Coney Island is poised for a major transformation.
The city aims to add 1,500 new residential units on publicly owned land near the boardwalk. Mayor Eric Adams envisions a surge of development that will introduce new housing, retail, and infrastructure improvements to the historic beachfront neighborhood. As part of this initiative, the city is investing $42 million to renovate the sports center and reconstruct sections of the boardwalk, ensuring the area remains both a vibrant destination and a livable community.
A critical step in this plan is the recent proposal request for an 80,000-square-foot site on Surf Avenue, between West 21st and 22nd Streets. The city is seeking a developer to construct a 500-unit residential project, with 25 percent of the apartments set aside as affordable housing. The project will also feature ground-floor retail, enhancing the growing array of shops and amenities in the area.
In addition to housing, the city is also working to safeguard Coney Island from rising sea levels, securing a $2.1 million FEMA grant to bolster flood resilience. Meanwhile, private developers continue to expand the neighborhood’s residential landscape, with multiple large-scale projects in the works, including a mix of affordable and market-rate housing.
The plans are ambitious, and if they advance as envisioned, they could redefine the neighborhood’s future. However, as with any major transformation, it remains to be seen what will actually materialize.
