by David Cruz 

The i’s have been dotted. The t’s crossed. The lawsuits cleared.

Now the Kingsbridge National Ice Center is officially set to bring the world’s largest skating center to the long vacant Kingsbridge Armory after a bumpy start. Kevin Parker, the lead developer of the complex, officially signed a 99-year lease with the city Economic Development Corporation this week, two weeks after a judge ruled he is the sole developer of the $350 million project.

“Reaching this juncture caps a monumental effort from community partners, elected officials and local residents who joined us in dreaming big – in supporting our vision,” said Parker in a statement. “We look forward to advancing what promises to be one of the most exciting development projects in New York City history.”

Kyle Kimball, running the city EDC, said called the news an “important step towards the realization of this project, and the significant economic benefits it will generate for the Bronx.” That includes living wage judges, community space and local hiring, as per terms laid out in a Community Benefits Agreement. An after school ice hockey component will also be included, with Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes and KNIC CEO Mark Messier lobbying foundations for support grants.

But the lease did come with some terms, namely that Parker assure the EDC he has the capital to get the project off the ground. At a recent Community Board 7 committee, members revealed that Parker has one year to reveal he has funding.

The latest development comes after a Bronx judge ruled that Kevin Parker is the sole developer of the Armory project and not Jonathan Richter, Jeff Spiritos, Marcos Wignell, the trio that led talks with the community as the project was being vetted.

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 $350 million.

The trio’s lead attorney , Ernest Badway, refused to comment on the ruling.

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

But the summer-long lawsuits have likely pushed back construction of the massive ice center, originally slated to wrap up construction by 2017. The project is now a year delayed. Once the site is built it will activate the Community Benefits Agreement, a legally binding document hammered out by the community stakeholders and KNIC. The agreement tacks on stipulations that include local hiring, a one percent revenue sharing plan, and an allocation of 50,000 square feet of community space at the Armory’s lower levels.

And even as KNIC plowed through the judicial channels, it was able to secure financing from various groups, namely The Kresge Foundation. Driven by its need for “social investment” the philanthropic organization agreed to serve as the lead investor in a $30 million equity raise for KNIC.