With the opening of the new Luna Park this weekend (above), Coney Island has welcomed its first new amusement park in nearly half a century. But even as Coney Island seems set to reclaim a measure of its former glory as "Playground of the World," the few remaining physical vestiges of its storied past are at risk. Thor Equities, the developer whose real estate speculation has ravaged the amusement district during the past few years, has announced plans to demolish several of Coney Island's most historically significant buildings.
The threatened buildings all date back to Coney Island's golden age. They include the amusement district's oldest remaining structure, the Grashorn Building (built in the late 1880s), and the turn-of-the-century Henderson's Music Hall, site of Harpo Marx's first public performance with his brothers Groucho and Gummo. They also include the Bank of Coney Island, a 1923 Classical Revival beauty, and the Shore Hotel, constructed around 1903 and until recently the amusement district's last operating hotel.
Demolishing these buildings would be the latest in a series of severe blows that Thor has inflicted upon Coney Island. First, Thor shut down the rides, games and other amusements along Stillwell Ave., today lined by vacant lots. Next, Thor forced closure of the famed Astroland after almost half a century as Coney Island's anchor attraction.
Apparently not content to trash present-day Coney Island, Thor CEO Joe Sitt is now seeking to erase its past. "Every one of these buildings are just horrible, rundown relics with nothing exciting about them," he told New York 1.
In truth, each of these so-called "relics" deserves protection because of its heritage value alone. Together, they form a large part of Coney Island's historic core - a strip that stretches two blocks from hot dog emporium Nathan's Famous to the landmarked Cyclone roller coaster. They provide a sense of place and contribute to the shared experience that has bound together generations of New Yorkers who grew up coming to Coney Island.
Yes, this much is true: Years of neglect have left Coney Island's historic buildings dilapidated. But that's a reason to protect them, not demolish them.
Each of the existing structures could and should be imaginatively restored. It is worth recalling that iconic New York structures like the Prospect Park Boathouse, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and even Coney Island's own Parachute Jump were all in terrible physical condition before they were saved and became cherished landmarks. More recently, the elevated freight railway known as the High Line, once derelict and in danger of being torn down, was transformed into one of the jewels of New York City's parks system.
Rather than wipe Coney Island's slate clean, we should take this opportunity to connect with its celebrated past. Several preservation organizations have proposed the creation of a Coney Island historic district - the best way to safeguard all the historic buildings along Surf Ave. for future generations.
In the meantime, Thor must redeem itself and spare these buildings the wrecking ball. Preservation and redevelopment need not be at odds. Coney Island's rich history is what makes it a household name around the world; protecting what remains of its luminous past will help ensure that one of Brooklyn's crown jewels will have a bright future.
Rivero is spokesman for the grass-roots activist group Save Coney Island.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/06/02/2010-06-02_save_landmarks_of_coney_island_from_cyclone_sitt.html#ixzz0phtTj18s
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