UPDATED: Construction Begins on Controversial Seaside Amphitheater
UPDATE: Bulldozer has begun to knock down side of Child’s Building this afternoon.
Take a walk down to W.21st street and the Boardwalk. Finally after a law suit filed by the local community garden was settled last month they are clearing the way for the former Child’s Restaurant into an indoor/outdoor amphitheater, park and catering facility. A community garden which was once on the site has been since relocated.
Many members of the community opposed the plan which they said would create unwanted noise, trash and disruption in an otherwise quite area of Coney Island. Many pointed out the destruction of the community garden would be an enormous loss for the area. Others were concerned about the nearby senior center and house of worship.
Those supporting the plan believe that the year round dining and entertainment as well as the seasonal amphitheater would create local jobs and bring life to long neglected west end.
The $53 million project will be developed by iStar Financial and operated locally by Coney Island USA. The amphitheater will host 15 free and 25 paid concerts each year. It will also be used for civic events and high school graduations.
It will be completed by 2016.
Note: Hopefully, we’ll see some local bands (The Dirty Pearls) rocking the place.
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LONG OVERDUE!!! Glad to see some movement on this finally. And as to the neigborhood’s objections, CI should be begging the outside world to come and spend their $. Only increases property values and creates jobs in the neighborhood.
The community gardens lawsuit was settled??? Didn’t know that. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate your blog keeping us up to date on Coney development. You are doing a real service for Brooklyn development fans like me. Thanks so much!
Man I was at that Community Board meeting. Wish I knew you were there. Would have loved to speak with you. Will be at Lincoln tonight. Should be fireworks. LOL Anxious to see what retail will be moving in. The square footage for the retail on the 3 bottom floors will be much larger than is currently in the whole shopping center. Can’t wait to see this residential/retail development.
Lawsuit is still open according to these guys. I hope you are right that it has been settled –
http://nyccgc.org/2014/12/notes-on-the-1215-boardwalk-community-garden-hearing/
I wonder if they are building with the lawsuit still actually open? I can’t find anything else on the net that it is officially settled. I remember the original judge’s decision last summer to NOT put a hold on the development with the suit still pending.
Any further details would be appreciated. Thanks.
Big thanks to you for getting the Bay News going on this story. It’s is May 2016 not this summer, but am glad they linked the permits. Rumors of the lawsuit holding up construction don’t seem to be backed up by facts
http://coneyrocks.blogspot.com/2015/02/bay-news-picked-up-on-amphitheater.html
http://coneyrocks.blogspot.com/2015/02/clarification-on-coney-amphitheater.html
great for everyone but the residents that live nearby! bad enough parking is a nightmare when the cyclones are playing now they have to deal with events at the ampitheater? if your going to rebuild CI do it right start with the residents!
I suggested this building be used in 2012 to Marty Markowitz. My idea had been to gut the inside of the Childs building and have horseshoe stadium seating from floor to ceiling. The stage would remain a permanent structure, along the boardwalk wall; and the basement could have bathrooms and snack bar. They could also put up semi permanent screens along two walls for the people who liked bringing their own chairs. It could then be used year round as a fundraising, ceremony and concert setting. Kudos.
As the Executive Director of the New York City Community Garden Coalition I would like to you to make a correction. The lawsuit has not been settled. In fact three Judges have recused themselves in the case and we are working on a fourth Judge. No decision has been rendered in the three years that the case has been brought to court. That should be the real story: what has justice been denied? How does iStar manage to build on a lot that is in contention in litigation?