A New York City arts nonprofit is raising concerns about the future of Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade and its own survival if plans for a massive casino and entertainment complex move forward.
Coney Island USA, the organization behind the Mermaid Parade and other beachside arts programs, is staging a mock funeral on Saturday to protest The Coney, a proposed casino, hotel, and entertainment venue.
Concerns Over the Casino Project
Adam Rinn, artistic director of Coney Island USA, fears the development will make it nearly impossible for the nonprofit to function.
The Issue: The proposed 1.3 million-square-foot development would surround the nonprofit’s landmarked headquarters, bringing:
- Years of construction disruptions
- Cinder block pallets, chain-link fences, and trucks
- Potential impacts on the building’s structural integrity
Rinn: “Who’s going to come into our business for upwards of four years when this construction is going on to support us?”
The Casino Developer’s Argument
Robert Cornegy, a spokesperson for The Coney, says the project is an opportunity to invest in the neighborhood.
- $200 million community fund for local projects, potentially including the Mermaid Parade
- Improved storm resiliency and boardwalk upgrades
- Thousands of new union jobs
Cornegy: “Access to employment in this peninsula has been incredibly rare and scarce. The unemployment numbers in Coney Island are higher than city and state averages.”
However, Rinn pushes back, questioning why a private developer should fund community infrastructure instead of the city.
“Isn’t it the city’s job to invest in neighborhoods? Why is it a private developer’s responsibility?”
Local Opposition & Land Use Disputes
Proposed changes include:
- Demapping several streets around Coney Island USA’s headquarters
- Demolishing surrounding structures (while preserving the landmarked building)
Community Board 13 did not approve the land use proposal, though their vote is advisory.
The Brooklyn Borough President now has one month to review the issue.
Rinn: “We’ve not seen any studies on how pile driving would impact our century-old building.”
Casino’s Impact on Small Businesses
Coney Islanders Against the Casino, led by local resident Kouichi Shirayanagi, opposes the project, arguing that casinos:
- Do not build economic vitality
- Take business away from local retailers
- Encourage spending inside casinos instead of in the community
Shirayanagi: “Casinos don’t build. When people spend their money in a casino, they’re not spending on local retail.”
What’s Next?
- The casino developers are moving forward, continuing their bid for a New York state gaming license.
- The project may be adjusted, but developers remain committed to bringing a casino to Coney Island.
Meanwhile, Coney Island USA and local opponents hope the casino license is denied, so their mock mermaid funeral does not turn into a real one.
Coney island doesn’t need a casino, but should be left as is (as one resident has said, let an amusement center be built there instead, that would compliment the amusement parks already there.) Casinos do nothing but breed crime and misery anyway.