RYBAK Dev. with IMC Architecture to build Tilyou Towers - 505-unit mixed-use building conversion

Brooklyn, NY New York City Economic Development Corp. (NYCEDC) has approved RYBAK Development to lead the next phase of development on Coney Island West, which will convert “Parcel A” – an 80,000 s/f lot used primarily for public parking and owned by the city and NYCEDC – into over 500 units of mixed-income housing, 25% of which will be affordable. Named Tilyou Towers, for George Tilyou, founder of Steeplechase Park, and designed by IMC Architecture, the development will also provide ground-floor retail space and replace existing public surface parking with new public structured parking.

The development of “Parcel A,” located on Surf Ave. between West 21^st and West 22^nd St., west of the Coney Island Amusement District, builds off the Adams Administration’s and NYCEDC bold new vision for the next phase of Coney Island. First announced in mayor Adams’ fourth State of the City Address and advanced in a February 2025 announcement, this vision includes 1,500 new homes, reconstruction of the historic Riegelmann Boardwalk, and new investments in streets, sewers, and public realm improvements, including a $42 million renovation of the Abe Stark Sports Center. The city will renovate the Abe Stark Sports Center and the world-famous Coney Island boardwalk and enhance the public realm by building new streets and utilities. The Abe Stark Center renovation will include a new entrance and signage on the boardwalk, improved ice-skating facilities, and other amenities.

NYCEDC selected RYBAK Development following a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. With construction expected to start in 2027 – and a goal of the project being complete by 2030 – RYBAK’s vision for Parcel A includes: 

• 505 units of mixed-income housing, with 25% designated affordable at a blended average of 80% AMI – ranging from 40% AMI to 100% AMI;

• 160 spaces of public parking maintained during construction and replaced as part of a new structured parking garage once development is complete; and

• 30,000 s/f of ground floor retail space. 

“For too long, finding a home in Coney Island has been a rollercoaster ride; our administration promised to change that by building hundreds of new affordable homes to help more New Yorkers raise their family in this beloved neighborhood,” said New York City mayor Eric Adams. “Tilyou Towers will not only honor an iconic New Yorker whose energy and efforts still shape our city today; it will give 500 families a new home and, once again, demonstrate how we are the most pro-housing administration in city history. Through historic investments in new infrastructure, as well as in the Abe Stark Sports Center and the Riegelmann Boardwalk, our administration is showing our commitment to making Coney Island a safer, more affordable place to live that is one the best places to raise a family.”

“Creating a true year-round, mixed-use district in Coney Island West is anchored by housing,” said deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce Adolfo Carrión Jr. “With RYBAK redeveloping Parcel A into new mixed-income homes and the city investing in public spaces, streets, and community amenities, we’re laying the foundation for a neighborhood that honors its past and builds opportunity for its future.” 

“Coney Island West is a vibrant and historic neighborhood that attracts visitors from around the world while providing economic opportunity and recreational space for local families, and we are thrilled to partner with RYBAK to deliver hundreds of new homes and new amenities to the community,” said NYCEDC president and CEO Andrew Kimball. “Utilizing public land for housing is a critical way to increase our supply, and between today’s announcement and other projects underway across the neighborhood, Coney Island will continue to be a thriving, iconic New York City neighborhood for tourists and locals alike.” 

“I am excited and grateful to NYCEDC for selecting our firm’s proposal,” said RYBAK Development CEO and principal Sergey Rybak. “We project the total development cost of Tilyou Towers to exceed $350 million. Our firm will develop an approximately 800,000 s/f mixed-use complex comprising 383 market-rate and 122 affordable rental residences, along with new structured parking spaces, 65,000 s/f of indoor and outdoor amenities and 32,000 s/f of retail and community space.”

“The project demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability, targeting Passive House standards to sharply reduce energy use and carbon impact,” said RYBAK Development principal Jason Reznik. “Guided by RYBAK, IMC Architecture’s design incorporates green roofs, on-site solar panel array and robust flood-resilience measures. The residences will be all-electric and the towers will feature triple-glazed windows and a rainscreen façade for exceptional energy efficiency and sound attenuation performance.” 

“The new building’s sand-toned and taupe façade will reference warm hues of the sun and nearby ocean beaches, while undulating lines of varied-sized windows on the structure’s corners will remind the passersby of ocean waves,” said IMC Architecture principal Eugene Mekhtiyev, AIA, LEED GA. “The 3,000 s/f public plaza in front of the building will feature extensive landscaping, a trellis-type canopy, seating and curated art. It will serve the neighborhood residents as well as nearly six million annual visitors to Coney Island’s attractions.”

Parcel A will deliver the first phase of housing as part of the city’s larger commitment to advance the development of 1,500 new homes in Coney Island on city-owned surface parking lots near the boardwalk, Maimonides Park – home of the Brooklyn Cyclones – and the Abe Stark Center. Development of this area, known as “Coney Island West,” began with the construction of two affordable housing projects —Vets Place and Raven Hall — which opened in 2019 and 2022, respectively. An additional affordable housing project — Luna Green — is currently under construction on the same block and estimated to be complete in 2028. New streets — including Ocean Way and Parachute Way — will accompany development, and ground-floor retail will provide new neighborhood amenities. Next month, NYCEDC will release an RFP to operate and enhance Seaside Park Community Arts Center, which includes the historic Childs Building and Amphitheater, further anchoring the western boardwalk’s cultural offerings. The result will be a vibrant beachfront district where Coney residents and visitors live, work, and play. Additionally, “Coney Island North” will provide over 1,700 new units of housing, a majority of which are affordable units and are either completed or under construction.

“When we talk about the kind of investment Coney Island deserves, this is what we mean: affordable housing stock that serves and complements the existing community, public spaces, and local businesses,” said New York City councilmember Justin Brannan. “Responsibly adding affordable housing is one of the biggest steps we can take towards making sure our families want to and can afford to stay and build legacies in our communities. Just as with the earlier phases of development in Coney Island west, I’m proud to help bring this major community victory across the finish line.”

“The Alliance for Coney Island welcomes the continued investment from the public and private sectors that has created a resurgent and resilient Coney Island,” said Alliance for Coney Island executive director Daniel Murphy. “Over the last several years the unprecedented development in Coney Island has led to thousands of new homes for residents at all incomes levels while expanding and modernizing street level retail units to attract stores, restaurants, professional service providers and entertainment venues that the neighborhood's residents and visitors desire and deserve.

 “This project represents more than new housing — it’s a commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive future for Coney Island,” said Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Randy Peers. “By bringing mixed-income homes, modern infrastructure, and new amenities to this historic neighborhood, we’re investing not just in buildings, but in the people who call this community home. Projects like Tilyou Towers ensure that Coney Island remains a vibrant, affordable, and a welcoming place for generations to come.”

Architecture
The Tilyou Towers’ name commemorates George Cornelius Tilyou, a prominent Brooklyn businessman, who founded Steeplechase Park in Coney Island. Tilyou established one of America's most famous amusement parks in 1897, which featured mechanical rides, funhouses and the signature simulated steeplechase horse race game.

The concrete structure rental building will feature an 11-story “podium” section and two 28-story towers. The podium will have a setback on the eighth floor as well as a large outdoor tenant amenity rooftop terrace on the 11th floor, including an infinity-edge swimming pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, lounge, gaming area, children’s playground, pet-friendly facilities and kitchen. Indoor amenities will be located on the fifth floor.

The rainscreen-type façade will be composed of a brick veneer in a “beach sand” color on the podium section and metal panels in two harmonized sand-tone and ecru colors on the towers. Adding dimension and visual interest, the windows will be surrounded by “shadow box” framing jutting out of the façade. Aluminum window frames will be finished in bronze color.

The Tilyou Towers will house a variety of units, including 80 studios, 173 one-bedroom apartments, 166 two-bedrooms and 86 three-bedroom residences. The retail section will be located on both Surf Avenue and Ocean Way. Residential entrances will be included on both West 21st and West 22nd Streets, with additional smaller receiving lobbies on those blocks as well.

The street level will house retail spaces and a parking garage. Second and third floors will feature a parking garage, while the fourth floor will house a combination of apartments and parking spaces. All floors above will have residential units and tenant amenity spaces.

The project team will also include RYBAK senior project manager Dan Russell and project manager Snezhka Chausheva as well as zoning and permitting consultant CORE Consultants.