This week we asked Kingsbridge residents their thoughts on the re-development of the Kingsbridge Armory which has now languished for years, and a recent behind-closed-doors meeting.

Well, I always thought that people should be notified at any time and there should always be an open door for any comments. If you’re going to do it under the table, then it’s not worth it. And if you’re going to spend $500 million dollars, help the homeless first. Hell no! I don’t want an ice skating rink here. They need to make it a building for homeless people, something for the homeless.
Darrell Edwards

An ice skating rink would be better for the public. We already have stores; we need something new for the community. It’s been vacant for a long time, of course they’re trying. Yes, it’s going to happen if they work it out. The people need something here.
Oscar Barabondka

 

My husband and I are residents of the area and we figure that if they open it he will be able to get some type of job there, but it’s been a long time and no one’s heard anything, so when is this going to happen? A lot of stores are closing up and the rents are going up, so what’s going on? I don’t like the idea of closed-door negotiations, why are they going undercover? And why don’t they let the people in the area know what’s going on? It’s shady.
Traci Dixon James

I think they should move the homeless in there. [T]here are so many homeless people out here and they need help. A lot of people out here need help. There’s no reason for them to make this an ice skating rink. For what? Maybe with other types of recreation for kids as well. It’s been many, many years and we don’t hear anything anymore, that’s why I don’t know what’s going on anymore. The building is just standing there doing nothing. I don’t think the skating rink is a good idea, sounds like trouble to me. But if it helps the kids it’s a good thing and I’m with that.
Dawn Johnson

I think they should do something with this already, because it’s not doing anything for the community. I think it should be used for the public and it should be turned into a skating rink. But it’s too big for just a skating rink, so maybe it could be turned into a plaza with a movie theater and shopping center, something useful for the community. Housing the homeless in the basement isn’t a bad idea. With what happened in Puerto Rico, they should talk about making it a disaster shelter.
Midalia Dominguez