City Ready to Allow Highrise Condos Near Coney Boardwalk?

City officials--some of whom have previously questioned allowing highrise condos along the Coney Island boardwalk as part of Thor Equities redevelopment plan--may already be edging toward a deal with the developer. Courier-Life reports there was a meeting in Borough President Marty Markowitz's office last week that included developer Joe Sitt, Council Member Domenic Recchia (who represents Coney) and Coney Island Development Corp Chair Josh Sirefman. The result:

The city may be closer to allowing for some residential housing in the amusement and entertainment district of Coney Island, Courier-Life Publications has learned...Sources said all at the meeting were in total agreement that the focus of Coney Island should remain an amusement and entertainment district that is private sector driven and in which the public sector serves as a catalyst. Sitt made the argument that some housing along Stillwell Avenue south of Surf Avenue is needed to achieve a year-round presence, sources said.

Sources said Sitt argued that the residential component is needed in order to move along on redeveloping Astroland and the rest of the amusement district.

All at the sit-down agreed that the amusement area needs more than just a 100-day-a-year draw.

Sitt argued that in order to be profitable, the amusement area needs 1.4 million visitors in Coney Island to take rides. It was brought up that last year the Cyclone had about 120,000 riders and Deno’s Wonder Wheel had about 200,000 riders, according to sources. Sources suggested that if Sitt could sell the amusement area as 180 days of excitement instead of 100 days, he could turn a profit.

For the city’s part, they want some kind of formula that ensures a “nice amount” of amusement and entertainment uses that allow for residential units to be built.

The rezoning process could start as early as September and there is some thought that the city will require the "amusement and entertainment area" to be well underway before the housing goes forward. The parcels Mr. Sitt appears to be targeting for housing are some of those currently being cleared.

Coney blog Kinetic Carnival, which addressed the issue over the weekend, wrote:

Nice amount mean the city is now in open agreement with reducing the amusement zone to allow more space to build the condominiums.

Therefore it seems that the condominiums will probably either be part of what is now Astroland or perhaps Thor is intending to place the residential buildings in their other lots. Where the mini golf course sat, the batting cages and go-karts were, or where the Henderson building is. (though that lot may be too small)...Either way, this is all indicating that Thor is tightening their reign over the city and will have the rezoning they are aiming for.

It would appear that if Mr. Sitt's public comments about being unable to do the Coney Island project without housing had their intended effect of softening up some city officials that had previously been lukewarm to the developer's planned 40-story condo towers. It promises to be a fascinating spring, summer and fall.