Two Bronx Democrats often on opposite sides of the Bronx Democratic Party divide came together to agree on one thing last month — the Kingsbridge Armory.  Assemblyman Jose Rivera and Council Member Oliver Koppell sealed their commitment to pushing together for the armory’s redevelopment with a handshake on Oct. 27 at a Norwood News anniversary celebration.

Rivera agreed to go down to the 168th Street Armory in Manhattan with Koppell to inspect how it is utilized. The mixed-use facility includes a first-class track used 
primarily by youth. 

Rivera was slated to meet this week with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, which helped formulate the redevelopment proposal now favored by Bronx politicians. The plan would include schools, along with retail and community space.

Rivera is working to get the city and the state to sit down together to find another space for the two remaining National Guard units at the armory. Before the city’s Economic Development Corporation will issue a request for proposals for the project, the Guard must move the companies from the armory’s annex on West 195th Street (between Jerome and Reservoir avenues). While the state appears willing to relocate the units to a suitable space of a similar size (50,000 square feet), the city has lagged in making that transition happen.

Meanwhile one of the units, the 145th Maintenance Company, is actually on its way to a more serious battle –Iraq. Most of the 200 members started advance training on Nov. 1 in upstate New York before heading to the Fort Dix military base in New Jersey this week, according to Staff Sergeant Denis Flynn, a company member. The unit is slated to deploy overseas in January.

Despite the dangers ahead, Flynn e-mailed the Norwood News to say the armory was still one of his top concerns. "I hope the armory issue will be resolved when we return 14 months later," said Flynn, 39, a Soundview resident.