Last week, a friend-and-historian gave me the heads-up about a tour happening on Sunday morning. The walk, led by volunteer-run not-for-profit Save Coney Island, was designed to stroll down Surf Avenue and take an in-depth look at the historic buildings which line the boardwalk. Several of these buildings are currently in limbo, threatened with demolition by Coney Island developer Thor Equities.
There are many better informed sites where you can read about the details of the controversy, but what about the casual Coney fan? I love going out to the shore and enjoying concerts or ballgames at KeySpan. I thoroughly enjoy people-watching along the boardwalk, especially at the Mermaid Parade this weekend! And of course, summer isn’t summer without an icy cold drink and a hot dog at Nathan’s… as long as you get a side of those piping hot crinkle fries with a little plastic red fork.
But Thor Equities CEO Joe Sitt begs to differ: he recently said in an interview with NY1: “Every one of these buildings is just horrible, rundown relics with nothing exciting about them. I hate to say it, but the great buildings of Coney Island disappeared 80 years ago.”
Save Coney Island is trying to fight back, though, with a proposed historic district, a massive PR campaign and some good old-fashioned grassroots organization. To find out more about their proposal and see some beautiful vintage photographs, check out this brochure. And to find out what you can do to help out, click here.
I took my camera along for the tour, so check out the shots below for more information about what’s at stake!
Juan Rivera kicks off the tour with a brief history of the Shore Theatre, and how Nathan’s hot dogs came to be so famous.
Built in 1925, The Shore Theatre watches over the corner of Surf and Stillwell. Originally a Lowes Theatre, it once held a capacity of 2500 for a grand variety of live shows and movies.
The wood-framed Shore Hotel, built in 1903, and the Herman Popper building, 1904. The former housed small-scale hotels and the latter, a distillery and tavern.
Another shot of the Popper building, now next door to a bumper car funhouse.
The Child’s Restaurant, built in 1917. Once a family-friendly oasis, it’s now home to the Coney Island Museum and an active sideshow.
Gregory Malcolm
1 year ago
Joe Sitt is looking at the building with the eyes of a greedy developer. Profit is the bottom line under capitalism and this does not help in saving historic building. Besides, they would not be able to replicate the architecture with new materials. Half the fun of Coney Island is the nostalgic feelings you get walking around.
Old buildings do more than decay, if neglected. They tell us stories about our history and cultural inheritance. It would be a shame if Thor Equities is successful in bring them down.
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