BP MARKOWITZ SUBMITS CONEY ISLAND ULURP REPORT CALLING FOR MORE AMUSEMENTS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, AND A DESIGN COMMITTEE TO ENSURE AWE-INSPIRING ARCHITECTURE

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Commends Borough President’s Commitment to Coney Island’s Community and Future

Thursday, April 30, 2009 — Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz submitted his ULURP Recommendation Report approving the City’s Coney Island Rezoning Plan with conditions related to increasing amusements, ensuring over-the-top design and guaranteeing that local residents and businesses realize opportunities from any new development.

“No one knows Brooklyn better than Marty Markowitz, and we appreciate his deep understanding of the City’s tourist economy, his tireless advocacy for the Coney Island community, and his thoughtful recommendations to the City’s Coney Island Revitalization Plan,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “I agree with the Borough President that we must ensure inspiring design. I am also thrilled that the City will be kicking off Coney Island’s revitalization this summer with a groundbreaking for the new playground at Asser Levy Park, future site of a gorgeous renovated park and state-of-the-art amphitheater at Coney Island’s eastern gateway. We have unique window of opportunity to create something very special at Coney Island, and the time to do it is now.”

“Coney Island is bigger than all of us—it was here before we were ever thought of, and with our strong commitment it will be here and thriving long after we’re gone,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Coney has always been a place where families of every economic means could come to play and to dream. It’s where I spent summers as a child and remains an essential part of childhood for generations of children past, present and future. It’s not about profits, it’s about families. And now is the time to deliver for the families of this city and beyond and get the job done.”

Added BP Markowitz, “Mayor Bloomberg has been a real friend to Brooklyn and to Coney Island and I commend his commitment to a creating the year-round, affordable Coney Island of the 21st century. I have approved the City’s rezoning plan with a few essential conditions. I am calling for more amusements and the formation of a Design Committee to guarantee the famous awe-inspiring glitz and ‘bling’ of what was once called an ‘Electric Eden’—as well as requirements that will make sure that we build in Coney, we build with and for Coney and that local residents benefit from the jobs, housing and resources the new zoning will create.”

“I now ask the City Planning Commission and the Council to move decisively to ensure Coney Island a bright future.”

A summary of recommendations follows
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CONTACT:  Laura Sinagra      718-802-3831; lsinagra@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
Mark Zustovich     718-802-3830; mzustovich@brooklynbp.nyc.gov

• More Amusements: Increase Amusements in Coney Island Special District
• Guarantee Glitz: Create Design Committee to Ensure Awe-Inspiring Architecture
• Build With Coney, By Coney, For Coney: Build in Community Opportunities: Local Jobs, Housing, Rewards and Resources

1) More Amusements: Increase Ground Floor Amusements for Visibility/Access

This recommendation calls for required ground floor amusement space be increased from zero to a minimum of 15 percent of the frontage on Surf and Stillwell Avenues and West 10th Street, with a goal of creating 150,000 square feet of ground floor amusement space in the Special Coney Island District.
2) Guarantee Glitz: Create Design Committee to Ensure Awe-Inspiring Architecture

Coney Island has always been known for its awe-inspiring architecture and ambience—the famous Luna Park was fondly described as “Electric Eden.” The recommendations call for establishing a Coney Island Design Committee charged with ensuring the development of the Coney Island amusement area (i.e. the Special Coney Island District) remains unique, creative and iconic with regard to elements such as architecture, signage, lighting and the preservation of appropriate buildings and amusements, as well as the upholding of certain aesthetic values for thrilling, over-the-top design both now and in the future.

3) Build With Coney, By Coney, For Coney: Local Jobs, Housing, Rewards and Resources

• “Coney Built and Coney Operated”: Anything built for Coney Island should be built “by” Coney Island, and the operation of amusements, retail and businesses should also provide opportunities for local residents. The recommendations call on the City to require the following in all Request for Proposals (RFPs) it issues:
• That there be targeted outreach so that residents of Coney Island benefit by obtaining not less than 50 percent of new jobs created as a result of the Coney Island Plan
• Union labor should be used where appropriate, and all contractors, subcontractors and employers should pay prevailing or area-wide wages for every trade and position
• To the greatest extent possible, contractors and suppliers should be minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) and local-owned business enterprises
• That all contractors, subcontractors and employers must have a track record of successfully performing the services at issue, paying livable wages and benefits and complying with all applicable city, state and federal laws, including health and safety laws, environmental laws, wage and hour laws and anti-discrimination laws, for at least the past five years
• That all building service workers must be paid prevailing wage and supplement rates
• Livable wages for non-union eligible jobs
• Promote neighborhood entrepreneurs by encouraging developers to provide space for small businesses

• Coney Resident Discounts: City should show appreciation to Coney Islanders by providing local discounts (modeled on discounts provided to Richmond, Virginia residents who visit King’s Dominion; Gatlinburg, Tennesseans who get discounts for local attractions and Southern Californians who get “twofers” for Disneyland, Legoland, etc.).
• Guaranteed Affordable Housing: Increase affordable housing in the Coney West or Coney North districts from 20 percent to 35 percent of total units
• Respect for Long-Standing Businesses: Asks that the City honor proprietors who have “kept the faith” in Coney Island during the lean times (notably, Deno’s Wonder Wheel and Gargiulo’s Restaurant) by working with them on zoning requests
• Additional Community Resources: This recommendation also calls for addressing the community’s most pressing needs, such as its lack of indoor recreational space and need for access to healthy foods:

• Gymnasium and Community Center at PS 188: Calls on the City to advance design and construction of this project
• Abe Stark Ice Rink: Asks that the rink continue in operation until such time that a replacement rink has been constructed at an alternative location
• Supermarket: Due to limited access to affordable fresh food in this neighborhood, the recommendation asks that the developer of one of the City-owned properties in either the Coney West or Coney North districts provide a supermarket, and that such requirement be included in all RFPs.