Coney residents plead for preservation

Coney Island

While Luna Park has been a Coney Island hit, attracting nearly half a million visitors in its first season, locals say that much of the planned Coney Island revamping is unwelcome — and even hazardous to local businesses, according to Crain’s. Local advocacy groups say they’re happy to see more economic activity in the area, but are concerned about the influx of chain eateries and stores that could soon populate the area. Juan Rivero, an activist with neighborhood preservation group Save Coney Island, said he hopes that preservation could be incorporated into area renovation plans. “Coney Island has tremendous potential to become an economic engine and tourist destination,” Rivero said. “But it needs investment from either a developer or the city in a way that capitalized on the history of Coney Island.” [Crain’s]