It looks like there is a nascent movement starting to block the construction of the $64 million outdoor ampitheater and Jones Beach-like concert facility in Coney Island championed by Borough President Marty Markowitz. The facility would be adjacent to residential towers housing thousands of people and destroy much of Asser-Levy Park. It appears, however, that people are also starting to question both the location and the cost of the facility as the city budget begins to drown in a sea of red ink. A flier handed out at Wednesday night’s Municipal Art Society meeting pointed out the facility would be ten stories tall, produce a wall on Surf Avenue that would be 12-feet high and reduce open space. It also questions the $64 million price tag when budgets are being cut for libraries, schools and other city services. The flier refers to the project as “an atrocity” and promises a “town hall” meeting soon. The venue is supposed to be designed by prestigious Grimshaw Architects, but then again, the Atlantic Yards area was supposed to be designed by Frank Gehry and there seems to be some question about that now. The opponents of the plan also point out that KeySpan Park would be available for concerts many nights every summer. The contact email is saveseasidepark (at) aol (dot) com and the NYC Park Advocates group.
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6 responses so far ↓
1 anon // Jan 16, 2009 at 4:40 pm
What a waste of hard earned tax payer monies. For what? Mr. Markowitz’s ego. He has a lot of nerve or chutzpah as he would say. This venue belongs in the coney island amusement area, not a residential area.
2 Jack // Jan 16, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Of all the places to build an amphitheater, this is not it. Why not build it in city owned land in—I don’t know—Coney Island itself!
I grew up playing in this park and even now the hackneyed amphitheater thing that is there now is an underused testament to pork barrel and not much else. It’s a true eyesore that unnecessarily splits the park in half.
And you know, when I was a kid there was a much smaller and much more modest stage that local schools used. That actually fit in with the park.
Do us all a favor. Maintain the park that exists now. Some of the fences are STILL the same ones I climbed over when I was a kid and they are rusty and a mess.
3 savitri d // Jan 16, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I agree, why mess with those trees and all that peaceful space when that stadium is just sitting there unused almost every night, The Mets got a pretty penny for subsidies there not to mention up at Shea. Let them give back!
4 Harolfd Kramer // Jan 22, 2009 at 12:50 am
What foolishness. Why build an amphitheater like this when just a few blocks east on Surf Ave. is Keyspan Park. An under utilized venue that is just the perfect size for all kinds of concerts and events.
Smarten up Marty Markowitz. Take that money and build a new amusement park on one of the many empty lots in Coney Island.
Save Coney Island Now!
5 The Truth // May 17, 2009 at 3:40 am
Marty is a mother f,,,ker. He is downzoning brighton and wants to put this shit in the area. imagine all the traffic…. where will the cars park?
6 Alexandra // Aug 1, 2009 at 9:15 am
Dear Marty Markowitz,
Seaside Park is a gulp of fresh air for disabled, eldery and kids. Do not destroy it.
Think about people who elected you.