The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our Jan. 9th print edition.

The latest two-phase, mixed-use plan for the long-vacant Kingsbridge Armory was unveiled by City and State officials on Tuesday, Jan. 7. City and elected officials said, “Phase One of the project envisions a vibrant, mixed-use development with a state-of-the-art event venue space, sports fields for local youth academies, cultural and commercial space, over 25,000 square-feet of dedicated community space, an educational facility focused on workforce development, and more.”

 

NYC Mayor Eric Adams, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14), and NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball announced “El Centro Kingsbridge” (The Kingsbridge Center) as the latest redevelopment plan for the future of the Kingsbridge Heights-based Armory.

 

It comes after the conclusion of the most recent request for proposal (RFP) bidding process that kicked off in September 2023 with a deadline for receipt of bids by mid-January 2024. Since then, submitted proposals were reviewed to assess which bidder best met the requirements of the community after a lengthy envisioning process which spanned several months, as reported, to redevelop the historic and long-underutilized site with the aim of creating new economic opportunities for the neighborhood.

 

Officials added, “Phase Two includes 450 units of permanently affordable rental housing adjacent to the armory,” adding that the redevelopment is expected to generate nearly $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, creating over 3,000 construction jobs and 360 permanent jobs.

 

As reported, the mayor announced on Nov. 21, 2024 that two Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) had been secured with the NYC Building & Construction Trades Council (BCTC) for various, major City development projects, with more to follow, including the Armory project, garnering positive feedback from Sandra Lobo, executive director of the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC).

 

NWBCCC has campaigned over decades to ensure the armory redevelopment serves the local community and workers both during and post-development and construction and, as reported, announced on its 50th anniversary a planned merger with the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI), a partnership expected to expand the two group’s collective reach across the entire borough.

 

Lobo was a co-chair of the “Together for Kingsbridge” envisioning process and coalition behind the latest redevelopment of the City-owned Armory, located at West Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Avenue, along with Sanchez.

 

Elected officials confirmed on Tuesday that the construction of the armory redevelopment would indeed be carried out under a project labor agreement, ensuring fair wages and benefits for construction workers. They said the environmental review is expected to begin this winter, and the uniform land use review procedure (ULURP) is anticipated to commence in mid-2025.

 

The latest RFP bidding process followed the failed Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) project which fell through amid a further legal dispute at the end of the De Blasio administration in November 2021 over financing concerns. The previous developer denied financing was an issue.

 

Meanwhile, City and State officials said the latest development team for the planned mixed-use project will be led by 8th Regiment Partners LLC, who they said was “selected through a competitive request for proposals for the development rights.” The mayor said, “At the Kingsbridge Armory, our administration saw a historic yet underutilized site as an opportunity to dream and deliver a bold, forward-looking vision for the Bronx.” He added, “In just one location, we’re delivering affordable housing for our neighbors, sports fields for our children, community spaces for our families, and so much more.”

 

He continued, “The future of The Bronx rests in the Kingsbridge Armory, a proposal made possible thanks to the partnership of Gov. Hochul, Rep. Espaillat, and the countless, everyday New Yorkers who made their voices heard. Together, we are building a brighter, better future for The Bronx, starting with the Kingsbridge Armory.”

 

As reported, led by EDC, countless envisioning workshops were held with residents over nine months to gather their views and preferences on the Armory’s future use, which were later documented in the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan” and shared with prospective development bidders.

 

EDC officials said the public-engagement process gathered feedback from over 4,000 participants and included over 950 survey responses, nine community board meetings, 16 small group discussions, and conversations with approximately 75 additional stakeholders across various industries.

 

They said participants included residents, local elected officials, as well as representatives from community-based organizations, nearby schools and colleges, health care providers, merchant associations, and labor.

 

“For decades, Bronx residents have been promised a new Kingsbridge Armory—and we’re partnering with the city to finally get the job done,” said Hochul. “This transformative project will unite communities across The Bronx, provide spaces for recreation and academics, and deliver much-needed affordable housing.”

 

For his part, Espaillat said in part, “Congratulations to the winning proposal, led by the 8th Regiment Partners, to develop El Centro Kingsbridge into a vibrant multi-purpose facility and economic engine that all throughout our community can enjoy for many years to come.”
Meanwhile, Gibson said, in part, “El Centro Kingsbridge has the potential to boost the economy; increase tourism; invest in workforce development and small businesses; and create community space, recreational space, and opportunities for education and emerging markets.”

Sanchez, who has previously said she grew up in the shadow of the Armory, seeing it from the eyes of a small child as a local castle, said, “As a daughter of Kingsbridge, I know firsthand the Kingsbridge Armory represents the vast potential of our community.” She added, “As this project enters its next stage, I remain committed to the guiding principles set forth in the ‘Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan’: to prioritize our youth, uplift older adults, foster intergenerational relationships, create jobs and wealth for local workers, grow a regenerative, Bronx-centered economy, and maximize community ownership.”

 

The councilwoman continued, “Over nine months, we successfully engaged more than 4,000 community members through 20 community events and 900 survey responses, culminating in the creation of the vision plan. With our community’s priorities as the North Star, I look forward to a close review of the selected proposal. We must ensure that the redevelopment of this great structure is both transformative and equitable for generations to come.”

 

Lobo also offered her comments on the news, saying in part, “We are glad to see the City has selected, at long last, a new plan for the transformation of the Kingsbridge Armory. While we are disappointed that our proposed project, “La Armería,” was not selected, we are eager to understand how the designated plan will meet the City’s Together for Kingsbridge vision.”

 

In 2013, as part of the redevelopment discussions of the City-owned Armory, located at West Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, NWBCCC worked tirelessly to broker a historic, first-of-its-kind community benefits agreement (CBA) with the developer for the then-planned and now abandoned KNIC project, referenced above.

 

While the Armory’s protected status as a historical building limits what the armory can be used for, the CBA included a promise of 50,000 square feet of space for community use, living wage jobs, local hiring and contracting, and local procurement and technical assistance for small local businesses. At least 51 percent of the resulting jobs were set to be filled by the local community under the terms of the CBA.

 

As reported, the City of New York announced in late 2021 that the KNIC project would not be proceeding due to concerns over the ability of the developer to finance the project [something the developer denied]. NWBCCC, in conjunction with NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), subsequently went back to the drawing board, and held numerous “Together for Kingsbridge” workshops to gather input from the community of what they would like to see implemented at the Armory in place of the ice center.

 

The final vision plan, which, crucially, had the support of various elected offocials, and was based on the community’s feedback, was shared with prospective bidders/developers during a Request for Proposal (RFP) process in 2023, the deadline for which was Jan. 18, 2024. The project had been boosted by funding announced in August 2023 of $200 million from both City and State, as reported.

 

At the Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) land use committee meeting in March 2024, Fernando Ortiz, Bronx borough manager with EDC said the selected developer and project for the Armory would be made by the end of the year. Meanwhile, as reported, a fire broke out at the Armory in April due to burning cables.

 

NWBCCC had proposed six recommendations for the future use of the armory. In reference to the latest announced plan, Lobo said, “The City’s vision calls for a ‘redevelopment that creates quality jobs, supports career development, [and] elevates entrepreneurs.’ So far, there is only a general list of intended future uses for the Armory, without any concrete information on the programming or partners who will help bring it to life and meet these goals.”

 

She said this was of concern to those who, after 25 years, want the Armory finally transformed into an economic engine that prepares people for good-paying jobs of today and tomorrow, and maps a path for the power and capital generated by The Bronx to support The Bronx.
“We are convening a Coalition of Accountability made up of faith, community, labor, and small businesses that will continually monitor and advocate for a project that is transparent and genuinely invests in the community that surrounds it,” Lobo said. “The coalition will center its work around four areas: good jobs, community ownership, anti-displacement, and environmental standards. It will also pursue a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement that ensures these core priorities become a reality.”

 

She added, “The Armory must be rebuilt by workers who can be sure of their safety, and be home to good union jobs once construction is complete. Its activation cannot jeopardize the economic livelihood of the working people of the Bronx and accelerate the displacement of residents and businesses. We also seek to understand how the City’s Guiding Principle of community ownership will come to life.”

Lobo concluded, “This is the third attempt to develop the Armory, one that may finally be on the road to ‘[ensuring] this community gets the investment it deserves, while strengthening New York City’s economy,’ as the vision articulates. We will remain cautiously optimistic and proactive in our work to achieve this vision, ensuring that our community can withstand the pressures of gentrification and thrive amid the coming changes. Kingsbridge and the Bronx deserve nothing less.”

 

The project is backed by a $200 million investment by the City and State governments, $2 million from the Bronx Borough President’s office, $12 million from Sanchez’s office, and a $1.05 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the support of Espaillat.

 

The Armory RFP sought to “create a financially feasible, thriving, mixed-use development that strikes a balance between addressing the needs of the local community and creating an economic engine for the wider area.” It sought to ‘activate the Armory and enhance its integration with the neighborhood, promoting more accessibility, transparency, and connection with the surrounding community.”

 

The aim of the chosen armory project was “to serve diverse users, including those from different age groups, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and income levels; and to deliver a minimum of 25,000 square feet of space to be subleased to one or more community-based organizations at discounted rates.

 

The chosen provider would “design the site to promote sustainability, energy efficiency, and carbon neutrality, while preserving the landmarked exterior, responsibly develop the project by delivering a comprehensive hiring program that supports communities and creates job opportunities, including for economically disadvantaged candidates, and generate returns to the City through lease rent, tax, and payment in lieu of tax (“PILOT”) revenue.”

 

City officials said the latest plan is designed to serve both the local community and the broader region and the proposal’s programming is centered around the 180,000-square foot, column-free Drill Hall. They said the development team will lead the design and construction stages of the project, as well as the operation of the renovated Armory.

 

Gabriella Madruga, principal at Long Island-based Maddd Equities, the entity behind 8th Regiment Partners, said in part of the project, “This is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership that will revitalize one of the most unique and historical buildings in New York.”

 

For his part, New York City and New York State Building and Construction Trades Council President Gary LaBarbera, said, “The redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory is a transformational project that will see this historic structure become another major destination in The Bronx and provide much needed, well-paying union construction jobs for New Yorkers.”

 

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) said he was cautiously optimistic about the project. He said in part, “While this is an overdue step given how long this site has been vacant, I’m committed to maintaining a watchful eye on the new developer to ensure that the new project fosters economic growth, leads in sustainability, and generates good-paying union jobs.”