El Centro Kingsbridge Will Include Event Space, Sports Fields, Cultural, Commercial and Community Spaces in Phase One, Affordable Housing in Phase Two
Plan Informed by “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan,” Backed by $215 Million City, State, and Federal Investment
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball today unveiled El Centro Kingsbridge — a new plan for the future of the Kingsbridge Armory — after they kicked off a request for proposal process last summer to redevelop the historic and long-underutilized site and create new economic opportunities in the Bronx. Phase One of the project envisions a vibrant, mixed-use development with a state-of-the-art event venue space, sports fields for local youth academies, cultural and commercial space, over 25,000 square-feet of dedicated community space, an educational facility focused on workforce development, and more. Phase Two includes 450 units of permanently affordable rental housing adjacent to the armory. The redevelopment is expected to generate nearly $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, creating over 3,000 construction jobs and 360 permanent jobs.
The development team for the project will be led by 8th Regiment Partners LLC selected through a competitive request for proposals for the development rights.
“At the Kingsbridge Armory, our administration saw a historic yet underutilized site as an opportunity to dream and deliver a bold, forward-looking vision for the Bronx,” said Mayor Adams, “In just one location, we’re delivering affordable housing for our neighbors, sports fields for our children, community spaces for our families, and so much more. The future of the Bronx rests in the Kingsbridge Armory, a proposal made possible thanks to the partnership of Governor Hochul, Representative Espaillat, and the countless, everyday New Yorkers who made their voices heard. Together, we are building a brighter, better future for the Bronx, starting with the Kingsbridge Armory.”
“For decades, Bronx residents have been promised a new Kingsbridge Armory — and we’re partnering with the city to finally get the job done,” said Governor Hochul. “This transformative project will unite communities across the Bronx, provide spaces for recreation and academics, and deliver much-needed affordable housing.”
“We are a city where we take on ambitious, generational projects that serve as models for other cities,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “El Centro Kingsbridge follows this principle, as it will bring us cultural space, sports fields, venue space, community facility space, a recreation center, an educational facility, permanently affordable housing, and over 3,000 jobs.”
“After a competitive selection process, we are thrilled to announce 8th Regiment Partners as our partner to redevelop the historic Kingsbridge Armory,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Kimball. “8th Regiment Partners’ proposal embraced the community’s vision plan for the Armory and demonstrated through their thoughtful design, programmatic uses, and financial viability that, in partnership with the city and state, they can finally deliver the economic engine and community amenities that the Bronx wants and deserves. I want to thank Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, Congressmember Espaillat, Bronx Borough President Gibson, and New York City Councilmember Sanchez for their remarkable support, without which this unique public-private partnership would not have been possible.”
“We will soon witness a historic transformation of the Kingsbridge Armory and thanks to the collaborative support from Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, and stakeholders, our city is one step closer to reimagining this visionary project,” said Representative Espaillat. “Congratulations to the winning proposal, led by the 8th Regiment Partners, to develop El Centro Kingsbridge into a vibrant multi-purpose facility and economic engine that all throughout our community can enjoy for many years to come.”
“We are pleased by the progress we are making toward reimagining the iconic Kingsbridge Armory into a space that will serve the Kingsbridge community and our entire borough,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. “El Centro Kingsbridge has the potential to boost the economy; increase tourism; invest in workforce development and small businesses; and create community space, recreational space, and opportunities for education and emerging markets. We are proud to have invested $2 million into the Kingsbridge Armory and appreciate the leadership and support of Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, ‘Together for Kingsbridge’ Co-Chairs Councilmember Pierina Sanchez and Sandra Lobo, and coalition members. We look forward to reimagining the Kingsbridge Armory and fulfilling the community vision that ‘Together for Kingsbridge’ has worked so hard to achieve. Together, we will work towards our common goals and priorities that serve to uplift our Kingsbridge community and our borough.”
“As a daughter of Kingsbridge, I know firsthand the Kingsbridge Armory represents the vast potential of our community,” said New York City Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, and co-chair, “Together for Kingsbridge” Community Visioning Process. “As this project enters its next stage, I remain committed to the guiding principles set forth in the ‘Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan”: to prioritize our youth, uplift older adults, foster intergenerational relationships, create jobs and wealth for local workers, grow a regenerative, Bronx-centered economy, and maximize community ownership. Over nine months, we successfully engaged more than 4,000 community members through 20 community events and 900 survey responses — culminating in the creation of the vision plan. With our community’s priorities as the North Star, I look forward to a close review of the selected proposal. We must ensure that the redevelopment of this great structure is both transformative and equitable for generations to come.”
The project is backed by a $200 million investment by Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, $2 million from Borough President Gibson, $12 million from Councilmember Sanchez, and a $1.05 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the support of Representative Espaillat. The construction will be executed under a project labor agreement, ensuring fair wages and benefits for construction workers. 8th Regiment Partners’ proposal was selected after a rigorous request for proposal process that was informed by a nine-month public engagement process with over 4,000 community members, which produced the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan.” The environmental review is expected to begin this winter, and the uniform land use review procedure is anticipated to commence in mid-2025.
Renderings of the Redeveloped Kingsbridge Armory. Credit: FXCollaborative
Through a collaborative effort, led by NYCEDC, the public-engagement process gathered feedback from over 4,000 participants and included over 950 survey responses, nine Community Board meetings, 16 small group discussions, and conversations with approximately 75 additional stakeholders across various industries. Participants included local elected officials, as well as representatives from community-based organizations, nearby schools and colleges, health care providers, merchant associations, and labor.
The development team put forth a two-part proposal with a diversity of uses designed to serve both the local community and the broader region. Their proposal’s programming is centered around the 180,000 square foot column-free Drill Hall within the Armory, delivering on the community’s vision for a series of cultural, commercial, and community spaces. The development team will lead the design and construction stages of the project, as well as the operation of the renovated Armory.
Mayor Adams’ vision for the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory builds on core goals in his “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery” and “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness,” including leveraging neighborhood infrastructure investments to catalyze equitable community development and creating housing opportunities in neighborhoods with strong access to jobs, transit, schools, parks, and other amenities. It also builds on the administration’s track record of advancing generational projects to build and reinvent neighborhoods in all five boroughs, including the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, SPARC Kips Bay in Manhattan, the Willets Point Transformation in Queens, the Staten Island North Shore Action Plan, and more.
“We are excited for this opportunity to work with all of our government partners to transform this incredible, landmarked space into a thriving center of economic activity for the community, the borough, and the City of New York,” said Gabriella Madruga, principal, Maddd Equities on behalf of 8th Regiment Partners. “This is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership that will revitalize one of the most unique and historical buildings in New York. We are humbled to be the stewards of a property and a project that will leverage New York’s rich historical past to create an exciting and dynamic future.”
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