Coney Island Brings in Residences and Retail

"The 19-block rezoning plan aims to rehab Brooklyn's crumbling amusement hub with a kaleidoscope of rides, shops and residential towers.

A 27-story limit - the height of the landmarked Parachute Jump - has been placed on the tallest buildings, but most will be much lower, city officials said.

'This plan protects and preserves the unique character of Coney Island while bringing new housing, shops and recreational facilities to a community that needs more of each,' Mayor Bloomberg said in a statement."

"The plan calls for 4,500 new apartments, including 900 units of affordable housing, 800 hotel rooms and blocks of glitzy stores along Surf Ave. Attractions may include virtual reality rides, IMAX theaters and a tattoo parlor. The public hearing process, officially the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure for Revitalization of Coney Island, calls for a series of hearings."