Since coming to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in 2005, I have been an active member of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), working to make sure that any commercial development of the Armory meets our community's needs. I do this because I support the principles that KARA espouses, particularly the one that has to do with a living wage. If there is going to be commercial development of the Armory, I want the people who work there to earn a living wage and have the freedom to unionize without fear.

Followed by a crowd of more than 500 people, including activists, politicians, union leaders, local clergy, new moms and a radical marching band, 16-year-old Adolfo Abreu wrapped yellow tape around the Kingsbridge Armory. The message from the northwest Bronx community was simple, clear and written in black letters on the yellow tape, both in English and Spanish: "It's Our Armory."

Since coming to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in 2005, I have been an active member of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), working to make sure that any commercial development of the Armory meets our community's needs. I do this because I support the principles that KARA espouses, particularly the one that has to do with a living wage. If there is going to be commercial development of the Armory, I want the people who work there to earn a living wage and have the freedom to unionize without fear.

Vacant since 1994, the massive Kingsbridge Armory, one of the largest armories in the world, is on the verge of being transformed into a retail shopping mall. The Norwood News explores the Armory proposal from several angles. Click on the link to take a look at our extensive coverage.

Central to the battle over the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment is the demand by community organizations that retailers pay their workers a "living wage" at the revamped facility. The developer of project, The Related Companies said requiring Armory tenants to pay $10 an hour, plus benefits wouldn't be fair. Job advocates say that's simply not the case.

Years of arguments about the use of the Kingsbridge Armory have finally resulted in some form of peace. Based on a suggestion by the local community board, The Related Companies, the developer for the Armory, revealed plans to include a World Peace Atrium as part of its proposal to build a retail mall inside the colossal building.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. is working behind closed doors with Community Board 7 and the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) to create a Community Benefits Agreement with the developer, The Related Companies.

All the vital facts about the Kingsbridge Armory project.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. has made it clear that he plans to do things differently when it comes to large development projects in the borough.

"I thought that we shortchanged ourselves … in terms of community benefits agreements," Diaz said in an interview with the Norwood News shortly before his election in April, referring to the Gateway Mall and Yankee Stadium pacts. "I think we could have done better."

Diaz now faces a very early test of his leadership, thanks to the Kingsbridge Armory project, which the Related Companies will turn into The Shops at the Armory if it can successfully navigate the land use review now under way. He can either fall prey to the hostage mentality that afflicts most elected officials, who fall for corporate threats to flee and avoid the borough. or he can set a tone at the outset of his tenure that, while the Bronx is open for business, it is no longer going to be taken to the cleaners.

The model for what not to do lies just down the road at Gateway, another Related project, where former Borough President Adolfo Carrion presided over a sham community involvement process that resulted in few benefits for Bronxites.

And while we'll refrain from ranting about Yankee Stadium, suffice it to say that promised replacement parkland is years away.

This is a tremendous opportunity for the borough president to preside over the crafting of a real community benefits agreement - one that is actually negotiated with local stakeholders in the room - that secures actual and long-lasting benefits and sets the tone for future development during Diaz's tenure.