January | 2011 | Amusing the Zillion

Archive for January, 2011

Photo of the Day: Greetings from Ruby’s Snow Mountain Resort!

Posted in Photo of the Day, tagged Coney Island snow, East Coast Images, Polar Bear Club, Ruby's Bar, winter swimming on January 7, 2011| 2 Comments »

Dano Sunbathing on Ruby's Snow Mountain. coney Island Boardwalk. January 1, 2011. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

The New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim in Coney Island is always a joyous occasion. We felt a bit subdued this year due to the ongoing demolitions and evictions, but seeing so many of our Coney Island friends at Ruby’s Bar on January 1st put the “happy” in “Happy New Year” for ATZ. Here’s our flickr slide show from the day.

In the above photo, our friend Dano, best known as the photographer behind the lens of East Coast Images, is seen sunbathing on Ruby’s snow mountain before taking the Plunge. With today’s predicted accumulation of 2 to 4 inches on top of the snow already on the Boardwalk, you may want to head out to the People’s Playground this weekend to frolic in the snow.

If you missed the New Year’s Plunge, keep in mind that members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club swim in the Atlantic at 1 pm every Sunday from November through April. Visit the Bears’ website for info on joining them for a guest swim or simply spectating. It’s a great way to enjoy Coney Island’s ambiance during the winter season.

After the swim, drop by the Freak Bar at Coney Island USA for Sunday Brunch–“Bagels, coffee and characters”– at 2 pm with the Polar Bear Club. Bratva Bar and Restaurant on Surf at 12th also open for coffee, drinks and food at 2 pm. Live music starts at 3 pm.

Polar Bear Greetings from Ruby's Bar on New Year's Day 2011. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i vi flickr

Photo Album: Joe Sitt’s Bulldozer Crushes Henderson Building

Posted in Demolition, Photo Album, tagged Coney Island Redevelopment, Eric Kowalsky, Henderson Music Hall, Joe Sitt, Thor Equities on January 6, 2011| 13 Comments »

Thor Equities Demolition of the Henderson Building. January 5, 2010. Photo © Eric Kowalsky

Coney Island photographer Eric Kowalsky, who documented the demolition of the Bank of Coney Island in November, has eloquently captured the destruction-in-progress of the historic Henderson Music Hall in this series of images.

Eric put his camera through the gate on Henderson Walk to take the above photo of the crushed remains of part of the Henderson Building formerly occupied by Faber’s Fascination. “They took the front and side of the building down. The Bowery is still standing,” he said this morning.

Thor Equities Demolition of the Henderson Building. January 5, 2010. Photo © Eric Kowalsky

Last week we posted historian Charles Denson’s video tribute to the Henderson Theater. As we previously noted, the City aided and abetted Joey “Bulldozer” Sitt by rezoning the Henderson parcel for a high rise hotel. There are however no immediate plans to build a hotel on the site. The City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission denied landmark designation and also declined to create a historic district, which would have created tax incentives to rehab the building.

Thor Equities Demolition of the Henderson Building. January 5, 2010. Photo © Eric Kowalsky

The Henderson Building is the first sight you see on Surf Avenue when you step out of Stillwell Terminal. It is at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues. We should probably use the past tense, though the demolition is still underway. The first sight you see when you step out of Stillwell will soon be another empty lot to add to Joe Sitt’s collection of empty lots.

Thor Equities Demolition of the Henderson Building. January 5, 2010. Photo © Eric Kowalsky

Exclusive: NYCEDC Kiss-Off Letter to Coney Island Boardwalk 8

Posted in Redevelopment, tagged Boadwalk, Central Amusement International, Coney Island 8, Economic Development Corporation, Mayor Bloomberg, NYCEDC on January 6, 2011| 6 Comments »

ATZ obtained a copy of the cruel kiss-off letter sent by the City’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to the Coney Island Boardwalk businesses on October 25th. The City’s lease with the businesses was set to expire just a few days later on the 31st. “Please be advised that effective as of the date of this letter, the NYCEDC (“Licensor”) has assigned its interest as Licensor under your license for the premises to Central Amusement International.”

It appears to be a slick legal maneuver by the City to abdicate responsibility for the November 1st eviction of these Mom and Pops from City-owned property by CAI, which the City certainly must have known about in advance. CAI’s Luna Park is a public-private partnership and everything of importance is done in consultation with the City. The letter is signed by John Cicerello, Executive Vice President of EDC’s Assets Management, which “manages, maintains and leases over 20 million square feet of City property assets with the goal of maximizing return on assets.”

The kiss-off letter begins “Dear Sir or Madam”– the same salutation as CAI’s October 29th surrender the premises letter— which ATZ previously posted. We have to wonder if both letters were drafted by the NYCEDC attorneys or is this type of letter always so generic and coldly impersonal?

The letter states that as of the date of this letter “any and all matters regarding your License and the Premises should be addressed with Central Amusement International.” Any license fees and charges. Any notices, inquiries, requests. Any anything. In other words, the City’s done with you, Sir or Madam. Don’t call us, blame us, bother us, ask us for support.

After the Boardwalk businesses received the eviction letters on November 1st, City officials–both elected and appointed–tried to distance themselves by referring all questions to the amusement operator. Officials told the business owners it was Zamperla’s decision and there was nothing they could do. The businesses, which had been expecting responses to their business plans, were shocked and dismayed to receive eviction notices instead.

In advance of an eviction hearing scheduled for January 10, both sides are expected to get together for talks today. Will there be an out of court settlement? At a previous hearing on December 10, NYCEDC attorneys and a representative of the asset management department were present along with Valerio Ferrari, CEO of Zamperla USA and Central Amusement International.

The Coney Island Eight’s new website asks “Who is behind the eviction of the Coney Island 8”? Their answer is that the City made the decision as to who was going to be on the boardwalk long before any proposals were submitted.

It has been reported that Central Amusements was responsible for the ousting of the Coney Island Boardwalk Businesses. This is not true. The City of New York under the leadership of Mayor Bloomberg are the primary developers of Coney Island. This became evident in meetings with Central Amusements when their top Management explained to the Boardwalk vendors that Mayor Bloomberg met with them and told them that he wanted the Boardwalk to have a fresh look. It was two days before the renewal of leases the owners of the land turned all the leases over to Central Amusements to give the impression that Central Amusements made this decision.