City, developer and civic group disagree on Coney future

The Bloomberg administration, developer Joe Sitt and the Municipal Arts Society disagree about what the future of Coney Island should be. The Bloomberg administration recently introduced its plan to develop a year-round amusement and entertainment center in Coney Island, with a 9.4-acre amusement district, as well as new housing, shops and parks. The Municipal Arts Society, however, said the plan needs three times as much land dedicated to amusements to be successful. And developer Joe Sitt said there needs to be time-share hotels and large retail shops in the area in order for it to be economically viable, both of which would be banned under the city’s zoning proposal.