Cozy in Coney: Sitt and Recchia
After reading this weekend’s story in The Times about the stand-off in Coney Island between Thor Equities, the major landowner in Coney Island, and the City, which is pushing ahead with a rezoning of the area and desperately wants the 10.5 acres that Thor controls, we’re surprised there hasn’t been a larger outcry about the…
After reading this weekend’s story in The Times about the stand-off in Coney Island between Thor Equities, the major landowner in Coney Island, and the City, which is pushing ahead with a rezoning of the area and desperately wants the 10.5 acres that Thor controls, we’re surprised there hasn’t been a larger outcry about the overly-cozy relationship between Thor’s founder Joe Sitt and City Councilman Donald Recchia, his close childhood friend who appears to have his back at every turn. “Mr. Recchia has gone to great lengths to support his friend, including involving himself in the negotiations over a land price,” writes The Times. “At a time when the city is slashing its budget, Mr. Recchia has urged the city to pay more.” Recchia also pushed for stipulations at the community board level that would allow for larger retail tenants than the city’s plan calls for, a move designed to play to Thor’s strength as a strip mall operator. Kinda unseemly, no?
City and a Developer Face Off Over Coney Island’s Future [NY Times]
Photo by Mark Elkhatib
Joe Sitt/ Thor equities has been nothing but a big pain for this city and Brooklyn in particular. If Sitt had his way the borough would be stripped of all its charm and turned into a big mall. I just hope the city doesn’t throw him some bone involving his Red Hook sight that has been sitting vacant since he bought it over 3 years ago.
I agree, i know Dominic from his help to another major BK institution, he’s good
And bigger stores should be included, huge mistake to not do so as part of the mix
Basic procedurel issue of huge import: should one owner handle the development or should City design a plan and RFP?
Given how Empire Stores (not City) and FDA Buidlng in Sunset turned out, i am concerned about large real estate RFPs
No actually, it isnt. I know Domenic Recchia and am somewhat familiar with the Coney Island fracas. I can tell you without question that Domenic Recchia cares deeply for the Coney Island community. He in fact initiated the entire redevelopment process. Both Sitt and the administration have taken overly extreme positions in Coney Island. What isnt often reported is the level of irrational antagonism the administration has for Sitt and Thor. Domenic is trying to get them to come to the table, be rational and move the project forward. The biggest fear is continued stalemate and more vaccant lots.
And yeah he and Joe are childhood friends and they look out for each other. What a horrendous sin!!! I’m glad to know that you all are so pious and ethicall that you’d sell out your best budies to cozy up to the Mayor. Nothing pisses me off more than people with no real knowledge of how government works passing judgement on hardworking civil servants.
Unseemly? Yes