An article in the Wall Street Journal by Michael Immerso, author of Coney Island: the People’s Playground“, describes the unique social history of Coney as the most democratic of meeting places for New Yorkers and an incubator for never-before-seen foods and amusements. Mr. Immerso cautions that the City’s proposed plan for Coney Island does not leave enough room for open-air amusements and activities that have always been “Coney Island summer staples,” providing “affordable amusements for the masses.” As illustrated by the marvelous accompanying slide show, Mr. Immerso calls for the city to not render Coney Island a place that is Coney in name only, but lives up to it’s legacy as the people’s playground.

In other news, a group of Willets Point business owners have filed a complaint against former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman for illegally lobbying on behalf of the City’s proposed rezoning. (New York Daily News)

Two years in, the Empire State Building is undergoing a major interior renovation that will restore the art deco lobby and update the building’s infrastructure, in order to attract new corporate tenants (New Times Times)

The Ninth Avenue bike-only median protected lane has been extended eight more blocks to the north (Streetsblog)

The Chanel Mobile Art Pavilion designed by Zaha Hadid is being constructed in Rumsey Playfield in Central Park (Curbed)