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Photo Album: Heroic 24/7 Race to Build Coney Island’s New Luna Park

Posted in amusement park, Coney Island Redevelopment, tagged Amusement park construction, Bruce Handy, Central Amusement International, Coney Island, Luna Park, Zamperla on April 14, 2010| 2 Comments »

“Walked past the park tonight at 8:30 and the floodlights were on and the backhoe was digging,” photographer and Coney Island resident Bruce Handy writes in a Tuesday night e-mail. “See my photostream, 4 night photos.” The four pix are part of his flickr set called The Birth of Luna Park.

Luna Park, 24/7. April 13, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Back in January, when we got the scoop that the park would be named Luna Park “like the first, the only, the inimitable one…,” Zamperla President and CEO Alberto Zamperla characterized the next few months as “a race against time.” Over the past week it became apparent to residents that construction crews were laboring virtually 24/7. A heroic effort is underway at the former Astroland site to make sure that Coney Island’s new Luna Park is ready to open on Memorial Day Weekend. May 29th is just 44 days away!

Luna Park, 24/7. April 11, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flick

At the moment, mounds of dirt are everywhere as site prep work continues night and day. Utility lines are currently being installed. “Every time I have viewed the site they have been working, except Sunday afternoon and night,” says Bruce, who notes that workers were even on the job at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning!

From Birth of Luna Park Set. April 6, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Except for this peephole, the construction fence is completely covered with safety netting. But the Q train is a great vantage point for taking photos. Last month, Bruce took the following photo which soon appeared on Luna Park’s blog with the explanation that the mystery pipes were actually part of a detention tank being installed underground to collect storm-water runoff.

From Birth of Luna Park Set. March 19, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Last month, a press release on Zamperla’s website said the company is 100% focused on Coney Island. “Antonio Zamperla SpA, world leader in the amusement industry as ride manufacturer and park operator, has left the company set up in 2007 with the Italian group Thorus to acquire and operate the amusement park in Capriate San Gervasio, Bergamo, Italy, later renamed Minitalia Leolandia Park, and is now fully focused on the re-launch of the historically significant Luna Park of Coney Island, New York.”

We’re wowed by Zamperla/CAI’s round-the-clock work schedule and single-minded commitment to Coney Island. Can’t wait to see the new park take shape as the rides begin to arrive. The park will have 19 new Zamperla rides including the prototype “Air Race,” a Mega Disk’O and a Vertical Swing. “The new Luna Park has been designed to reflect the spirit and personality of today’s Coney Island, while capturing the original look and feel of its namesake,” according to a press statement released yesterday. “With no entrance fee, Luna Park will be fully accessible to those who prefer games to rides, or to those simply taking a stroll down the Boardwalk.” We fully expect to be dazzled when we walk through its soon-to-be famous gate.

Rendering of Gate for the New Luna Park

Evicted by Thor, Coney Island’s Zipper Ride Thrills in Honduras

Posted in Coney Island Redevelopment, film, tagged Amy Nicholson, Coney Island, documentary film, Honduras, Last Day of the Zipper, Thor Equities, Zipper on April 12, 2010| 2 Comments »

Zipper, Coney Island. Photo © brooklynnfoto via flickr

A tweet from zipperfilm, aka documentary filmmaker Amy Nicholson, made us feel happy and sad at the time: “On our way back from shooting in Honduras. The Zipper is alive and well and scaring the crap out of kids on a beach there. Viva la Zipper!”

It makes us smile to think Coney Island’s beloved Zipper ride, which was evicted by Thor Equities in September 2007, has found new life as an expat. It makes us sad that nearly three years after the Zipper was dismantled and trucked away, its spot on West 12th Street remains empty and devoid of fun. Call it Thorland instead of Coney Island because real estate speculator Joe Sitt has managed to erase amusements from the property and blight the block.

Before Thor: View of W 12th Street with Go Karts and Zipper. April 15, 2006. Photo © frankko via flickr

The Honduras footage will provide a satisfying coda to “The Last Day of the Zipper,” which Nicholson and cinematographer Jerry Risius have been working on for the past three years. We’ve been looking forward to their film ever since we met the duo on the last day of Coney Island’s 2007 season. A synopsis posted on twitter says “A small-time carnival operator is forced to sell his ride and vacate his lot when he becomes the victim of a power struggle over the future of Coney Island.”

On the Zipper film’s newly launched website, the intro shows Zipper operator Eddie Miranda uncannily disappearing and reappearing on the empty lot. “A story about politics, greed, land use and public policy, Last Day of the Zipper chronicles a critical period in Coney Island’s history and examines the impact of redevelopment on a place that has always provided affordable entertainment for the masses. In a market driven world, where revenue and profits often trump nostalgia, Eddie and his Zipper may only be the beginning of what is lost.”

We don’t expect THE Zipper to ever come back to Coney Island, but wouldn’t it be nice to see some kickass carnival rides including a replacement Zipper and Go-Karts on Thor’s empty lots this summer? Let the countdown till Summer of Hope 2 or Dreamland 3 begin!

Thorland, August 2, 2008. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Thor’s Coney Island: Wanna Lease Stillwell? That’ll Be $500K Up Front!

Posted in Coney Island Redevelopment, Real Estate, tagged amusement park, amusement rides, Coney Island, flea market, go karts, Joe Sitt, Stillwell Avenue, Thor Equities on March 9, 2010| 1 Comment »

Thor Equities abandoned flea market on Stillwell Ave in Coney Island. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Thor Equities abandoned flea market on Stillwell Ave in Coney Island. October 30, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

One month ago, ATZ asked “What is Joe Sitt planning for Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island 2010?” Still no word on Stillwell from Thor Equities, though Coney Island’s 40-plus rides and diverse attractions will open in just 20 days. Palm Sunday– March 28th this year— is the traditional season opener in Coney Island.

The Cyclone roller coaster, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, McCullough’s Kiddie Park and the Eldorado Bumper Cars are busy getting ready for the big day. In fact, the Eldorado as well as Paul’s Daughter, the Grill House and Gyro Corner on the Boardwalk were already open last weekend! Yet Thor Equities property on Stillwell, the gateway to Coney Island’s beach and Boardwalk, still looks like the ghost town of last summer’s failed flea market.

Here’s why: The Coney Island Rumor Mill says that Sitt is asking $500,000 for both sides of Stillwell and he wants all of the money up front!

According to sources, Sitt is not willing to negotiate on the amount either. This lack of flexibility doesn’t surprise us. Half a million is actually a 75 per cent reduction from Sitt’s original asking price! As ATZ reported last month, sources said several carnival and amusement park operators balked at Thor’s initial asking price, a cool $2 million for the two 50,000 square foot parcels.

New Sign on Stillwell. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Some of the interested parties were contenders in the City’s RFP for a Coney Island Amusement Operator, which was won by Zamperla. The Coney hopefuls who put in bids for Thor’s parcels were said to be balking at the slew of onerous lease terms such as a 30-day-vacate clause. (“Coney Island: Amusement Operators Balk, Money Talks at Stillwell,” Feb. 10, 2010).

Negotiations continue for carnival rides and a go kart track though rumor has it that one of the potential amusement operators told Sitt’s agent where to take his lease and shove it. Good negotiating strategy or goodbye Coney Island?

When all is said and the deal is done, we may see Geren Rides back on Thor’s property for the third year in a row. The Georgia-based carnival operator did after all buy a Schwarzkopf Wildcat roller coaster, Reverchon Himalaya and other rides last year with the intention of coming back to Coney.

UPDATE March 10…Sources say amusement operators from Wildwood, New Jersey, are close to signing a 5-year lease with Sitt for a go-kart track on one of his Stillwell parcels. If they ink the deal and if CAI/Zamperla goes ahead with their plan for go-karts on the City’s Stillwell parcels in 2011, Coney Island will have duelling go karts on the site of the much missed Coney Island Batting Range and Go Kart City. Why not bring back the Batting Range? As one of our friends says, “I still miss the batting cages. Without a doubt, they were the best in the entire city. Watching the balls fly off your bat with the Wonder Wheel in the distance was a thing of beauty.”