Affordable housing units are set to break ground close to one of America’s most iconic beaches.
New York City officials are touting a new housing project just blocks away from Coney Island’s boardwalk entrances.
The neighborhood, which hangs on the southern tip of Brooklyn, offers a dose of chaos and nostalgia.
The aroma of fried dough fills the air, as wooden roller coasters clatter above and sun-kissed crowds move between congested beaches and hot dog vendors.
But not everyone is excited about the development.
“People often say, ‘Avoid having a heart attack on the Fourth of July because it might take two hours for an ambulance to reach you,'” Angela Kravtchenko, a vice chair of the local land use committee, shared with Gothamist.
Nevertheless, city officials are touting the upcoming construction site as a win for affordability in a city battling a housing price crisis.
The development will include 1,100 units of housing, including 720 affordable apartments.
Coney Island’s beach is one of the most popular landmarks in New York City
In one building, the average price for a one-bedroom will be around $1,800 a month, a steep discount compared to the rest of Brooklyn.
In July, new renters in the borough signed leases that pushed the median rent over $2,800 a month for a 545-square-foot apartment.
Nearby Coney Island homes are even pricier, with average monthly rent hovering above $3,200.
Coney Island’s newest housing is part of Mayor Eric Adams’ sweeping plan to rewire New York’s outdated zoning laws called ‘City of Yes.’
The city’s leading official has been navigating through bureaucratic hurdles to develop housing, support small businesses, and implement sustainable technology such as solar panels.
For years, housing advocates have warned that demand keeps climbing while new apartment construction lags behind.
The Adams administration says it’s answering that call — with what it touts as two straight years of record-breaking homebuilding.
Still, not everyone’s convinced.
Coney Island is well-known for its popular attractions, like the annual June Mermaid Parade
Thousands of onlookers descend on Coney Island every year to see the famous hot dog eating contest
The boardwalk is another popular tourist destination – nearby residents worry that increasing population density and tourism could be a toxic mix
Drivers worry that the new development will clog streets in a neighborhood already buckling under traffic.
It’s the kind of issue the city has tried to tackle with tolling initiatives — most famously, congestion pricing in lower Manhattan.
That plan slaps a $9 toll on cars entering below Central Park during peak hours. Officials say it’s raising funds for public transit, reducing pollution, and clearing a path for emergency vehicles.
But the system doesn’t extend to Brooklyn.
Also, environmental activists are worried that the area is increasingly at risk for sea-level rise.
Hofstra University conducted a land survey that found most of Coney Island is expected to flood more frequently in the coming decade.
Despite the backlash, the Mayor’s office is charging ahead with the Coney Island project. Housing projects like this one are expected to feature prominently in Adams’ re-election pitch.
In the meantime, hot dog–loving future residents might want to prep their stomachs.
They could soon be living steps away from Nathan’s — and might compete in the chain’s famous hot dog eating contest.
