THE BALLOON MAN

Coney Island development
2012

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 12: People walk along a street at Coney Island on July 12, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Coney Island has until recently been viewed as a seedy and dilapidating seaside park, however, it is going through a gradual transition which many compare to the renovation of Times Square. In order to accommodate more shops and residential buildings, the Michael Bloomberg administration rezoned Coney Island in 2009. The city also bought seven acres of prime Coney Island real estate promising approximately $150 million in infrastructure upgrades in the area. A recent study found that Coney Island's Luna Park had 640,000 visitors in 2011, the most since Steeplechase Park closed in 1964. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 12: People enjoy the beach at Coney Island on July 12, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Coney Island has until recently been viewed as a seedy and dilapidating seaside park, however, it is going through a gradual transition which many compare to the renovation of Times Square. In order to accommodate more shops and residential buildings, the Michael Bloomberg administration rezoned Coney Island in 2009. The city also bought seven acres of prime Coney Island real estate promising approximately $150 million in infrastructure upgrades in the area. A recent study found that Coney Island's Luna Park had 640,000 visitors in 2011, the most since Steeplechase Park closed in 1964. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 12: A woman walks down the boardwalk in Coney Island on July 12, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Coney Island has until recently been viewed as a seedy and dilapidating seaside park, however, it is going through a gradual transition which many compare to the renovation of Times Square. In order to accommodate more shops and residential buildings, the Michael Bloomberg administration rezoned Coney Island in 2009. The city also bought seven acres of prime Coney Island real estate promising approximately $150 million in infrastructure upgrades in the area. A recent study found that Coney Island's Luna Park had 640,000 visitors in 2011, the most since Steeplechase Park closed in 1964. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 12: A man takes a rest while waiting for customers at his basketball game off the Coney Island boardwalk on July 12, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Coney Island has until recently been viewed as a seedy and dilapidating seaside park, however, it is going through a gradual transition which many compare to the renovation of Times Square. In order to accommodate more shops and residential buildings, the Michael Bloomberg administration rezoned Coney Island in 2009. The city also bought seven acres of prime Coney Island real estate promising approximately $150 million in infrastructure upgrades in the area. A recent study found that Coney Island's Luna Park had 640,000 visitors in 2011, the most since Steeplechase Park closed in 1964. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images)

 NEW YORK, NY - JULY 12: People walk along the boardwalk in Coney Island on July 12, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Coney Island has until recently been viewed as a seedy and dilapidating seaside park, however, it is going through a gradual transition which many compare to the renovation of Times Square. In order to accommodate more shops and residential buildings, the Michael Bloomberg administration rezoned Coney Island in 2009. The city also bought seven acres of prime Coney Island real estate promising approximately $150 million in infrastructure upgrades in the area. A recent study found that Coney Island's Luna Park had 640,000 visitors in 2011, the most since Steeplechase Park closed in 1964. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 12: A dilapidating building is viewed for sale at Coney Island on July 12, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Coney Island has until recently been viewed as a seedy and dilapidating seaside park, however, it is going through a gradual transition which many compare to the renovation of Times Square. In order to accommodate more shops and residential buildings, the Michael Bloomberg administration rezoned Coney Island in 2009. The city also bought seven acres of prime Coney Island real estate promising approximately $150 million in infrastructure upgrades in the area. A recent study found that Coney Island's Luna Park had 640,000 visitors in 2011, the most since Steeplechase Park closed in 1964. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images)

 

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 12: A homeless man rests in the shade near the beach at Coney Island on July 12, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Coney Island has until recently been viewed as a seedy and dilapidating seaside park, however, it is going through a gradual transition which many compare to the renovation of Times Square. In order to accommodate more shops and residential buildings, the Michael Bloomberg administration rezoned Coney Island in 2009. The city also bought seven acres of prime Coney Island real estate promising approximately $150 million in infrastructure upgrades in the area. A recent study found that Coney Island's Luna Park had 640,000 visitors in 2011, the most since Steeplechase Park closed in 1964. (Spencer Platt, Getty Images)