Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment 'Part Three'

 

Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, and Bronx elected officials gathered inside the Kingsbridge Armory to announce plans for the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory which was given to New York City in 1993. This would be the third time plans to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory have occurred. 

In 2008 Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed 'The Shops at the Armory' which would redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory into a huge shopping mall. That proposal was defeated in the city council due to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s and local community opposition to the Bloomberg plan. The city council also overrode a veto of then Mayor Bloomberg. 

In 2012 with the backing of Bronx Borough President Diaz Jr. and local elected officials the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal was brought forward with the backing of New York Ranger Icon Mark Messier and Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes serving as spokespeople for the nine ice rink proposal. Problems occurred the next eight years in getting financing for the KNIC Ice Center and the deal fell through leaving the armory without a future for the second time. 

Now in 2023 Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams announced the state and city have given through grants totaling two-hundred million dollars to redevelop the armory. A Request For Proposal will be let in September with a deadline of the end of 2023 for the RFP's to be in by. The RFP's will be gone over and sometime in 2024 one will be chosen and work can finally begin to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory which has laid vacant since New York City took it over in 1993. 

Governor Kathy Hochul was the first speaker to announce the new plan to redevelop the Kingsbridge armory with the state and city giving half each of a two-hundred million dollar grant for the redevelopment.

Mayor Adams spoke next about getting stuff done in the Bronx the borough he said he has visited the most since taking office. Others in the front row of elected officials would speak. 

Congressman Adriano Espaillat would speak next congratulating the local elected officials for working out the deal for the funding.

Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez thanked the governor and mayor for their help in getting things going to redevelop the armory after thirty years in the hands of the city.

Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero stood in for Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. 

Sandra Lobo of the Northwest Bronx Church and Clergy Coalition who have been involved in the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory since the city acquired the site first proposed an educational park for the armory.

The elected officials in the front row Deputy Bronx BP Janet Peguero, Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, spoke, in the second row are part of State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Councilman Eric Dinowitz, Assemblywoman Yudelka Tapia, and State Senator Jamaal Bailey. Across the isle in the front row are NWBCC spokesperson Sandra Lobo, Assemblyman George Alvarez, State Senator Robert Jackson, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman.

Other Bronx elected officials on hand for the announcement included (L-R) Deputy Bronx BP Janet Peguero, State Senator Gustavo Rivera behind Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Assemblyman George Alvarez (whose district the armory lies in), Congressman Jamaal Bowman in front of Assemblywoman Yudelka Tapia, Council members Marjorie Velazquez, Pierina Sanchez, Eric Dinowitz, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and Councilman Rafael Salamanca.