SAVE CONEY ISLAND

[Dalexs]

I could have sworn that Coney Island was a national landmark.[huh]

I signed.

It would make things much easier if it were.
While Coney Island (and yes, it is barely just an island) is not an official landmark, a bunch of the original rides are, thank goodness!

 

[Katt in Hat]

I lived < 2 miles from Coney during the entire '50s.

It was an easy walk with or without a gal...Boopsie entered the picture round mid-decade.

Know the song Under The Boardwalk ?

Once, on a frigid winter night, my Pop drove us to Nathan's around midnight. We had lobster rolls and corn and...
The temperature was below 20¬?F but my brother and I and Pop really had a time.

I now have another good reason to return to Noo Yawk one more time...one more once...

:cheers1: I signed...

 

[Feraud]

A reprieve!

One More Season for Astroland
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 25, 2007
The venerable Astroland amusement park in Coney Island will remain open for one more season under a deal announced yesterday with the developer behind the neighborhood’s planned $2 billion makeover. The agreement came after it appeared that the park’s classic rides had gone dark for the last time on Sept. 9. But weeks of talks between the developer, Thor Equities, and the family that owns Astroland, the Alberts, produced a short-term lease. The terms were not made public yesterday. The Alberts, who opened Astroland in 1962, sold the 3.1-acre property off the Boardwalk to Thor last year as part of the developer’s effort to turn 10 acres of Coney Island into a year-round tourist attraction.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/nyregion/25mbrfs-ASTROLAND.html

I am definitely making a trip to Coney Island next season to see Astroland one last time.

 

[RondoHatton]

Signed.
How I miss the NuPike in Long Beach.

 

[Twitch]

It's becomming the same everywhere- let's wrangle the propertey out of the hands of the rightfull owners under some guise of emminant domain and make a killing with some clapboard condos or some such similar crapola construction.

Let's contact hese guys for help

 

[BeBopBaby]

Let's contact hese guys for help

YES!!!! I forgot about this movie! lol

A developer tore down a section of woods near my house that a group of deer lived in. Now the deer have no where to go and I keep seeing them wandering around. I drove past the spot the other say and there was a big fancy For Lease sign up with the developers info on it and some one spray painted "No Thanks" on the sign in large letters. I normally don't condone graffitti, but that was good.

 

[Dalexs]

Luckily my brothers and I scheduled a trip to NY for one last romp down the boardwalk.

I (maybe not the smartest thing in the world...) volunteered to drive my folks down to join in the fun.

We grew up in Jersey going there a few times a year. Spring and Fall for the rides, summer for the beach.

It was my grandfathers favorite place to take us.

I have some pictures here: http://www.whitvani.net/PhotoAlbum/Coney_Island_2007/

Has the area "officially" closed down yet?

 

[Dalexs]

Looks like one more season for Astroland!

The New York Daily News
Coney Island's Astroland will stay open one more season

Thursday, October 25th 2007, 4:00 AM

The thril is back.

Coney Island's famed Astroland Amusement Park struck a deal Wednesday for a one-year lease extension - allowing it to open for another season before bulldozers rumble in.

The terms of the agreement with Thor Equities were not disclosed, but the developer had been asking for $3 million in rent.

Without an extension, the Pirate Ship, Tilt-A-Whirl, Water Flume and other attractions were destined for the auction block.

"It's a major victory for the working people of Coney Island," said Dick Zigun, the Brooklyn neighborhood's unofficial mayor and a critic of Thor Equities.

Astroland opened in 1962 and employs 300 workers during its season, which begins next year on Palm Sunday, March 16.

Thor Equities is planning to build a glitzy new park on the Astroland site, part of its imagined $1.5billion, Vegas-style makeover of Coney Island.

The ambitious plans have been bogged down in controversy and hinge on the city's long-awaited rezoning of the beachfront community.

"We want to thank our many supporters and fans who worked so hard to keep Astroland open," co-owner Carol Hill Albert said after yesterday's announcement.

Astroland also operates the world-famous, city-owned Cyclone roller coaster, which is a landmark and will not be shut down under Thor's plans.

Rachel Monahan and Tracy Connor

 

[mike]

I've got quite the history connected to this place and it makes me sad to live across the country for the last season of its existance.

The family came over from Russia in the late 1800's and lived in Brighton Beach, one area over from Coney Island. Brighton Beach is actually were Luna Park was. My grandfather worked the docks, his cousin, Dora Gutterman worked at the World Circus Side Show, which is the same building that the present Coney Island USA side show is based, owned by Dick Ziggun. Dora was a real bearded lady, her stage name was LIONETTE THE LION FACED GIRL! And she worked there from 1925-40. She made great money and payed for a great number of the family's expenses. Although would have to wear a veil out in public, and my grandfather would meet her when she was done with work and walk her home because otherwise local people would try to beat her up regularly.

My mom grew up in the early 50's at Coney Island, by that time, it started to get real dangerous so my grandfather moved the family out to the suburbs. But the stories of what was once, have remained in our family ever since.

I grew up with tales of the virtually surreal rides that defied common sense from my grandfather childhood.

A few years ago I was fortunate that I wound up running & promoting a highly successful Spook Show for an entire season upstairs from the present day side show at the Coney Island Museum. We had sell out audiences and were told from Dick, that we were the entire season's biggest draw! (Spook Shows include glow inthe dark ghost appearing over peoples heads and much more during morbid magician's acts performed between programmer sized horror films)

I spent tons of time with all the side show performers, I even dated the sword swallower from the side show for a year or so!

Living in California makes me very home sick. But I know the wheels of progress grind on. Growing up being into Punk in the early 90's, I knew that the Lower East Side that made artistic abilities thrive in the late 70's no longer existed there, and the down trodden dangerous times that made the hardcore matinees of the 80's no longer existed there. And yet, what the Lower East Side was for me only 10-15 years ago is also not even there anymore. Everything is a glossy expensive NYU dorm or cafe. So what I am home sick for is really the memories of the past that will never be again. Guiliani's dream of a tourist friendly, lack of identity NYC and the pursuit of the all holy dollar sadly, is the only driving force paving the way to our future.

GABBA GABBA HEY!

 

[reetpleat]

Oh boy. I knew this was coming..


Is is better to have a dilapidated, less populated Coney Island or give it the dreaded Vegas/Times Square treatment? There are pros and cons to both sides I guess..

That is what I am thinking. I would love if they could imagine and redevelop it into a really cool, vintage style, but vital place that will attract people. But I wonder if it is possible. Is the tastes of the public such that they could appreciate something like that. Any examples?

 

[reetpleat]

YES!!!! I forgot about this movie! lol

A developer tore down a section of woods near my house that a group of deer lived in. Now the deer have no where to go and I keep seeing them wandering around. I drove past the spot the other say and there was a big fancy For Lease sign up with the developers info on it and some one spray painted "No Thanks" on the sign in large letters. I normally don't condone graffitti, but that was good.

That pisses me off. The city should have forced the developers to give them one or more of the condo units.

 

[reetpleat]

So, is Cony Island still viable. Does it attract people. Do hey spend money. Do the businesses make money, is it relatively crime and gang free?

If all those things are true, it should stay just as it is.

If not, it should first have every effort to clean it up, without messing with it too much.

don't lose sight of the fact that the owners of the park sold it. The city has every right to prevent it from being rezoned to smoething else, but if the owners can't make a profit or find someone else who thinks they can, then it is kind of a white elephant with the public to blame for not appreciating it.

But if people support and patronize it, then it should stay just as it is.

 

[dhermann1]

Coney Island is a huge beach just a subway ride away from 8 million people. Even today (well, in the summer, that is) it's mobbed. I visited for the first time in ages when Lolita Haze performed there. The attractions were swarming with thousands of people all evening. However the area has become astonishingly shabby and run down. The great parks, Luna Park, the Steeplechase, etc. were demolished decades ago. Astroland is fun, but it's not a patch on the great parks of yesteryear. That said, those parks are gone because they became outdated. The attractions of 80 years ago would not excite most people today. The area became a dangerous slum in the 1960's and 70's. It has, like many of the city's bad neighborhoods, made a considerable rebound since that time. But the area still definitely needs a drastic redevelopment.
What is hoped is that the new Coney Island will preserve what is worth saving, and also recreate something of the old fashoned charm of the place. I think a lot of people feel that the present plans simply create a Vegas by the Sea. There are wonderful old structures that ought to be rehabbed, not demolished. But I must say, what I saw of Astroland didn't excite me very much.
There is huge unexplored potential in Coney Island. But it needs to be done right.
BTW, if you want to see the best movie ever made about Coney Island, rent "The Little Fugitive", 1953. Great flick. (It also is an uncanny depiction of my own life at exactly that time. Kind of spooky, almost.)

 

[Dalexs]

I truly wish there will be a comprise that will suit everyones needs.
I understand the need to want to gentrify a neighborhood to make it a better place.
The impression is that they're simply going to roll the bulldozers in and start ripping everything down in their path.
I HOPE that is not going to be the case.

While riding the Wonderwheel this year, its hard not to see all of the vacant buildings and desolate lots.

Yes, Astroland is not much of a thrill ride, but it lives because of it uniqueness.
Nothing like still breathes in America as far as I know. Especially with the history that it has.

I love the fact that the Russian bath house is now a musical function hall.
I was amazedthat the freakshow was jammed packed the entire weekend.
(And yes, it was my first official freakshow and my brother, my mom and dad, and I had blast!)
If they are able to keep some of the historical buildins and artifacts in tact,
I'm all for reahab.

As long as the boardwalk, the Parachute Jump, Dinos Wonderwheel and The Cyclone remain, I will be a happy camper.

Althought I grew up going to Coney Island as a kid with my grandfather, it now is nothing more then a carnival by the sea.

If they help revitalize the area by recreating someof the wonders that once were, it may just work.

If they just outright condo-ize it... they're on their own.

 

[dhermann1]

The latest on Coney Island

It would seem the Thor Properties scheme to build a Vegas style resort at Coiney Island is defunct. I imagine the "Save Coney Island" activists will be happy. I think this is probably a good thing.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10162008/news/regionalnews/coney_gains_a_big_amusement_spark_133838.htm

 

[Feraud]

It would seem the Thor Properties scheme to build a Vegas style resort at Coiney Island is defunct. I imagine the "Save Coney Island" activists will be happy. I think this is probably a good thing.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10162008/news/regionalnews/coney_gains_a_big_amusement_spark_133838.htm

Three huzzahs for the Depression! :cheers1:


we now will wait and see what the city has in store for the area...

 

[Dalexs]

Well, as long as I can still walk the boardwalk and ride my guts out on the Cyclone, I'm happy.

It will be interesting to see what comes of this latest turn of events.

 

[Heather]

Done

 

[Edward]

GABBA GABBA HEY!

Bravo! When the man forced the closure of CBGBs, a little bit of NYC died. RIP, Hilly - you and CBs.

 

[dhermann1]

The latest

So the City has bought the 7 acres in question. I guess that saves it from the Las Vegas-ey development, with tons of condos, that had been planned. But this could also mean that the redevelopment could take another generation, given New York's track record on such things. Stay tuned folks . . .
http://www.1010wins.com/Bloomberg-Announces-Plans-for--New--Coney-Island/5662359