Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s rezoning plan for Coney Island would revitalize the 19 blocks and 47 acres from the New York Aquarium to Highland View Park. The plan would promote the development of stores and 4,500 apartments along Surf Avenue. It would also preserve historic attractions and create the nation’s largest urban amusement park. The city wants to buy the land owned by Thor Equities, which had proposed building a $1.5 billion Las Vegas-style resort. Thor’s Joe Sitt said he was “disappointed.” Dick Zigun, president of Coney Island USA, said he hoped no buildings would go higher than the Parachute Jump. The city hopes to break ground in 2009. more [NYT] and more [Brooklyn Eagle] and more [Brooklyn Paper] and more [Gowanus Lounge]