As expected Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. has made his recommendation positive, of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory. Diaz came out early in support of the KNIC proposal, and all that had to be done was work out a community benefits agreement that was acceptable by all sides.
Bronx
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today issued his office’s
recommendations concerning the future of the Kingsbridge Armory. The
recommendations come as part of the borough president’s charter mandated
responsibilities in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).
In
his recommendations, Borough President Diaz reiterated his support for
the project, noting that the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal
will completely transform the unused structure into a hub of commercial
and civic activity. The recommendations come on the heels of a public
hearing on the project, which took place on Friday, September 20, and
was hosted by Borough President Diaz as part of the ULURP process.
“The
Kingsbridge National Ice Center is clearly the right choice for the
Bronx. At every opportunity this proposal has been met with near
unanimous support, and not one individual or group spoke against the
project at my office’s public hearing. Support for the KNIC proposal is
strong not just in the Northwest Bronx but in every corner of our
borough, and I look forward to this project’s swift approval,” said
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
In April, Kingsbridge National Ice Center Partners (KNIC) and the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) signed a historic community benefits agreement (CBA) to
redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory into a facility committed to serving
Bronx residents. That CBA represents a multi-million dollar benefit
package for the local community.
For
the first time in the history of New York City, a developer has agreed
to wall-to-wall living wage jobs for local workers, more than 50,000
square feet of community space, targeted local hiring, opportunities for
minority- and women-owned businesses, free ice time for local schools,
local procurement, sustainable green development and operation, and a
business incubator to facilitate wealth creation for local residents. KNIC
also plans to create a foundation to establish free after-school ice
sports and academic tutoring programs for disadvantaged youth. The
program will be modeled after the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation in
Philadelphia, which has seen considerable academic and athletic success
with those students who participate.
The Community Benefits Agreement has been signed by dozens of neighborhood organizations and community partners representing thousands of residents in the Northwest Bronx that support the project.
Borough President Diaz’s complete ULURP recommendations can be at the following link: http://on.nyc.gov/18njPny.
The
Kingsbridge National Ice Center project was announced as the City’s
official choice for the Kingsbridge Armory at a press conference in
April 2013, which was attended by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Borough
President Diaz, City Council Member Fernando Cabrera, KNIC
Partners LLC Founder Kevin Parker, New York Rangers hockey legend Mark
Messier, Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes, then New
York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky and
then Community Board #7 Chairman Paul Foster.
The original press release announcing the project can be read here: http://on.nyc.gov/ZGheD1. Full video of that event can be watched here: http://on.nyc.gov/18pwSTg.
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