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Nov 16: Concrete, Wood or Plastic? Discussion on Future of Coney Island Boardwalk

Posted in Events, News, tagged Boardwalk, Coney Island, kebony, NY Climate Action Group, Rainforest Relief, recycled plastic lumber, tropical hardwood on November 15, 2010| 7 Comments »

Left: Tropical hardwood on Coney Island Boardwalk. Right: Faux wood or plastic lumber on Steeplechase Pier. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Last month, news that the City was planning to turn the boardwalk into a concretewalk stirred up a storm at a community board meeting. Ruby Schulz spoke for many when she said: “This is an absolute disgrace. Having the boardwalk is a plus for this community—it’s historic. And you’re going to turn it into a sidewalk?”

Over the weekend on the Coney Island Boardwalk, JK Kanepa from Rainforest Relief and New York Climate Action Group was handing out fliers in English and Russian for a presentation and discussion on alternate solutions to the use of tropical hardwood and concrete for the boardwalk: “We want to hear your thoughts about recent development on the Coney Island boardwalk.” Here’s the press release and agenda for Tuesday night’s event at the Aquarium:

Rainforest Relief and NY Climate Action Group present Materials for a New City: 2. Alternatives to Tropical Hardwoods for Boardwalks

Tuesday, November 16, 2010: 7 PM – 9:00 PM

THE NEW YORK AQUARIUM, W. 8TH STREET & SURF AVENUE
(ENTER THROUGH REGULAR ADMISSIONS GATE)

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization,an area of rainforest the size of a football field is destroyed every second—that’s an area the size of Manhattan every three hours.

Join us for an evening of informative presentations by some of the nation’s leading experts on the use of recycled plastic lumber and domestic woods in boardwalk construction and decking. We have solutions that respect the look and feel of a traditional boardwalk and can make New York City’s Boardwalk a model for an exciting, sustainable future.

7:00 – 7:05: Poetry Reading: “Under the Boardwalk” by Michael Schwartz

7:15 – 7:20: Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh (Invited), State Legislation on Tropical Hardwoods — A-10503: Tropical Hardwood Alternatives for MTA Railroad Ties

7:20 – 7:35: Tim Keating, Executive Director, Rainforest Relief: Tropical Hardwoods, Deforestation and Sustainable Designs for Boardwalk Construction

7:50 – 8:05: Douglas Murray, President, Kebony™ US: Kebony™ Modified Wood for Boardwalk Decking

7:35 – 7:50: A Short Film by Evelyn Carrigan: “Steeplechase Pier Boardwalk Renovation: Public Reaction to Recycled Plastic Lumber”

7:35 – 7:50: Dr. Richard Lehman, Chair, Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Director, Advance Polymers Center, Rutgers University: The Development and Capabilities of Recycled Plastic Lumber and Recycled Structural Composites

8:20 – 9:00: Open Forum/Questions

For more info on Rainforest Relief and NY Climate Action Group, visit www.rfny.net.

(Update: The website http://savetheboardwalk.wordpress.com went live on March 5, 2012 while an online petition continues to gather signatures. The public hearing at the Design Commission is set for Monday, March 12.)

Coney Island to Brighton Beach: Veterans Day Charity Open Water Swim

Posted in Events, tagged Brighton Beach, CIBBOWS, Coney Island, Open Water Swimming, swim race, Veterans Day on November 5, 2010| 1 Comment »

Ruby’s Bar and Grill has long been a gathering place for Coney Island’s swimmers. Saturday, which could be Ruby’s last day, is no exception. “We’ll be there after our race,” tweeted Jesse Lansner of the Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). Tomorrow’s 11 am race is the group’s first-ever Veterans Day 5K, 1 Mile and 2 Mile Charity Swim.

Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). October 24, 2010. Photo © Princess Polar Bear Capri/Capri Djatiasmoro via flickr

The event is a fundraiser for two organizations that serve veterans: Service Women’s Action Network and the Wounded Warrior Project. Registration to swim closed a few days ago, but info about pledging your support for Lanser and the other swimmers is available on CIBBOWS races page. More than 50 people have registered for the race. You may donate online or pay by check on race day before the swim.

Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). October 16, 2010. Photo © Princess Polar Bear Capri/Capri Djatiasmoro via flickr

ATZ emailed Lansner to ask where the race starts and the best place for spectators to see the swimmers…

The swim starts at the Aquarium at 11:00 am. All swimmers will head towards the pier, aiming for the cross section near the end of the pier, so they will be approximately 150-200 yards offshore. The 1-mile swimmers will return to the Aquarium and exit the water. The 2-mile swimmers will continue to approximately Brighton 2nd Street, then turn around and return to the Aquarium. The 5K swimmers will also turn around at Brighton 2nd Street, then swim back to the pier again, and then return to the Aquarium and exit the water.

The best viewing options are between the Aquarium and the pier (or even on the pier), since that is the area that the swimmers will spend the most time in. Also, if you are by the Aquarium, you can see the swimmers enter and exit the water, and watch them shiver and dance around to keep warm.

CIBBOWS is a non-profit community resource for open water swimmers of all levels. The group sponsors Grimaldo’s Mile Race in June, the Aquarium 5K and 1 Mile in August, and group swims every weekend from April to November. For more information visit CIBBOWS website and the blog Salty Tales.

Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). October 16, 2010. Photo © Princess Polar Bear Capri/Capri Djatiasmoro via flickr

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Friends of Ruby’s Bar Launch Petition, Plan Nov 6 Rally

Posted in Events, Redevelopment, tagged Coney Island, Coney Island Development Corporation, Monday Morning Massacre, petition, Ruby's Bar, Zamperla on November 3, 2010| 3 Comments »

Ruby's Bar & Grill, Coney Island. May 28, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Despite the Monday Morning Massacre of the Boardwalk businesses, Halloween was not Ruby’s last day after all. The bar’s devotees have put out a call via Facebook and email to “all Ruby’s family and friends”: Ruby’s will open, possibly for the last time, on Saturday, November 6th. “We are not going quietly, ” Rubys host said in an email. “Come out and show your support.” The rally/party begins around 12:30 pm and goes on till 6 pm or later.

On Facebook, supporters were urged to bombard Zamperla, the Mayor and local pols, and the Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC) with e-mails and phone calls. “Ruby’s has been told they have 15 days to get out. If you want to see them stay they need your help please CALL or send letters.” A petition “Renew Ruby’s Lease” is on the Petition Site as well as Facebook. By 1 am on Wednesday morning, the petition had nearly 200 signatures. The goal is 10,000, but time is short. The petition begins…

Dear Mayor Bloomberg and Mr. Ferrari,

It has been brought to my attention that a historic piece of Coney Island is being kicked out. How does a business that has been there since 1934 get kicked out?

The Last Night at Ruby's Bar. October 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

While one of our Facebook friends said she “unliked” the CIDC’s very popular “Coney Island” page in protest, others went there to post links to the petition or voice their displeasure. “I’m posting to protest the eviction of Ruby’s from Coney Island, a 76-year-old family business that is being cruelly ousted,” one poster wrote. “If this plan goes forward, I hereby pledge not to patronize any of the newly-developed businesses and will tell my family, friends, and colleagues to do the same.” UPDATE: This afternoon, the CIDC asserted control over their “Coney Island” page by removing some, but not all, of the links posted by irate fans and removing the link button. “I guess you want to silence us hmm..,” a poster wrote.

Nine small businesses on the Boardwalk are getting the boot from City-owned land in Coney Island with nary a peep nor a press release from the CIDC/NYCEDC. It seems to us that all of a sudden the City is a very silent partner in its much touted and (until now) highly regarded public-private partnership with the amusement operator. Instead of holding the usual joint press conference, the City is distancing itself from the bad news and letting Zamperla play the role of the bad guy.

According to the NYCEDC’s Coney Island Amusement Operator RFP, which was won by Zamperla in February: “Responses to this RFP should articulate whether they include or exclude these [Boardwalk] structures or footprints, beginning at the earliest in Year 2 of operations.” But it also says “The Selected Respondent may propose to include subtenants for portions of their proposed operations, but such subtenants, and such subtenant agreements, shall be subject to NYCEDC approval.”

In other words, the City, which owns the property, has final say which businesses come or go.