New York City Council approves rezoning for Coney Island casino project amid divided local opinions

The New York City Council on Monday approved a contentious rezoning measure that paves the way for a proposed casino and entertainment complex in Coney Island, advancing a project that supporters tout as an economic catalyst but critics warn could upend the local community.

Council members voted 36-11, with four abstentions, to allow The Coney, a proposed resort spearheaded by Thor Equities, to demap part of Bowery Street and purchase air rights needed to build three high-rise towers and two pedestrian bridges.

The development would cover more than 1.3 million square feet, featuring a casino, a 500-room hotel, a convention center, retail space, and 1,500 parking spaces. Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel would remain unaffected by the plan.

“Today’s vote continues to show that the more people learn about our project and the benefits it will bring, the more they like it,” said Melissa Gliatta, COO of Thor Equities, after the vote. “We now move one step closer to fulfilling a promise of economic transformation for Coney Island that includes the creation of thousands of jobs and a $200 million locally led community trust fund.”

The decision follows months of heated debate in the neighborhood. In January, Brooklyn’s Community Board 13 overwhelmingly opposed the rezoning, while Borough President Antonio Reynoso later offered conditional support. Council Member Justin Brannan, who represents Coney Island, acknowledged the split sentiment, saying the final judgment rests with a broader group of stakeholders.

Render of the proposed casino

“It is my responsibility to ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to make their voices heard on this matter through the Community Advisory Committee process mandated by New York State,” he said. “Then all of the local elected officials can make a decision collectively.”

Council Member Inna Vernikov, whose district includes parts of Coney Island and Brighton Beach, cast her vote against the proposal. “This demapping makes the casino application and proposed development more likely to take place,” she said. “Over the past many months and at this point years, it has become clear that a majority in the community does not want a casino in Coney Island.”

The development still faces a critical hurdle: securing one of the three downstate casino licenses to be issued by New York State. Last week, the The Coney team submitted its formal bid to the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board, joining seven other applicants.

Each proposal will undergo scrutiny by a local Community Advisory Committee, which must hold public hearings and vote on the project by September 30. Only those winning at least two-thirds support from their respective committees will advance for state consideration, with final licensing decisions expected by the end of the year.

If The Coney receives a license, its three towers would rise between 153 and 402 feet, connected by two “floating” pedestrian bridges across Stillwell Avenue and West 12th Street. Developers say the project would generate 4,000 union construction jobs, 4,500 permanent jobs, and create a $200 million community trust fund, plus an additional $15 million annual fund for local emergency services.

But opponents, including long-running cultural institution Coney Island USA, remain vocal. Artistic Director Adam Rinn, whose organization sits on land slated for redevelopment, called the council’s approval “extremely disappointing.”

“We have over 20,000 signatures opposing this casino project,” he said. “The nerve of these electeds to not take that into consideration. This is not a project that is here to help; this is a project that is set to destroy.”

Rinn said he hopes the licensing process will ultimately block the casino, pointing to the 11 “no” votes in the council as evidence of continued resistance. “We hope that the people of this city will stand behind us,” he said. “We hope that the electeds will see the support that we’re getting.”

If the state ultimately denies The Coney a gaming license, the approved rezoning would be reversed, preventing developers from using it to construct other non-casino projects.