This Must be Stopped! Astroland Closing?
What the fuck? Astroland is closing? Coney Island is certainly one of my favorite places in the world and this happened so quietly. Has anyone heard of any group opposing this move? We don't need Coney Island to be Disneyfied as well, do we?
This was posted in the breaking news section of the Daily News tonight and it stings like a bee of bad news!
Cyclone saved, but beloved Astroland will close
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The vintage Astroland Amusement Park, one of the anchors of Coney Island since its 1962 opening, was purchased Tuesday by a developer intent on restoring the Brooklyn beachfront as a $1.5 billion year-round resort.
The Albert family, owners of the well-known park, will close the 3.1-acre attraction at the end of the 2007 summer season under the deal reached with Thor Equities. The Alberts will continue to operate the landmark Cyclone roller-coaster, which turns 80 next year, under an existing agreement with the city.
The decision to sell was "very difficult and made only after months of extensive discussion," said Carol Hill Albert, co-owner of Astroland with husband Jerome. The park was launched by her late father-in-law, Dewey Albert.
In the end, the cost of converting Astroland to a year-round operation was too steep. The family had turned down larger bids last year "in the hope of finding an alternative that would enable us to keep our current location," Albert said — but it didn't pan out.
Thor Equities plans a $1.5 billion, year-round facility in Coney Island. Although no price was given for the Astroland purchase, Thor had already spent $100 million snapping up properties along the venerable boardwalk.
Thor's plans include a mix of amusements and attractions, including a new roller coaster and a new hotel to accommodate the anticipated arrival of new tourists.
The site of the amusement park is renowned for another reason. Local legend has it that restaurateur Charles Feltman invented the hot dog there in 1874.
The Alberts, although they sold their property to Thor, retained ownership of attractions like the water flume and the Astrotower in hopes of adding some new rides and relocating to another section of the neighborhood.
The amusement park employs about 300 workers every summer, and Albert was hopeful that city and Brooklyn officials could help with relocation costs.
"The Albert family is proud to have provided so many wonderful memories for so many generations and to have been such an important part of New York's world famous Coney Island," Albert said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/475336p-399820c.html
This was posted in the breaking news section of the Daily News tonight and it stings like a bee of bad news!
Cyclone saved, but beloved Astroland will close
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The vintage Astroland Amusement Park, one of the anchors of Coney Island since its 1962 opening, was purchased Tuesday by a developer intent on restoring the Brooklyn beachfront as a $1.5 billion year-round resort.
The Albert family, owners of the well-known park, will close the 3.1-acre attraction at the end of the 2007 summer season under the deal reached with Thor Equities. The Alberts will continue to operate the landmark Cyclone roller-coaster, which turns 80 next year, under an existing agreement with the city.
The decision to sell was "very difficult and made only after months of extensive discussion," said Carol Hill Albert, co-owner of Astroland with husband Jerome. The park was launched by her late father-in-law, Dewey Albert.
In the end, the cost of converting Astroland to a year-round operation was too steep. The family had turned down larger bids last year "in the hope of finding an alternative that would enable us to keep our current location," Albert said — but it didn't pan out.
Thor Equities plans a $1.5 billion, year-round facility in Coney Island. Although no price was given for the Astroland purchase, Thor had already spent $100 million snapping up properties along the venerable boardwalk.
Thor's plans include a mix of amusements and attractions, including a new roller coaster and a new hotel to accommodate the anticipated arrival of new tourists.
The site of the amusement park is renowned for another reason. Local legend has it that restaurateur Charles Feltman invented the hot dog there in 1874.
The Alberts, although they sold their property to Thor, retained ownership of attractions like the water flume and the Astrotower in hopes of adding some new rides and relocating to another section of the neighborhood.
The amusement park employs about 300 workers every summer, and Albert was hopeful that city and Brooklyn officials could help with relocation costs.
"The Albert family is proud to have provided so many wonderful memories for so many generations and to have been such an important part of New York's world famous Coney Island," Albert said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/475336p-399820c.html
Comments
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Yet more land grab in Coney. Seems to the be the cycle, like every 20yrs or so since it's inception. But the last amusement section to go is nothing but bad news...as is Thor Equities. :evil:
If anyone learns of any grassroots efforts to protest the sales and closing, please post it on this Board and PM me... -
hmm, I really love coney island with all it's history and what it could be.. but admit, it needs a little love. the beach is gross, the rides are truly scary (like they might fall apart) and all the abandoned buildings cant attract much more than rats and roaches.
I don't know much about thor equities and what they plan to do (any more info on that??)
i wish it could be restored to what it was in it's prime...
as long as it stays an amusement park though i guess it'll be fun.
time to go snap up some photos. -
kristina wrote: hmm, I really love coney island with all it's history and what it could be.. but admit, it needs a little love. the beach is gross, the rides are truly scary ...
It won't be restored. Torn down, mowed over and become a conglomerate of luxury condos (like we need more than that), big box stores and INDOOR amusements so it can be a year round attraction. It will not be the nostalgic Coney Island of the past, but a Disneyland version, much like 42nd St. turned into.
i wish it could be restored to what it was in it's prime...
as long as it stays an amusement park though i guess it'll be fun.
time to go snap up some photos.
As far as the beach, no clue, but you should have seen it in the 70's-80's if you think it's dirty... :? -
Don't you think Astroland itself was a Disneyland version when it was first created. Only after decades of neglect and age did it acquire the nostalgic character you're referring to. It sounds to me like they're pretty much replacing Astroland with the same thing by a different name. Don't worry, things get nostalgic when they get old, so this new amusement park will become nostalgic one day, too. :roll:
Guys, when you repaint your apartments do you feel nostalgic about the old paint that you covered up? Sheesh, I've never seen a group of people so in love with the idea of preservation. -
astroland blows. it's a giant UGLY deathtrap.
i took my last cyclone ride last summer (2005) and i will never go on it again, it scares me more and more every time i get on it, knowing that it's older and more worn down each time i ride it. -
There is little that I would call nostalgic there. Astroland was the last of the amusements. I am not real fan of that area of Coney, though I will miss the honkey-tonk aspect of it.
If you go back through the annuls of time, Coney has been one land grab and knock down cycle over and over again since it began...this is just another cycle.
The truth here is there will be little "amusement" left to Coney according to Thors' plans (check the NYDN and NY Times articles).
More condos than water flumes.escap wrote: Guys, when you repaint your apartments do you feel nostalgic about the old paint that you covered up? Sheesh, I've never seen a group of people so in love with the idea of preservation.
We're not talking about painting an apartment, so your analogy is flawed. If I take your route, we'd not be painting the wall, we'd be knocking it down. Saves paint, right?
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escap wrote: Guys, when you repaint your apartments do you feel nostalgic about the old paint that you covered up? Sheesh, I've never seen a group of people so in love with the idea of preservation.
escap, I think it's time you get out a little more. There are tons of preservationist groups in New York, but compared to the rest of the United States, New York City is very cavalier about destroying its cultural resources for the private benefit of some shoddy development scheme. -
escap wrote: Guys, when you repaint your apartments do you feel nostalgic about the old paint that you covered up? Sheesh, I've never seen a group of people so in love with the idea of preservation.
You know, you're right. Why bother preserving anything?
In fact, how about we go to your closet and throw out all your clothes from last year? It's a new year, time for new clothes, right?
...Or the Constitution. The original document's so old you can't even read the writing on it; we know what it says anyway, why not close the National Archives and recycle that? And the Declaration while we're at it? Hell, let's just use them to wrap fish with.
Or why do we have all that crap in the Smithsonian? Who needs to see the flag that flew on Iwo Jima? It's a piece of cloth, who cares? Or the flag that flew at Ground Zero? Let's just use that for rags, eh?
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Yeesh. I'm not even that fond of anything in Astroland (they're preseving the Cyclone, and that's all I care about anyway in Astroland proper), but this "who cares about history" attitude is ridiculous. -
This is kinda old news. Been in the works for a long time now. I do admit I love the ghetto fabulousness of Coney Island as it is now. Where else can you ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl in front of a graffiti mural of Tupac and Biggie with a club quality soundsystem blasting Reggaton? But alas I suppose change is inevitable. Let's just hope the new version isn't too antiseptic.
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c'mon, Coney Island is not a wall that needs to be repainted. It should not be knocked down. It should be cleaned up, but not paved over. Beleieve me, I'm a fan of progress when progress is needed, but condos in Coney Island over amusement parks is lame. Cleaning up Astroland and perserving it should be more important than plowing it and building shoddy buildings.
The whole concept of leisure comes from the place. -
LeeHo wrote: ...It should be cleaned up, but not paved over. Beleieve me, I'm a fan of progress when progress is needed, but condos in Coney Island over amusement parks is lame. Cleaning up Astroland and perserving it should be more important than plowing it and building shoddy buildings.
I am not understanding the thread here...folks seem to flip-flop. Coney will NOT be spruced up and fixed. It WILL be a "plowing it and building shoddy buildings" as you mentioned you did not want.
The whole concept of leisure comes from the place.
So, what's the groups stance here? :roll: -
The report says the developer plans on building "high-tech arcades, a new roller coaster, and a glass-enclosed water park". Gee, sounds like a newer version of the same thing. How this is analogous to knocking down a wall and leaving nothing but rubble is beyond me.
Raulism, I guess it's a matter of perception. From my vantage point, this city seems to be one of the most anti-development cities in the country, as not a brick gets laid without accompanying protests of offended nimbyists. But perhaps I just read this forum too often. -
some people who want everything bubble wrapped and want to keep it as is. to put the thing in a stasis is not always good for the locales.
it needs the development. it been neglected for long as i been there. i go there every year for 2 decades. -
escap wrote: Raulism, I guess it's a matter of perception. From my vantage point, this city seems to be one of the most anti-development cities in the country, as not a brick gets laid without accompanying protests of offended nimbyists. But perhaps I just read this forum too often.
Except for Houston, what cities are you comparing New York to? What about Boston, Washington, San Francisco or Philadelphia? -
queencallipygos wrote:
Already in progress.
...Or the Constitution. The original document's so old you can't even read the writing on it; we know what it says anyway, why not close the National Archives and recycle that? And the Declaration while we're at it? Hell, let's just use them to wrap fish with.Captain Salty wrote: i took my last cyclone ride last summer (2005) and i will never go on it again, it scares me more and more every time i get on it, knowing that it's older and more worn down each time i ride it.
That is the appeal of The Cyclone. The left-to-rot non-supporting beams are my favorite part of the structure. -
The cyclone is awesome, but nowhere near as scary as the Wonder Wheel. Especially the first time you ride it (swinging car, of course).
Talk about "could fall apart at any moment." The thing's been there since 1913! :shock: -
escap wrote:
wow. After traveling in europe for some time and noticing the LAYERS and layers of history that are still standing to this day (from an era that precedes NYC) I was in constant admiration of the way some other cities preserve and restore, rather than demolish and rebuild. The new structures in NYC, more often than not, are cheaply made, with little character or artistic appeal. It's such a shame....
Raulism, I guess it's a matter of perception. From my vantage point, this city seems to be one of the most anti-development cities in the country, as not a brick gets laid without accompanying protests of offended nimbyists. But perhaps I just read this forum too often.
few major examples in NYC history-- the original gorgeous Waldorf-Astoria hotel was demolished for the land where the Empire St building now sits (though I do love the ESB-- it still has beautiful, architectural interest)... the Singer Building, similar to the Woolworth Building, was destroyed in 1968 http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GON/GON003.htm
AND, the biggest mistake of all.... the original Penn Station was demolished, and now we're stuck with the modern-day Penn Station atrocity... -
I love Coney Island..
It's grimey and nasty, but I still go.
That said, it does need love, and I fully agree with sarahjean8. I grew up in Europe and there are buildings from the 1200's still standing in Stockholm. Not even the pre-war buildings here are properly taken cared of. They could be amazing pieces of art, and something for hte city to be proud of. Guess it's cheeper to tear down and put some cheep thing up. Capitalism at its' best... -
kristina wrote: hmm, I really love coney island with all it's history and what it could be.. but admit, it needs a little love. the beach is gross, the rides are truly scary (like they might fall apart) and all the abandoned buildings cant attract much more than rats and roaches.
I would need to ask when was the last time you stepped foot on the beach? I go several times every summer, taking the Q to Brighton Beach, and it's very well kept, and the water is actually clear!
I don't know much about thor equities and what they plan to do (any more info on that??)
i wish it could be restored to what it was in it's prime...
as long as it stays an amusement park though i guess it'll be fun.
time to go snap up some photos. -
At least the Cyclone will remain open. I loved that wooden death rattle. But I'll miss the hellhouse.
Are the gangs still there? Last time I was there in the late 80's they were all over the place like human sized roaches. -
I love that the world you all seem to live in is one in which old structures are all beautiful and of the highest quality, and new ones are all cheap and shoddy. Talk about turning logic on its head. And I love how Coney Island is suddenly the equivalent of medieval European architectural gems. That's downright hilarious.
Please note, though you all rushed to put these words in my mouth, I never said that we shouldn't preserve anything, or that we should tear down historical treasures to put up half-decrepit wooden shacks, as you've all accused me of saying (man, talk about the definition of strawman). All I'm saying is that it seems that in the Brooklynian universe everything from a historic brownstone to a crackhouse is worthy of preservation. We should apply the standard with more discretion (and IMO tearing down an old amusement park to put up a new amusement park is not horror-inducing).
Raulism, the cities you mentioned may well all be even worse than NY. That doesn't make it right. -
I read an article in New York Magazine about Thor Equities this summer, and about Joel Sitt's vision of turning Coney Island into a Brooklyn Las Vegas. Now its finally happening and its horrifying.
Its sad that one person or entity with massive purchasing power can buy what they want and do what they want with famous city landmarks (ratner, anyone?) -
And it's not that change is bad, Like Cabaki said above, it's the BMOC (Big Money On Coney) comes along ad mows the place down to start a new. Thor's no worse than any of the other money bags who did the land grab on Coney over the years, it just hurts when you are part of the sage when an "era" changes, albeit a scrappy one.
Thank God the Cyclone is staying...that is until they need the space for more condos :evil: -
Carnivore wrote: The cyclone is awesome, but nowhere near as scary as the Wonder Wheel. Especially the first time you ride it (swinging car, of course).
The only thing scarier than the sliding cars on the Wonder Wheel is the gondola ride up the ski mountain in Lake Tahoe during off season. I was having Fred G. Sanford "Big Ones" on both.
Talk about "could fall apart at any moment." The thing's been there since 1913! :shock: -
UnderTheHill wrote: [quote=kristina]hmm, I really love coney island with all it's history and what it could be.. but admit, it needs a little love. the beach is gross, the rides are truly scary (like they might fall apart) and all the abandoned buildings cant attract much more than rats and roaches.
I would need to ask when was the last time you stepped foot on the beach? I go several times every summer, taking the Q to Brighton Beach, and it's very well kept, and the water is actually clear!
I don't know much about thor equities and what they plan to do (any more info on that??)
i wish it could be restored to what it was in it's prime...
as long as it stays an amusement park though i guess it'll be fun.
time to go snap up some photos.
She might be talking about the area of the Boardwalk going back to Mermaid and Neptune. That area is pretty sleazy. Even the new El depot doesn't really do much. As much as I hate to say it there really isn't anything to restore except for some of the big brick hotels. Steeplechase Park and Pre-Steeplechase will never come back. I only hope that the business' being evicted can get a fair settlement. -
Here's the article I was referring to.....a good read
The Incredibly Bold, Audaciously Cheesy, Jaw-Droppingly Vegasified, Billion-Dollar Glam-Rock Makeover of Coney Island
http://nymag.com/nymetro/realestate/features/14498/index.html -
I'm curious how he intends to get business. Who exactly would want to stay in a hotel in Coney Island? Unless they approve of casinos what will be the draw? No one is going to take a $40-$50 cab ride from JFK or LGA to stay in a hotel that is thirty minutes to an hour away from Manhattan by train. I'm also curious how they intend to reconcile the housing projects nearby as well as the opinions of the residents in Seagate and Trump City.
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escap wrote: Raulism, the cities you mentioned may well all be even worse than NY. That doesn't make it right.
That wasn't my point. You said "Raulism, I guess it's a matter of perception. From my vantage point, this city seems to be one of the most anti-development cities in the country, as not a brick gets laid without accompanying protests of offended nimbyists. But perhaps I just read this forum too often."
We're not the only ones who are concerned about preservations, and you'll have to try a little harder than to just label us all nimyists. My point is that this is not the most anti-development cities in the country... at least not until I get done with it! -
Obviously those aren't thoughts, as realistic as they may seem, that have rung through these fuckers filthy heads. The problem, in my eyes, is that this institution (and yes, I think it fair to say that Coney Island is an American institution of leisure) is being torn down to put in something that has absolutely no sense of history or meaning other than profit. Coney has a feeling that when you go there, you are experiencing the place and its history. There is nowhere else exactly like it and that is the beauty of the place. It sounds like what they want to do is build a Mall of America type of place and that just doesn't feel right. That feels like the Midwest, or Florida. Coney Island has always been a place of freaks and rides that are a bit scary, even when they are tame compared to 6 flags shit. It is a place to people watch and hear thick accents taunting people to play games. It is not some fucking wishy-washy indoor water park/loop-de-loop roller coaster of a place.
It was bad enough that they simply tore down the Thunderbolt roller coaster years ago, but to dismantle a park is just plain dumb in a significant way that defines this city's history and character.
Coney Island is not a crack house or a derelict building. It is not train tracks next to an avenue. It is symbolic of a past New York that should not be replaced or razed.
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