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Archive for the ‘Coney Island Redevelopment’ Category

Coney Island and the EDC Say Bon Voyage to Lynn Kelly

Posted in Coney Island Redevelopment, tagged CIDC, Coney Island Development Corporation, Lynn Kelly, NYCEDC on October 29, 2010| 1 Comment »

Lynn Kelly in front of Lynn's Trapeze in Luna Park Coney Island. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Last night at Lynn Kelly’s Bon Voyage Party at Vig Bar in Nolita, men in suits and blue wigs were spilling out onto the sidewalk by the time we arrived. The invite had said “Leave Your Everyday Hair Color at Home.” The guest of honor was clad in the pink wig and sequined dress that have been her signature costume for Coney Island’s Mermaid Parades and Galas.

After four years as vice president of the City’s Economic Development Corporation and president of the Coney Island Development Corporation, Kelly is leaving for a new career as president/CEO of Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island. But we think she has sand in her shoes and will come back to Coney to visit Lynn’s Trapeze, which was named in her honor, and bring a Snug Harbor float to the Mermaid Parade.

Now just a sec, while we order a drink from the customized menu. What’ll you have? Lynn Fizz….Kami-Kelly….Lunapolitan? How about a Coney Island Iced Tea…

Cheers and Congratulations!

Photo of the Day: The Bank of Coney Island, Now & Then

Posted in Coney Island Redevelopment, historic preservation, Photo of the Day, tagged Bank of Coney Island, Charles Denson, demolition, Eric Kowalsky, Thor Equities on October 14, 2010| 1 Comment »

Doomed Bank of Coney Island with Demolition Scaffolding. October 13, 2010. Photo © Eric Kowalsky

On Wednesday, demolition scaffolding was erected around Thor Equities-owned Bank of Coney Island on 12th Street at Surf Avenue. In Eric Kowalsky’s stunning photo, the long, black boards resemble a coffin for the doomed bank. A demolition permit has been issued and the work is expected to be finished within 40 days.

ATZ has already spent–some would say wasted–considerable time advocating for the preservation of this building. “A Rare Peek Inside Endangered Old Bank of Coney Island” was posted over a year ago on October 9, 2009. Nothing whatsoever has changed since then. A few weeks ago, Save Coney Island’s splendid rendering of the building re-imagined as the “Banker’s Ballroom” was a hit in the blogosphere. But it was a quixotic effort because real estate speculator Joe Sitt never gave it the time of day. Shame on Thor Equities for not even responding to the written pleas of individuals and organizations to re-purpose the building or at least save the facade. Shame on the City of New York for sacrificing the building by rezoning the parcel for a 30-story high rise in July 2009.

In the lovely archival photo below sent to us by historian Charles Denson, the Bank of Coney Island is a branch of Banker’s Trust (1928-1950). The bank was later sold to Manufacturer’s Hanover. In December 1987, the branch closed and the property was offered for sale, with a minimum acceptable bid of $225,000, all cash. The building has remained vacant since real estate speculator Joe Sitt bought the Bank of Coney Island building in 2005 for $3 million.

Bank of Coney Island. Photo © Charles Denson Archive

Photo Op: Demolition by Neglect in Progress in Coney Island?

Posted in Coney Island Redevelopment, Demolition, tagged Coney Island, Demolition by Neglect, Henderson Building, Thor Equities on October 6, 2010| 2 Comments »

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Flood at Henderson Building. Oct 6, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Update….Bruce Handy sent us the above photo and a link to a set of photos and a video of the water pouring out of the Henderson Building taken today, October 6th at 5 pm. Don’t miss the vid! The set also shows the Grashorn Building, Coney’s oldest, which had its locks cut and is now vulnerable to trespassers. Thor Equities desecration of their property in Coney Island continues unchallenged by City agencies. Please note that these buildings had tenants and were not vacant or derelict until Joe Sitt bought the property and emptied them of tenants.

October 6, 7 pm…Thor finally sent somebody over to turn off the flood in the Henderson Bldg. How come they don’t send a thank you note to everyone who looked out for their property?!

October 7, 10:45 am…Scaffolding is going up around the Henderson in preparation for the demolition.

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Calling all photographers! We’re saving a spot at the top of this post for the first, best or only photo of this developing news story: More than 24 hours ago Dick Zigun, director of Coney Island USA, posted on the Coney Island Message Board: “At this moment (October 5th at noon) water from a broken pipe is pouring out of the second story hotel section of Henderson’s into Henderson’s Walk, below. Maybe the idea is to get the building to collapse on it’s own?” The water is still pouring down.

ATZ made a few phone calls yesterday and learned that Sam Sabin of Thor Equities, the owner of the Henderson Building, had been notified of the situation. He was alerted again today.

On the CIUSA board, Dick speculated that scavengers got into the building and ripped out the copper pipes for salvage. This wouldn’t surprise us since the building was unsecured after undergoing asbestos abatement and under the radar pre-demolition.

If the water keeps pouring down, the wall could collapse and the building declared unsafe and have to be demolished, regardless of whether a demolition permit was issued in the first place. According to CB 13, the DOB said a demolition permit had been issued. But no one was working in the building last week.. Demolition by Neglect? You decide….

New York City has a Demolition by Neglect law, but we could not locate its web page via Google. Hello? It’s worth noting the law was authored by former City Councilman Tony Avella, who is now running for State Senate. We found a handy definition on the City of New Orleans website:

Specific criteria for the determination of Demolition by Neglect are as follows:

* The deterioration of a building to the extent that it creates or permits a hazardous or unsafe condition as determined by the Department of Safety and Permits.

* The deterioration of a building(s) characterized by one or more of the following: a. Those buildings which have parts thereof which are so attached that they may fall and injure members of the public or property; b. Deteriorated or inadequate foundation; c. Defective or deteriorated floor supports or floor supports insufficient to carry imposed loads with safety; d. Members of walls, or other vertical supports that split, lean, list, or buckle due to defective material or deterioration; e. Members of walls or other vertical supports that are insufficient to carry imposed loads with safety; f. Members of ceiling, roofs, ceiling and roof supports, or other horizontal members which sag, split, or buckle due to defective material or deterioration; g. Members of ceiling, roofs, ceiling and roof supports, or other horizontal members that are insufficient to carry imposed loads with safety; h. Fireplaces or chimneys which list, bulge, or settle due to defective material or deterioration; i. Any fault, defect, or condition in the building which renders the same structurally unsafe or not properly watertight.

* Action by the City, the State Fire Marshall, or the Department of Safety and Permits relative to the safety or physical condition of any building.

The Henderson Building has already suffered so much damage from the “pre demolition,” it’s like watching an old person being slowly tortured to death. Save Coney Island, which has proposed re-purposing the building, might as well go ahead and start planning a New Orleans style funeral for the Henderson Music Hall right now.

Send photos to hello[AT]triciavita.com