With six proposals submitted in the second round to develop the Kingsbridge Armory they were reduced down to only two. One proposal for nine regulation hockey rinks led at the Armory led by former New York Rangers superstar Mark Messier along with 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist (in women's figure skating) Sarah Hughes. The second proposal is for a variety of items including a Business Incubator that Bronxtalk host Gary Axelbank said "Looks a lot like a flea market" when Mr. Axelbank did a show recently on the two proposals.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. along with several local elected officials gave their endorsement to the proposal submitted by The Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC). Diaz said that the Bronx has the "Greatest baseball team, a top-flight golf course and tennis center under constructed, and with this plan perhaps the greatest ice sports center in the nation". Diaz spoke of a similar project done in an inner city area of Philadelphia that has resulted in better academics and positive attitudes of at risk students who have participated in the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Program. Diaz also said that KNIC has said that up to the 1,000 construction and hundreds of permanent jobs created would be "Living Wages".
Rangers great Mark Messier said "If approved this could change the sport as well as New York City". He also stumbled a moment as he could not remember if it was 6 or 7 years since he retired for the sport of Ice Hockey. Sarah Hughes spoke of the opportunities that the children could have like she was able to have. The local elected officials then spoke. Councilman G. Oliver Koppel who 15 years ago wanted to have a sports
center at the armory said "It is almost a dream come true" to him if the
KNIC proposal is chosen by the city Economic Development Corporation. Senator Gustavo Rivera said he lives one and a half blocks away, and that he would like to be a part of the development committee if this proposal is chosen by EDC. Assemblyman Nelson Castro said that the armory may not be in his district, but it is a great opportunity for creation of new jobs. Assemblyman Jose Rivera spoke of the 27 million dollar cost to repair and renovate the armory building in 1996, and to me it seemed that the assemblyman was trying to take credit for something he didn't do.
When asked about demand for the ice rinks B.P.Diaz told of the ice skating rink in Van Cortlandt Park, the request for one at 161st Street, Bronx schools could now have ice skating or hockey teams, and finished with the old baseball saying "If you build it they will come". Diaz then thanked the mayor, and said we should know in a month or two which proposal is chosen.
After the press conference I was handed a sheet of paper (from a woman) with a statement from the other developer Youngwoo Associates Inc. We spoke for a few minutes and I said that the KNIC proposal does not replicate any business in the ares, and would bring new business to the area around the armory also, where as the Youngwoo proposal looks like a giant flea market, will be in direct competition with current merchants, and would not be paying living wage jobs, some thing that was on the sheet of paper she gave me.
I agree with B.P. Diaz on his choice of the KNIC proposal. As we mentioned above it does not replicate any business in the neighborhood, will bring new jobs along with new businesses in the area, and other new jobs. Below are a few photos.
Left- BP Diaz and Mark Messier.
Right - A group shot.as BP Diaz speaks.
Left - Another group photo as BP Diaz speaks.
Eight - A mock up of what the armory would look like with this proposal.
Click on any photo to enlarge it.
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