A fried-chicken tycoon whose plan to rebuild Coney Island’s Steeplechase Park in the 1990s was shot down by then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani is ripping the city over its current bid to redevelop the gritty amusement district.
Kansas Fried Chicken king Horace Bullard told The Post that the city has waited far too long to rezone the district – putting boardwalkproperty owners such as himself at risk as they face a declining economy, and potentially setting back future redevelopment many years.
He and business partner Peter Sheffer also defended embattled developer Joseph Sitt, whose inability to get city backing for a glitzy, $1.5 billion project on 10 acres of boardwalk is creating the biggest rezoning delay.
“They’re slapping him in the face when they should be embracing him,” Bullard said.
“I know better than anyone that it’s difficult to find people to invest in building amusements here. Joe is the only person stepping up now – and people must realize that while it’s a highprofile project, it’s also highrisk.”
Sitt’s latest plan feature amusements, retail and hotels – but the city is dead set against time-share apartments that Sitt said he needs to make it financially feasible.
In response to Bullard’s comments, city Economic Development Corp.’s Yonit Golub said, “We understand there are real estate developers looking to make money after a zoning change, but when it comes to Coney Island and the historic amusement district, we have one chance to get it right, and we intend to.”
She said the city plans to release a rezoning plan this fall.
Sitt declined comment.
Bullard said Sitt “seemed burnt out” and was “wondering if all the aggravation is worth it” when both met two weeks ago.
Bullard said he wants to see how Coney Island is rezoned before deciding whether to redevelop the 160,000 square feet of real estate he owns there or sell it to Sitt, who has expressed interest, or to another buyer.
Bullard wanted to rebuild Steeplechase Park into a 25-acre, 60-ride project in the 1990s, but Giuliani killed three different proposals to make way for KeySpan Park, which opened in 2001 and is home to a Mets minor league baseball team, the Brooklyn Cyclones.