Coney Island. Recchia is considered the bad guy by Coney Island Amusement lovers because he is considered to be in the pocket of Thor Equities and he is trying to force Thor's agenda for Coney on the city. Thor is seen as a bad player in this acquiring much of the land in Coney,  and then forcing his tenants like Astroland out of business so he can build his condos. It's a bit more complicated then that but that is the reality of what is going on in Coney.

He didn't exactly distinguish himself yesterday, when while making his opening statement at a hearing he sponsored, he made this April Fool's joke. He said he had great news, that the city had settled on a price to purchase Thor's land in Coney. Everybody gasped in excitement because this was the key to getting the city going on Coney's renewal. Then he laughed and said April Fool to which to everyone in the entire council chamber booed. Very inappropriate and unprofessional. There were people in that room who have lost their businesses to Thor in Coney and to them this was no joke. The whole Coney Island controversy is an extremely complicated issue which involves the city acquiring land from private owners like Thor, rezoning Coney to allow "more development opportunities", read that stores and other businesses that don't belong in an amusement area, and the needs of the residential community. They last thing that was needed yesterday was a joke from Recchia.

We held a press conference on the steps of City Hall before the hearing with the banner flying and many good people speaking.






Dick Zigun of Coney Island USA



Carol Albert, owner of Astroland and manger of the Cyclone Roller Coaster.



Public Access personality Rapid T Rabbit watches the speakers.



The fabulous Lola Staar of Lola Staar's Souvenir and skating rink .



An Astroland employee speak to the crowd.



Juan Rivero



Dick Zigun with Arron Bebe of Coney Island USA



Mr Rabbit speaks. He was not allowed in city hall as a rabbit.

At the hearing a lot of interesting things were said.













The Deputy Mayor claiming the right of eminent domain but not wanting to use it. "we have the right but it is not our intention. We would rather negotiate. Eminent domain only applies to land that is not parkland.

The city will be using about $15 million in Stimulus funds to repair the boardwalk.

Councilman Gerson trying to nail the city down to exactly how many acres would be allocated to just amusements.

Clarifying for me how mapping and de-mapping of parkland works. De mapping is key to the city's plan for Coney Island.
To de map land from parkland other land must be swapped for that land. The city wants to de map the parking lots outside of Keyspan park which even though they are not parks they are designated as park land. This will allow that land to be used to build residential units. This land will be swapped for 10 acres of land in Coney East which the city claims will protect that land from future developers.
Coney East is where the amusement parks are.



Keyspan Park, the baseball stadium, is the dividing line between Coney East and Coney West. That curved street there is Surf Ave.
That's where Nathans is. The big problem with the city's plan for Coney Island is that the city is allowing hotels towers south of Surf Ave. Those towers would take up valuable space that should be used for rides and amusements. Also the city is only allowing 9 acres
(below the green area of Coney East on the map) dedicated to outdoor amusement parks. It is a narrow strip of land between the Wonder Wheel and the Boardwalk. This is just not enough room for a world class amusement park.

The owner of Wonder Wheel Park, Denis  Vourderis, objects to the city's plan because a designation of parkland would mean that Wonder Wheel property would no longer belong to the Vourderis family. Also he wants Wonder Wheel Way rerouted because it cuts right into his property.

One of the major land owners in Coney,Taconic supports the city's plan. Their property is mostly vacant lots which would not displace the community.

The other major landowner in Coney,Thor Equities,  does not support the city's plan. Their spokesman Jessie Masur said de mapping of parkland is a major mistake.



That's the councilman to Coney Island, Dominic Recchia yukking it up at his April Fools hearing.
To think he wen t to my HS, John Dewey.



I liked the idea Amusement Advisory panel and I went over to Lynn Keely and Nathan Bliss of the Coney Island Development Corp and told them so. As was pointed out at the hearing, this comes about 5 years late, but it is a positive step. For the first time the city is actually consulting people in the amusement industry including the Municipal Arts Society.

Interesting hearing even though I did not get a chance to speak although I did sign up. But a lot of good people spoke and said a lot of good things.



Here are a couple of videos from the press conference.
I'm on the second video towards the end.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EU-kXqtMuI&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHpA6Bkqc4&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]



That's me waiting to my turn to speak which never came.

Here's the text of my speech that I submitted to the city council so at least I'd be on the record,

My name is Harold Kramer. My family used to own a ride out in Coney Island called the Thunderbolt. For nearly 60 years my Aunt Molly, Uncle George, and Cousin Fred owned, ran and lived under the ride. They raised a family there a had two sons. Fred who ran the ride after his dad George passed away in 1965, and Harold David for whom I am named after. Harold died a hero as a pilot in World War 2.  The story of the Morans and the Thunderbolt are the stuff of legends. Coney Island legends. It's what makes the history of Coney Island so wonderful and alive.

In 2000 the Thunderbolt suffered from bad city policy and was demolished. No regard for the history or significance of the ride. And the demolition was done against the law.
Now New York City has a chance to recapture and expand the glory of Coney Island. Or it can give in to the big money and create something with little regard to what New Yorkers and the world want. We want Coney Island back. We want an amusement area that is bigger and better than ever. One that will actually draw people from all over the world.

The current rezoning plan envisions only 12 acres of open-air amusements, an area the New York Times called “simply too small to attract enough rides and attractions to bring back the big crowds.” It is essential to set aside at least 25 acres for open-air amusements to ensure Coney Island has enough space to accommodate the potential attendance of 3.5 million visitors and create a truly world-class amusement area.

The City Council must FIX the city's plan by making the following amendments:

1) Expand the acreage for outdoor rides and amusements.

2) Prevent high-rise towers from invading the heart of the amusement district.

3) Promote small businesses and local entrepreneurs and prevent their displacement.

4) Protect Coney Island's historic buildings.

5) Create jobs for New Yorkers in the amusement industry by preserving amusement zoning.

By fixing its plan, the city can revitalize Coney Island's historic amusement district, preserving it as a playground for all New Yorkers, a world-class tourist destination and an economic engine for the Coney Island community and New York City.

I've attached the Viability of an Amusement Destination plan for Coney Island that was put together by David Malmuth for the Municipal Art Society. This plan was presented February 11, 2009, at their Imagine Coney presentation.
It is the only realistic plan for the future of Coney and it is the only plan put together by people in the Amusement  Industry.

http://mas.org/images/media/original/MAS-economic-briefing-malmuth-21109.pdf

So I ask you, the members of the City Council to FIX the city's plan . Save Coney Island! It's the best thing for New York.

[break]

Great reporting! 

For reading up on Coney history I have to put a plug in for this book:



I bought it while burning through some gift cards at Barnes and Noble and it was so much more than I expected.  It covers the way-back history of Coney Island but also the authors personal experience as a lifelong resident.  It's a completely fascinating book. Just thinking about it makes me want to read it again.   

http://www.tenspeed.com/store/index.php?main_page=pubs_product_book_jph1_info&products_id=1462

[HaroldBlvd]

Pictures of my family's coaster The Thunderbolt, can be seen on pages 248 and 249.

There's a picture of my cousin Fred Moran and his girlfriend Mae Timpano on page 216. Fred ran the ride after his father George died in 1965. I'm named after Fred's brother Harold who died in WW2.
Fred and his family and girlfriend lived under the Thunderbolt. I used to visit there nearly every weekend as a child.
Fred's uncle, my grandfather Arthur, was chief technician of the Thunderbolt. There's a picture of him on page 217 doing what he became famous for. Climbing the hills and maintaining the ride.

Tom is a member ACE and I'm sure he knows about the Thunderbolt. It was highly regarded by coaster enthusiasts from all over the world. I'll never forgive Guiliani for tearing it down.

The story of the demolition of the Thunderbolt is on page 276.

All in all that is one amazing book.

Coney Island has fourished over the years despite all the city's efforts to kill it. NYC has failed to enforce it's own zoning laws that allow for only amusements to be built on Coney Island. As a result there are vacant lots, school bus parking lots, and Russian furniture stores where the city of New York's own zoning laws demand that there be rides and attractions.
Now the city seeks to rezone Coney in an effort to allow more development. They would allow hotels and stores where rides and attractions should be. The city's present plan only allows for 9 acres of outdoor amusements.
Everyone from the NY Times to the Municipal Arts Society says Coney needs a lot more than that to become the world class amusement park it once was.

Right now Coney is in worse shape than it ever was in it's entire history. This is all down to the city bungling the entire Coney rehab by allowing greedy developers to buy up all the land instead of acquiring the land itself. Now the city must buy back that land in order for anything to happen. The negotiations are ongoing despite the April fools joke from Councilman Recchia.

I am cautiously hopeful that with the right prodding from the right people, the city may do the right thing with Coney.

[Regular Joe]

Middle and back rows, from left to right:

Tracy Ullman as the young reporter 'Ivanna Writealot', Howie Mandell in disguise for his new hit show 'Howie Do It', a character to be avoided at all costs, Bob Odenkirk as Droopy, Donal Logue reprising his famous technician role, Miss Beatrice Screwbottom (associate member of the Christian Ladies Complaint Society), Rick the Boom Operator and Ernie Hudson.

This was not at all respectful or helpful. My apologies!

[buffcoat]

Bob Odenkirk has really gone downhill.


Harold, I bet no one has ever told you you're not detail-oriented or thorough.

[erechoveraker]

DL Hart?? 

[snoopywaves]

It was great to read about something like this from a regular person's perspective. I hope things work out.

[Josh]

Also the city is only allowing 9 acres . . . dedicated to outdoor amusement parks. It is a narrow strip of land between the Wonder Wheel and the Boardwalk. This is just not enough room for a world class amusement park.

For reference, in the early 1900s Luna Park alone was 38 acres. If you haven't, HaroldBlvd, read the chapter on Coney Island, that "clitoral appendage at the mouth of New York's natural harbor", in Rem Koolhaas' Delirious New York. It's quite the love letter to the turn-of-the-century amusement parks as incubators for future invention in Manhattan (Dreamland founder William Reynolds would later develop the Chrysler Building) and to its creators, who "alienated a part of the earth's surface further from nature than architecture has ever succeeded in doing before, and turned it into a magic carpet that can: reproduce experience and fabricate almost any sensation; sustain any number of ritualistic performances that exorcise the apocalyptic penalties of the metropolitan condition . . .; and survive the onslaught of over a million visitors a day." Of course, in those days, the threat was from the elites and hoteliers east of the parks.

[nec13]

Bob Odenkirk has really gone downhill.

I guess the residuals from the Mr. Show dvd's aren't rolling in quite like they used to. A man has to eat, don't you know.

[cutout]

Great reporting Harold, and thanks to break for the book recommendation.

[yesno]

For reading up on Coney history I have to put a plug in for this book:

I've been looking for a good Seaside book.

[nec13]

Nice pictures, Harold. Hopefully someone is able to revitalize Coney Island without forcing it to lose much of its character.

[dave from knoxville]

Good work, Harold, but really, I wouldn't sweat it; when the global temperature raises another two degrees, all of Manhattan will be under water, then those new condo guys will be out all of their capital anyway.

[Denim Gremlin]

Pictures of my family's coaster The Thunderbolt, can be seen on pages 248 and 249.

There's a picture of my cousin Fred Moran and his girlfriend Mae Timpano on page 216. Fred ran the ride after his father George died in 1965. I'm named after Fred's brother Harold who died in WW2.
Fred and his family and girlfriend lived under the Thunderbolt. I used to visit there nearly every weekend as a child.
Fred's uncle, my grandfather Arthur, was chief technician of the Thunderbolt. There's a picture of him on page 217 doing what he became famous for. Climbing the hills and maintaining the ride.

Tom is a member ACE and I'm sure he knows about the Thunderbolt. It was highly regarded by coaster enthusiasts from all over the world. I'll never forgive Guiliani for tearing it down.

The story of the demolition of the Thunderbolt is on page 276.

All in all that is one amazing book.

Coney Island has fourished over the years despite all the city's efforts to kill it. NYC has failed to enforce it's own zoning laws that allow for only amusements to be built on Coney Island. As a result there are vacant lots, school bus parking lots, and Russian furniture stores where the city of New York's own zoning laws demand that there be rides and attractions.
Now the city seeks to rezone Coney in an effort to allow more development. They would allow hotels and stores where rides and attractions should be. The city's present plan only allows for 9 acres of outdoor amusements.
Everyone from the NY Times to the Municipal Arts Society says Coney needs a lot more than that to become the world class amusement park it once was.

Right now Coney is in worse shape than it ever was in it's entire history. This is all down to the city bungling the entire Coney rehab by allowing greedy developers to buy up all the land instead of acquiring the land itself. Now the city must buy back that land in order for anything to happen. The negotiations are ongoing despite the April fools joke from Councilman Recchia.

I am cautiously hopeful that with the right prodding from the right people, the city may do the right thing with Coney.

In Alvy Singer's house?

[Martin]

My thoughts exactly, Colin!