Coney Island is a beachfront neighborhood in southwestern Brooklyn, located on what used to be an island until it was connected to the rest of the borough by landfill. In the 1920s, the city zoned much of Coney IslandÍs waterfront real estate for amusement use and for nearly a century, this designation has foiled attempts by a series of businessmen to redevelop it as housing, hotels, or retail. It contains a public beach, boardwalk, an aquarium, a skating rink, and a series of amusement parks. Thirty high-rise towers, all government-subsidized, house most of the neighborhoodÍs residents. The New York City subway systemÍs N, Q, D, and F train lines service Coney Island. The financial crisis of 2008-2009 and damage from superstorm Sandy slowed the cityÍs redevelopment plans for the area. -TA