Seaside Park and Community Arts Center – 13DME014K

The Seaside Park and Community Arts Center ("proposed project") would introduce a mix of entertainment and commercial uses, as well as publicly accessible open space along the western portion of the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island. The proposed development would include the construction of an approximately 5,100-seat amphitheater that would be a seasonal concert venue used from late spring through early fall and would provide the community with additional publicly accessible recreational and entertainment opportunities throughout the year.

The proposed project also involves the restoration and adaptive reuse of the approximately 60,000 sf historic (Former) Childs Restaurant Building (a designated NYC landmark) for a restaurant, banquet, and indoor entertainment uses with indoor seating for approximately 440 diners, as well as rooftop outdoor seating. The Childs restoration would include the proposed amphitheater's stage. In addition, the project would include the development of publicly accessible open space that would extend to West 23rd Street and provide passive recreational opportunities. The project would continue the City of New York's efforts to reinvigorate Coney Island by introducing a new recreation and entertainment destination. The proposed amphitheater would be an interim use authorized for a period of ten years. It would be owned by the City of New York and operated by a non-profit entity under a ten-year lease with the City. The amphitheater would serve as a venue for a variety of concerts, community events, and public gatherings.

If the proposed project is approved, it is anticipated that the proposed amphitheater and other project components would be completed by summer 2015, with the first full year of operation being 2016.

The proposed project would be facilitated by the following discretionary actions:

• Zoning Map amendments (Zoning Map No. 28d) to modify the boundaries of the Special Coney Island District (CI) and the Coney West subdistrict to extend further west to West 23rd Street.
• Zoning text amendment to allow, by Special Permit (addition of Zoning Resolution Section 131.60), an amphitheater with a capacity of 5,100 seats as an interim use for 10 years on Parcels B and G within the Coney West subdistrict of the Special Coney Island District and to establish within the Special Coney Island District a new Parcel G.
• Zoning Special Permit pursuant to the proposed zoning text amendment (proposed Zoning Resolution Section 131-60), to allow an amphitheater with a capacity of approximately 5,100 seats as a temporary use for a term of 10 years within the Coney West subdistrict on Parcels B and G.
• Acquisition by the City of New York of privately-owned real property that is part of the development site.
• Disposition of the development site by the City of New York’s Land Development Corporation (LDC) to EDC, by lease agreement, for the development and operation of the proposed project, with approval of the Mayor and the Brooklyn Borough Board pursuant to New York City Charter Section 384(b)(4).
• City capital funding.
• Any other approvals as may be required to facilitate the proposed project contemplated under the Special Permit.

On November 21, 2013, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development (ODMED) issued the Notice of Completion for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Seaside Park and Community Arts Center Project marking the completion of the project’s CEQR environmental review. The Notice of Completion for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was issued on September 5, 2013, which marked the beginning of the public comment period on this document. The public hearing on the DEIS was held on October 23, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. in Spector Hall, 22 Reade Street, New York, NY in conjunction with the project’s ULURP public hearing. Notice was provided of the date and time of the hearing. Written comments on the DEIS were requested and were accepted through 5:00 P.M. on November 4, 2013.

On May 16, 2013, ODMED, as lead agency for the CEQR environmental review, issued an Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS) and a Positive Declaration for the project indicating that there was the potential for adverse environmental impacts due to the project and directed that a DEIS be prepared. At the same time, a Draft Scope of Work for an EIS was issued for public comment. To receive public comments, a public Scoping Meeting was held beginning at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, June 17, 2013, at Abraham Lincoln High School, 2800 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11235. Written comments on the Draft Scope of Work were accepted by the ODMED until 5:00 P.M. Friday, June 28, 2013. On September 4, 2013, ODMED issued the Final Scope of Work.

Environmental Review Materials

The environmental review documents can be downloaded from CEQR Access.