by David Cruz 

In a last-minute, backroom deal, sources are telling the Norwood News that the Mayor’s Office has stepped in to broker a deal between Councilman Fernando Cabrera and developers of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center over some loose ends related to the project, which could have sunk the ice center entirely.

The agreement now puts the KNIC project on firmer footing with just only 24 hours left before the City Council votes on the colossal ice project.   Cabrera, whose district falls within the cavernous castle, threatened to vote no on the project, encouraging his fellow council members to do the same, if resolutions related to impending traffic congestion and small business needs were not met.

The Mayor’s Office, in support of the armory deal, helped negotiate a zero-hour deal during the late evening hours offering extra perks to the community that include public transportation promotion, traffic mitigation, small business assistance and a liberal arts program.  It’s unclear whether these new demands will be retroactively incorporated into the legally binding Community Benefits Agreement signed by KNIC and 27 community groups.  The massive, $300 million project by green developer Kevin Parker has been viewed as a game changer for the borough, a possible reason why KNIC sat at the table with Cabrera in the last minute.

For several days Cabrera was on the verge of withdrawing his support from the Kingsbridge Armory if community concerns were not resolved, primarily burgeoning traffic jams that would result from the project, which estimates thousands of drivers to arrive to skate at one of nine ice rinks.

At a Dec. 8 news conference, Cabrera maintained the Bronx council delegation was on his side with the exception of Councilman Oliver Koppell, who publicly supported the project from the very beginning.  Cabrera’s vote matters since many members often defer to their council counterpart representing the area of a given project.  But members are not necessarily required to honor their colleague’s endorsement or lack of one.

The latest development comes amid a series of twists and turns in recent days, including the Norwood News recent revelations that Cabrera attempted to funnel money to Community Action Unlimited, a defunct religious nonprofit tied to his church, where he pastors on Sundays.  Lawyers for KNIC confirmed Cabrera had solicited $100,000 in yearly funds to be added to the CBA.  Developers found it “inappropriate.”

Up-to-the-second developments are happening as the vote nears.  Stay on www.norwoodnews.org will keep you up to speed.