Why can’t we have both?

That was a question posed to one of the bidders looking to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory at a community forum last week (see front page story).

The man with the question, a member of the Zulu Nation, wanted to know why, in the cavernous 700,000-square-foot Armory, there wasn’t room for an ice skating rink and a hip hop museum, a free youth ice sports program and business incubator, a 5,000-seat arena and the country’s first 4-D movie theater.

The answer, well, there wasn’t an answer at the forum. The moderator and presenter both shrugged it off as more of a political statement than an actual question and moved on.

Still, it’s a question worth exploring. The pragmatic answer is that the two projects have separate and distinct goals and financing contingent on each going into the Armory as a singular entity. Besides, somebody has to win, right?

The other answer, buried inside of that question, is that we have two exciting and viable development options for a long-vacant structure in the Bronx. That’s a good thing.

Last time around, a few years ago, when the city released its first request for proposals to redevelop the Armory, it came down to two relatively similar proposals from two major developers. Both wanted to turn the iconic, castle-like structure into a big mall.

Sure, it would have looked cool and brought in a lot of entry-level mall-type jobs, which isn’t a bad thing. But it would have been just that, a mall. Blah. The Bronx needs another mall like it needs another water filtration plant on public parkland.

This time around, however, we have two options, neither of which is a mall. One is a futuristic town hall-style market with recreation and business incubator space. Yes, its retail and food components might bring some competition to local businesses, but it would also house the National Hip Hop Museum. (Did you know hip hop legend Kurtis Blow grew up three blocks from the Armory? You would if there was a hip hop museum there.)

The other option is the world’s largest ice sports complex, a regional draw that would hum with activity 18 hours a day and introduce our youth to new exciting athletic pursuits. (Did you know 10 percent of American high school hockey players get college scholarships, while only 2 percent of basketball players get the same free ride?)

No matter which option prevails, the Bronx wins. Here’s hoping the loser finds another long-vacant structure in which to pitch its tent.