DiNapoli: Coney Island and Brighton Beach Jobs Doubled Over Last Decade

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released an economic snapshot today of Brooklyn's Coney Island and Brighton Beach, where the amusement parks, boardwalk and "Little Odessa" have earned global reputations, but the dramatic rise in jobs over the past decade may be less well known.

"Coney Island and Brighton Beach have undergone robust economic growth led by rapid job and business creation over the last decade," said DiNapoli. "Millions visit and have fun there every year, but for the people who live and work in the area, its strong economic growth is tempered by poverty rates and housing cost burdens which remain high. Coney Island and Brighton Beach are jewels among our city's neighborhoods, but addressing these issues must be a priority."

"Coney Island and Brighton Beach are long overdue for a win like this," said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. "From high levels of rent burden to the ongoing devastation left behind by Superstorm Sandy, Coney Island and Brighton Beach have faced incredible hardship. Yet, this report proves what we already know: Brooklyn always finds a way. I am so proud to see that jobs have doubled over the last decade in Coney Island and Brighton Beach, and I am committed to seeing this momentum build. Thank you to Comptroller DiNapoli for helping define these neighborhoods' needs so we can continue to tackle the ongoing issues standing in the way of our neighbors' success and happiness."

"The data is in and the numbers don't lie: business is booming Coney Island," said NYC Councilmember Justin Brannan, CD-47. "This is great news for our communities and anyone who cares about our quality of life in southern Brooklyn, but we can't stop now. We need to double down and make sure Coney Island gets the investments we need to keep up this economic growth going. New York is the greatest city in the world but that doesn't happen on its own and it's not something we can take for granted. Keeping our economy strong takes hard work. We love our tourists. We need to make sure those tax dollars support the rest of us who live here 12 months a year and not just when the weather is warm. I'm so proud of what we have accomplished so far and I am committed to making sure the city puts its money where its mouth is and continues to have Coney Island's back."

"From world-famous beaches to the home of America's Playground, Coney Island and Brighton Beach are iconic locations that have received international recognition for much of New York City's history," said State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, 23rd SD. "Comptroller DiNapoli's economic snapshot highlighted that these are not only famed tourist destinations, but hubs of job growth and opportunity for residents and newcomers. Nonetheless, this employment growth cannot detract from the issues of affordability and housing faced by our neighbors - and especially our older adults - living here. I look forward to my continued work with our community's stakeholders to encourage prosperity and address quality of life issues faced by everyday Southern Brooklynites."

"Coney Island is a vital part of the economic engine that drives New York City. We must continue the preservation of the world famous seaside playground, while simultaneously attracting investment in the year-round retail community, as well as providing increased housing that will continue the upward climb of economic growth," said AssemblymemberAlec Brook-Krasny, 46th AD. "Coney Island has the population to attract national chains for year-round growth while maintaining the local seasonal businesses that are a major tourist attraction. I am grateful to have New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli present his report on the economy of Coney Island and Brighton Beach. Together, we can continue to make Coney Island and Brighton Beach a great place to live, work, and invest."

"The job growth in Coney Island and Brighton Beach underscores the resilience and potential of these iconic communities," said Assemblymember Michael Novakhov, 45th AD. "While the surge in healthcare and business services has fueled economic progress, we must also focus on the challenges many residents still face, from housing affordability to food insecurity. By continuing to invest in these neighborhoods, we can ensure that everyone benefits from this growth while preserving the unique character of Coney Island and Brighton Beach."

"The data is in and the numbers don't lie: business is booming Coney Island," said NYC Councilmember Justin Brannan, CD-47. "This is great news for our communities and anyone who cares about our quality of life in southern Brooklyn, but we can't stop now. We need to double down and make sure Coney Island gets the investments we need to keep up this economic growth going. New York is the greatest city in the world but that doesn't happen on its own and it's not something we can take for granted. Keeping our economy strong takes hard work. We love our tourists. We need to make sure those tax dollars support the rest of us who live here 12 months a year and not just when the weather is warm. I'm so proud of what we have accomplished so far and I am committed to making sure the city puts its money where its mouth is and continues to have Coney Island's back."

"From world-famous beaches to the home of America's Playground, Coney Island and Brighton Beach are iconic locations that have received international recognition for much of New York City's history," said State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, 23^rd SD. "Comptroller DiNapoli's economic snapshot highlighted that these are not only famed tourist destinations, but hubs of job growth and opportunity for residents and newcomers. Nonetheless, this employment growth cannot detract from the issues of affordability and housing faced by our neighbors - and especially our older adults - living here. I look forward to my continued work with our community's stakeholders to encourage prosperity and address quality of life issues faced by everyday Southern Brooklynites."

"Coney Island is a vital part of the economic engine that drives New York City. We must continue the preservation of the world famous seaside playground, while simultaneously attracting investment in the year-round retail community, as well as providing increased housing that will continue the upward climb of economic growth," said Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny, 46^th AD. "Coney Island has the population to attract national chains for year-round growth while maintaining the local seasonal businesses that are a major tourist attraction. I am grateful to have New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli present his report on the economy of Coney Island and Brighton Beach. Together, we can continue to make Coney Island and Brighton Beach a great place to live, work, and invest."

"The job growth in Coney Island and Brighton Beach underscores the resilience and potential of these iconic communities," said Assemblymember Michael Novakhov, 45^th AD. "While the surge in healthcare and business services has fueled economic progress, we must also focus on the challenges many residents still face, from housing affordability to food insecurity. By continuing to invest in these neighborhoods, we can ensure that everyone benefits from this growth while preserving the unique character of Coney Island and Brighton Beach."

"The Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the New York Aquarium, applauds the strong economic and employment growth in Coney Island and Brighton Beach over the last decade," said John Calvelli, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, for WCS. "As a year-round economic driver in Coney Island, the New York Aquarium serves as an anchor institution within the community. We are proud to support and contribute to the ongoing revitalization of this iconic destination, creating opportunities and driving sustainable growth."

Job Growth Rate Five Times Higher Than the City's

Despite the pandemic, jobs in Coney Island and Brighton Beach grew by 101% from a decade earlier to 35,203 in 2023. That was double Brooklyn's overall job growth (49.3%) and more than five times higher than the growth citywide (18.7%). The vast majority of the area's new jobs (82%) were in health care and social assistance.

Among the nearly 120,000 residents is a relatively large young population - 22.8% are under 18 years - but what sets the area apart is its older adult population - 24% are 65 years and over, the second highest concentration in the city. In addition to spurring jobs in health care and other sectors, the large older adult population has implications for other issues such as housing costs, transport and age-related health conditions. Notably, the area is home to at least three naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs), where residents are aging in place within their own homes and communities.

The number of businesses in the area increased by 29.9% over the decade ending in 2023, with business services, construction, and the health care sectors making up more than one-half of the increase. Health care, retail trade, and business services accounted for 46.9% of all businesses in Coney Island and Brighton Beach.

As jobs soared, total wages more than doubled over the same period, increasing from $609.1 million to $1.5 billion - a rate similar to all of Brooklyn and higher than citywide. Average wages grew at a slower pace, rising just 23.2% to $42,835, which was smaller than the 39.3% increase seen for both Brooklyn and the city overall. This may reflect the higher share of home-health care jobs contributing to employment growth, which have lower average wages.

Revitalization Plans

Coney Island has been synonymous with amusement parks and entertainment for well over a century, and it continues to uphold that legacy with old and new rides, large annual events and landmark institutions. Efforts to revitalize the area include a 2009 rezoning and revitalization plan to enable the development of more mixed-use properties and amusement spaces. More recently, Childs Restaurant was restored and reopened and the New York Aquarium fully reopened in 2022 after a rebuild to repair the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy. The area has also been named as a potential site for one of three casinos to be located downstate.

As of January 2024, the city identified 797 new units of affordable housing created since the plan's start, in part reflecting an increase in construction of housing units since Superstorm Sandy affected the area in 2012. DiNapoli encouraged elected officials to continue to drive investment in the completion of the area's 2009 rezoning and revitalization plan in ways that benefit the greatest number of Coney Island and Brighton Beach residents.

Housing Costs

Like in many neighborhoods citywide, Coney Island and Brighton Beach residents struggle with a high cost of living. Among renters, 61.1% struggle with burdensome housing costs that consume 30% or more of their household income, compared to 51.1% in Brooklyn and 52.1% citywide. That gap expands among renters who are severely burdened - spending 50% or more of their income on housing - 42.3% in the area compared to 29.1% in Brooklyn overall and 29.5% citywide.

The area is home to nearly 6,000 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) apartments in four developments, comprising 11.6% of all area housing units, and 9.5% of NYCHA units citywide.

Trends in 311 complaints highlight a need for attention to housing conditions, which make up the bulk of the calls from the area. A comparison of January to July 311 data over the past four years shows an increasing trend in complaints highlight poor housing conditions such as broken elevators, water leaks, and paint and plaster issues in the Coney Island and Brighton Beach area.

Even with Coney Island and Brighton Beach's significant economic growth and recovery from Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic, DiNapoli pointed out that addressing socioeconomic disparities and the concerns of the area's large older population remains critical for the community's long-term success.

Other key findings in DiNapoli's report include:

• Most of the area's occupied household units (75%) were rentals and the median rent including gas and utilities was $1,401, lower than boroughwide and citywide (both $1,688 and includes regulated, subsidized households).
• Median household income in 2022 was $43,146, significantly lower than the borough ($73,951) and the city ($74,694). The proportion of households with income below the federal poverty level in the Coney Island-Seagate, Gravesend (South), and Brighton Beach micro-neighborhoods were 31%, 22.8% and 27.7%, respectively.
• Food insecurity remains a challenge in the area. There are approximately 2,172 residents per each food retailer, including supermarket or other grocery or specialty food retailers. This is a much higher ratio than for all of Brooklyn, which had 1,254 residents for each retailer.
• Of the 119,482 residents that live in Coney Island and Brighton Beach, 49% identified as white, 19% as Hispanic, 15% as Black and 13% as Asian.
• Immigrants made up 49.8% of the population in 2022, with over half of that population from Europe, compared to less than one-fifth boroughwide and an even smaller share citywide. One-third of the area's foreign-born residents was from Asia.
• The area has the largest Ukrainian-born population (14,623) and the second largest Russian-born population (6,931) in the city.
• Over the past decade, major investments in the area included $526.3 million on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Coney Island Yard, which is the largest such facility in the city's transit system, serving four main subway lines (D, F, N, Q).

Report
An Economic Snapshot of Coney Island and Brighton Beach

Additional Reports
Business Growth in New York City During the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 2024
The Cost of Living in New York City: Housing, January 2024
Tracking the Return: The Tourism Industry in New York City, May 2024

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