First, the bad.
Thor Equities has apparently begun gutting the Henderson building at Coney Island for eventual demolition. The plan is to tear down this historic building…
…and replace it with this (apparently paving the streets with gold in the process):
Unfortunately, if CEO Joseph Sitthead’s track record is any indication, Thor will simply raze the building, not put anything up, then flip the property at a higher price. Anyone want to make a bet? This picture was posted on May 8 on the ConeyIsland.com message board.
(photo courtesy magicalthemeparks.com)
If you want to amuse yourself, spend a moment reading Joe Sitthead’s bio page. For a guy that claims to love New York, he sure has no qualms with destroying it for a buck. Read my recent Coney Island look-at here.
“What drew us to Coney Island? History. We’re nostalgic not just from an emotional point of view, but a return point of view. Palmer House is 130 years old; Coney Island is a 150-year-old project. After 150 years, it’s been able to establish an immeasurable brand name. We see Adidas and Izod–all the old brands are coming back in the fashion world. We realized that you can find brands in the real estate world.” – Joe Sitt, admitting that Coney Island is nothing more than a brand to him (I’m not religious, but if there is a hell, I believe there’s a very special area reserved for guys like Joe).
Now the good news: Scouting NY reader Karen sent word that the Ulmer Brewery buildings in Brooklyn are now landmarked! I wrote about the awesome Ulmer telegraph office recently (pictured below). Now it and the adjacent factory buildings will be protected for years to come.
I look at the telegraph office and see a thing of history and beauty; Joe Sitt sees a potential vacant lot.
-SCOUT
Love the same “Joe Sitthead,” Right up there with “Satan’s real estate division, Thor Equities.”
I pray to all that is holy that NYC landmarks every single building this assclown wants to touch. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with making a buck, but why does every billionaire developer want to turn anything with character into a bland facsimile of everything else?? Why bother going to Coney Island if it ends up looking like every single strip mall in the world?
I love your blog, have it homepaged, but “Sitthead” is distractingly juvenile. You’re better than that!
i worked oneemmons av. in 1960 and the place to go after work
was CONEY ISLAND.thousand of people enjoyin g the games
the roller coaster,food and beer.NATHANS was the place to be..i will miss the place.
I love your blog too, and “Sitthead” is perfect. I just added it to my dictionary.
“Sitthead” fits him well.
Thanks for the hat-tip, Scout!
okay you’ve redeemed yourself. this is a good piece.
Ugh, that gold-paved rendering looks EXACTLY like what they did to the north side of 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. A Miami architect who clearly never actually walked down a New York street installed that brassy Westin hotel and turned the street into a caricature of Times Square. The faux-haphazard signage and calculated “jumble” of stores tried to create the energy that can only be found on a street that has grown organically over time. There is no energy or appeal to this block, and it is now one of the most unpleasant stretches of the city. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen to Coney Island. Maybe people don’t see a Popeye’s Chicken as a desirably tenant, but at least they weren’t the chain to introduce the Double-Down Chicken Infarction.