By David Cruz

A plan to bring an enormous ice center into the Kingsbridge Armory can proceed following a legal squabble that ended with a Bronx judge ruling in favor of its lead developer. 

Judge John A. Barone dismissed claims made by the plaintiffs–Jonathan Richter, Jeff Spiritos, Marcos Wignell–claiming the trio should be considered lead developers of the project. Judge Barone ruled that it’s Kevin Parker who is the sole partner of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center LLC and allowed to continue lease negotiations with the city Economic Development Corporation.

In July, the three plaintiffs had asked a judge to bar Parker from speaking with the city Economic Development Corporation, the real estate arm of the city, over lease negotiations on the Armory. The latest development allows Parker to continue his talks with the city over when a lease will be sign, clearing KNIC to repurpose the Armory into an ice skating center complete with nine sheets of ice and a 5,000 arena for $320 million.

The lead attorney for the plaintiffs, Ernest Badway, refused to comment.

Parker’s attorney, Bill Brewer, emphasized that the three plaintiffs “had no right to interfere with this project or impede its progress.”

“Our clients will continue to aggressively pursue all the legal remedies to which they are entitled,” said Brewer in a statement.

Some legal challenges still linger, which involve undisclosed monetary claims made by Richter, Spiritos and Wignell. Brewer has less than three weeks to answer.

“The lease is imminent,” said Brewer.