AP News, September 3rd, 2007
It's been a roller-coaster year for the owner of Coney Island's Astroland amusement park.
Carol Albert sold the venerable attraction last November to a developer and braced for a long, difficult goodbye. But then talks started to bring the park and its 370 employees back for one more year. Hopes were raised, then dashed.
Now, with Astroland possibly wrapping up its last Labor Day weekend after 45 years on the boardwalk _ the season ends Sept. 9 _ Albert is hoping for a last-minute deal to resurrect its bumper cars and the 275-foot Astrotower for 2008.
"I have to be optimistic," Albert said. "Maybe you'd call that denial, but we are certainly reaching the point of no return. Originally, I thought we were closing forever, then for the season.
"I don't know what we're closing for now."
Developer Thor Equities has spent more than $100 million to acquire about 10 acres of Coney Island real estate _ including the 3.1 acres where Astroland sits _ in hopes of turning it into a year-round $2 billion tourist attraction.
Although Albert's lease expires at the end of January, she said a new deal is needed before the end of September. "As far as selling my rides, and if I am going to leave the property clean, I don't see how I can wait longer than Sept. 20," she said.
According to Albert, the offer on the table would increase her annual $180,000 rent to an untenable $3 million. Thor, without providing a number, said the figure was lower. Albert said the sides have not spoken in two weeks.
Thor representatives would not discuss specifics. The company issued a statement promising "in 2008, 2009, 2010 and beyond, there will be amusements to be enjoyed by residents, tourists and anyone else who wants to enjoy all that Coney Island has to offer."
Brian Gotlieb, a Coney Island resident for 22 years, kicked off an August petition drive expressing support for Albert's operation. An estimated 2,500 people have signed it.
"It's an icon in the community, and it should not be rushed into history," Gotlieb said.
Albert's father-in-law, Dewey Albert, unveiled the outer space-themed park in 1962 on the beach once billed as the nation's playground. It evolved into a Coney Island fixture, alongside two other local creations: the hot dog and the roller coaster.
This past summer, Thor bowed to critics and gave up plans to include apartments and luxury condominiums as part of its redevelopment effort.
Gotlieb suggested that shutting down Astroland would give those critics more ammunition.
"This situation is only building up negative sentiment," said Gotlieb, a lawyer and community activist. "It's the equivalent of a bully coming in and saying `I can do what I want, and there's nothing you can do about it.'"
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On the Net:
Astroland: http://www.astroland.com/
Coney Island: http://www.coneyisland.com/
