CONEY ISLAND BROOKLYN Commercial District Needs Assessment COMMERCIAL DISTRICT NEEDS ASSESSMENT Bill de Blasio Mayor in partnership The Alliance for Coney Island Gregg Bishop with Commissioner ABOUT CONEY ISLAND Background Coney Island is a world-renowned neighborhood and seaside destination located on the westernmost tip of the Southern Brooklyn peninsula. Known as “The People’s Playground” for generations, Coney Island is home to one of New York City’s best-known beaches, an amusement district, and a 2.5-mile long boardwalk that connects to neighboring The Neighborhood 360° Brighton Beach. program was created by the NYC Department of Small Business During the early 20th century, Coney Island was the largest amusement attraction in Services to identify, develop, and the United States, bringing thrill-seekers, performers, and tourists from around the launch commercial revitalization world. Designated historic landmarks (including Deno’s Wonder Wheel, the Parachute projects in partnership with Jump, and the Cyclone Roller Coaster), the nonprofit arts organization Coney Island USA, local stakeholders. Through proactive planning and targeted performances, parades, and other events celebrate Coney Island’s unique history and investments, Neighborhood 360° capture the eccentric spirit of the neighborhood. Coney Island is also anchored by many supports projects that strengthen cultural and recreational institutions, including the New York Aquarium, MCU Park (home to and revitalize the streets, small the Brooklyn Cyclones and the New York Cosmos), the Ford Amphitheater, and the YMCA. businesses, and community- based organizations that anchor While these attractions offer plenty for visitors to do during the summer months, Coney New York City neighborhoods. Island has three distinctive commercial corridors that serve the everyday needs of residents. The Neighborhood 360° Mermaid Avenue is the neighborhood’s primary commercial corridor with a mix of retail and Commercial District Needs community-serving storefront businesses. Low-rise mixed-use buildings, attached one- Assessment (CDNA) highlights a and two-family homes, and one-story commercial buildings are prevalent on Mermaid neighborhood’s existing business landscape and consumer Avenue. Running parallel to the north, Neptune Avenue is home to a cluster of automotive characteristics. businesses (auto repair shops, garages, lots), and low-rise mixed-use buildings. To the south, the amusement district is concentrated around Surf Avenue, Stillwell Avenue, and This CDNA features the Mermaid Avenue, Surf Avenue, Neptune the Riegelmann Boardwalk. The western part of Surf Avenue is home to high-rise residential Avenue, Stillwell Avenue, and buildings and facilities for senior citizens. Residents and visitors can connect to each of the Riegelmann Boardwalk these corridors through the subway and bus terminal located on Stillwell Avenue. commercial corridors in Coney Island, and was conducted in In 2012, the Coney Island community was hit by Hurricane Sandy, which was one of partnership with the Alliance for the most difficult challenges it has ever faced. Most businesses were devastated, yet Coney Island between February and June 2017. merchants rallied together to survive and rebuild. Many businesses were able to reopen and continue to operate today because of loyal customers and local recovery efforts. Key issues and opportunities identified through this assessment will help prioritize SBS-supported local Neighborhood Demographics See more on page 17 investments, and serve as an informational and marketing resource for the neighborhood. Coney Island has a rich history of diverse immigrant communities spanning across Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and South Asia. Of the 32,000 residents, 37% are White, 27% are African American, 23% are Hispanic or Latino, and 11% are Asian. It is common to hear many languages spoken among local residents, including Russian, In This Report Mandarin, Spanish, and Arabic. Coney Island is also home to a high concentration of housing and facilities for senior citizens. As a result, the neighborhood population over 65 years Existing conditions, business old (20%) is almost twice that of both Brooklyn (12%) and New York City (12%). Despite the data, and qualitative depictions economic challenges of this aging population, as well as relatively high unemployment and of the neighborhood were gathered from more than low median household income compared to Brooklyn overall, Coney Island has a strong 447 surveys and various base of community organizations working to invest in the future of the neighborhood. stakeholder meetings with neighborhood merchants, shoppers, workers, property Future Opportunities See more on page 5 owners, and residents. Jump to... Key Findings 4-5 Historic gems, iconic anchors, and a steady population of residents are the backbone of Business Inventory 6 Coney Island’s vitality. Members of the community sustain local businesses, and more than What Merchants Say 7, 9-11 5 million annual visitors help boost the local economy. Several major new mixed-use Business Outlook 12-13 developments are currently underway throughout the district, which will expand available What Shoppers Say 11, 13 commercial and residential space. New and planned entertainment destinations include Physical Environment 14-15 the Ford Amphitheater and the New York Aquarium’s 50,000 square foot Ocean Wonders: Data Appendix 16-19 Sharks! exhibit. Despite local challenges, more than $400 million in public and private investments will help the Coney Island commercial district continue to grow in the years ahead. 2 Neighborhood 360° Commercial District Needs Assessment NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT Coney Island CROPSEY AV28 AV AV Y Calvert Vaux Park AV Z SHELL RD AV Z BAY 53 ST D N Coney Island BELT PKWY Creek HART PL CYPRESS AV Kaiser Park W 37 ST 37 W W 33 ST Sea Gate NEPTUNE AV Brooklyn Public AV STILLWELL 6 SURF AV Library W 17 ST 17 W W 15 ST 15 W W 16 ST 16 W W 5 ST MERMAID AV W 12 ST W 8 ST F Workforce1 Coney Island W 35 ST 35 W Career Center YMCA USA W 28 ST 28 W W 23 ST 23 W W 30 ST ST 25 W Q 4 SURF AV MCU BOWERY STLuna Park 3 Park Asser 1 Levy Park B&B New RIEG ELM Carousell 2 Cyclone 5 York ANN Roller BOARDWAL Ford Deno’s Aquarium K Amphitheater Wonder Coaster Wheel Coney Island Beach Pat Auletta Steeplechase Pier 0 0.15 0.3 Miles ° Points of Interest Notable Places Assessed Commercial Corridors Amusements & Entertainment 1 2 Public Facilities Current & Planned Developments Luna Park B&B Carousell and Parachute Jump Neighborhood Events 3 4 Mermaid Parade Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Coney Island Flicks on the Beach MCU Park YMCA Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest Coney Island Children’s Halloween Parade New Year’s Eve Celebration Current & Planned Developments Friday Night Fireworks 5 6 Blessing of the Rides New York Aquarium Neptune/Sixth Coney Island 3 KEY FINDINGS & OPPORTUNITIES Strengths Many long-standing small businesses throughout the Rich culture and history of the beach and boardwalk district. Businesses have a strong sense of community New public and private investments in residential, and connection to Coney Island and local residents commercial, and infrastructure developments Home to popular anchors, including the New York Transportation hub with 85,000+ daily riders on four Aquarium, YMCA, the Ford Amphitheater, and the subway lines and seven MTA bus routes world-renowned Coney Island amusement district Well-maintained and accessible public spaces throughout Internationally-known summer destination that the district attracts more than 5 million visitors each year Challenges Perceptions of safety are poor, especially at night Public spaces, though abundant and easily accessible, are underutilized by both residents and visitors Coney Island remains a primarily seasonal attraction, so the number of visitors to the district fluctuates, Vacant lots, vacant storefronts, and non-commercial uses making it difficult for businesses to reach their sales visibly disrupt the continuity of retail corridors goals during the winter months High proportion of storefronts are in need of There is a strong need for more shopping and healthy physical improvements food options, which causes residents to shop outside of Many seasonal visitors do not patronize businesses outside the neighborhood of the amusement district Coney Island Beach Totonno’s Ruby’s Bar and Grill Coney Island Mural 4 Neighborhood 360° Commercial District Needs Assessment Mermaid Parade Ford Amphitheater Sneaker Town USA Mermaid Avenue Commercial Corridor Opportunities Fill vacant storefronts with new businesses that will Improve lighting along commercial corridors and meet the needs of local residents and tap into their side streets to address safety concerns and foster spending power connections across the district Activate underutilized public spaces and create Leverage the diversity of the community to promote opportunities for community programming entrepreneurship and expand on Coney Island’s reputation as a unique destination Clean, beautify, and maintain streets and sidewalks Increase communication among merchants and expand Implement programming, wayfinding, and marketing services to support business growth to encourage visitors to explore businesses on Mermaid and Neptune avenues Build the capacity of community-based economic development organizations and leverage the strong interest for merchant collaboration Want to Learn More? 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