I write in response to Don Bluestone’s op-ed (“What We Lost in Defeat of Armory Proposal”) in the Feb. 11 edition of the Norwood News.

Surely everyone realizes that defeating “The Shops at the Armory” is a bittersweet victory. Sweet in that our City Council voted as we the voters asked them to, as they did not when they voted on the filtration plant and the new Yankee Stadium; bitter, in that we are back to the drawing board in our 10-year effort to have the Armory appropriately developed.

The arguments about the living wage have been rehearsed many times. Suffice it to say that the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and the other members of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance, felt that if $60 million in public benefits, and a landmark building, were being given to a developer, the least we could expect is that the jobs offered there would lift people out of poverty.

But the most important part, I think, of Don’s letter, is his sorrow that in defeating the Armory proposal, we lost the opportunity to have a 20,000-sq.-ft. Boys and Girls Club at the Armory. Let me say, there could be no bigger fan of Mosholu Montefiore’s youth programs than I. My daughter attended pre-school there, went to camp there last summer and will go again this year, and has just finished “winter break” week, going on trips with MMCC counselors. She thoroughly enjoys herself, and we know she is safe and happy, and learning new things. And the programs are either affordable or free. Our neighborhoods would benefit greatly if there were more MMCC-run youth programs, at the Armory or elsewhere.

But out of the 500,000-plus-square-feet available, the developers were offering 20,000 for such programs — we had asked for 60,000. And they weren’t offering it for free — they were asking $20 a square foot, and late in the process, they began to say that they would use the profits from the community space to subsidize wages in the stores — which might have increased the rent they were willing to charge a community program.

Having defeated “The Shops at the Armory,” KARA — an alliance that includes the Coalition, churches, unions — is now moving forward diligently to redevelop the Armory by setting up three committees. One committee will focus on having schools built on the 195th St. side of the Armory, one will urge passage of a living wage bill, and one will envision a new plan for development of the main Armory building. We especially welcome the participation of Don Bluestone and Mosholu Montefiore in figuring out how to use a significant part of the space for community programs, and we welcome all interested persons to participate.

To reach the coalition, call (718) 584-0515 ext. 316, or email ava@northwestbronx.org. 

Margaret Groarke