Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Blogs, North America, United StatesNational Park Service
In an effort to increase diversity in America’s national parks, the American Latino Heritage Fund of the National Park Foundation has a… Continue reading
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Business, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, Photos, Stories, North America, United States, Consumer Activism
When the first structures were being built in Coney Island in the 1840s, the surrounding community was in uproar. Residents wanted to preserve the land’s natural beauty. In the early 1900s, the City of New York endeavored to condemn all buildings south of Surf Avenue and the amusement community of Coney Island opposed the city. Amusements on the beach were demolished under the direction of urban planner Robert Moses in the ’40s and ’50s. He cleared the land for the New York Aquarium, Abe Stark Ice Skating Rink and low-income housing. Once Moses was through with his Coney Island renovations, only a few areas remained protected for amusement use only and that small designation was a response to public complaints.
Fred Trump attempted to build luxury apartments on the beach in 1964. He spent a decade in court fighting for a rezoning to no avail. By the 1970s, few visitors traveled to Coney Island and the city attempted to bring popularity back to the area with gambling casinos, taking note from Atlantic City. Gambling remained illegal in Coney Island, however, and vacant lots dominated areas that would have been lined with slot machines and card tables.
Under Giuliani’s reign, the sporting complex called Sportsplex was erected. Because the Thunderbolt roller-coaster stood in the line of view from the stadium, Giuliani had it demolished one early morning. Bloomberg took interest in developing Coney Island, but when the Coney Island bid for the 2012 Olympics was lost, the plans for revitalization went to the Coney Island Development Corporation. A company called Thor Equities began buying up property in Coney Island and while evicting businesses along the boardwalk, they released a plan to build a luxury resort as well as a new amusement park. The city approved a plan to construct 4,500 new unites on the beach in 2009. Part of what makes Coney Island what it is is that the community has long-offered low-income housing, but only 900 of these new units are categorized as being “affordable.”
Gallery: Coney Island 2013
Continue reading Coney Island 2013: Weathering The Storm
Coney Island 2013: Weathering The Storm originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Europe, United Kingdom A famous skate park on the South Bank of London may be turned into yet another stretch of retail sameness. Underneath the Southbank Centre, which is home to several performing arts center… Continue reading
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, NewsCourtesy Erin Pettit
The National Geographic Emerging Explorers Program was created to recognize young adventurers, scientists and researchers who have shown particular promise in their ch… Continue reading
Filed under: Activism, Hiking, North America, South America, United States, Brazil, NewsIt sounded like one of those crazy ideas that should have led to fun and adventure and ended in triumph. Instead it ended in tragedy.
Richard Swanson, pictured her… Continue reading
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Africa, Egypt, Middle East
Since the January 2011 Revolution, Egypt has been suffering social and political unrest, and its tourism industry has been hit hard.
Now the tumultuous situation is… Continue reading
Filed under: Activism, Asia, China, Ecotourism, NewsWhen China set out to conduct its First National Census of Water, government officials expected to get a better understanding of the country’s rivers and other aquatic resources. But the results of th… Continue reading
Filed under: Activism, Biking, Europe, North America, Iran, Austria, Hungary, United States
Later this week, Vancouver firefighter and cancer survivor Rudy Pospisil will unpack his Giant Seek bicycle on the coast of Portugal, clip in and head for the … Continue reading
Filed under: Activism, Biking, Europe, North America, Iran, Austria, Hungary, United States
Later this week, Vancouver firefighter and cancer survivor Rudy Pospisil will unpack his Giant Seek bicycle on the coast of Portugal, clip in and head for the … Continue reading
Filed under: Activism, History, Learning, North America, United States, News
Part of the Wounded Knee massacre site, the scene of one of the worst attacks on Native Americans in U.S. history, may soon be sold to private interests, the BBC reports.
In … Continue reading