Coney Island Community Board Rejects Land Use Change for Thor Equities Casino

^{A rendering of The Coney, a vision that continues to face obstacles to it becoming a reality. (Image: courtesy of theconeynyc.com)}

Community Board 13 in Brooklyn voted against changing land use rules to allow a proposed Coney Island casino to build the most extensive version of its facility on Wednesday night, dealing a blow to the project backed by Thor Equities. 

The board voted 24-11 against the changes, with eight members abstaining and three recusing themselves from the vote.

Vote Could Sink Most Ambitious Plans for The Coney

The land use change would have allowed Thor Equities to purchase air rights above existing structures, as well as close part of Bowery Street in order to build “The Coney.” The resort has been envisioned as a 1.4 million square foot complex that would be built up above existing buildings with sky bridges connecting different areas of the structure. 

The board’s vote doesn’t doom The Coney, as the developers own enough land and real estate to build a smaller version of the casino complex without any changes. And even when it comes to land use, the community board is only advisory, as its recommendation will go to the Brooklyn Borough President and the City Planning Commission for further comment before the City Council makes its final decision. 

However, community support is a major factor in which of many proposed projects will be able to land the three available downstate casino licenses in New York. And while there were supporters at Wednesday’s meeting, there were also passionate voices fighting against the proposed construction.

“Big corporations see Coney Island not as a community, but a commodity,” Jake Turner of Coney Island USA said during the meeting. “A place they can extract wealth from with no regard for the people who live here.”

Supporters countered by pointing to the jobs that both construction and operation of the facility would bring aid to a community they say desperately needs the influx of economic opportunity.

“These people, my people, we need an opportunity,” resident Joseph Watson said. “We do know that they’re speaking about union jobs. Even if they weren’t, the income that they’re making is already above what they’re making in the household already.”

Land Use Changes Less Critical for Coney Island Casino

While the vote was a blow to The Coney, developers were quick to point out that it didn’t mean the project was dead in the water, and that this proposal has several advantages over other New York City casino proposals that need land use changes.

“As the outright owners of the fully developable lots, The Coney remains the bid most poised to put shovels in the ground on day one to kickstart what will be an economic revival for Coney Island and Southern Brooklyn,” The Coney said in a statement.

Other leading proposals for the three downstate New York casino licenses include two existing electronic gaming facilities – Empire Casino at Yonkers Raceway and Resorts World New York City – as well as a Times Square project backed by Caesars, a Wynn casino at Hudson Yards, and the Metropolitan Park development proposed by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen.