"Hit The Ice" at the Kingsbridge Armory

  In a 48 - 1 vote the full City Council voted to approve the Kingsbridge National Ice Center proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory. Only Charles Barrons cast the lone dissenting vote against the KNIC proposal. Councilman Fernando Cabrera left his Mr. Hyde character at home as he was all smiles when he voted yes for the KNIC proposal after doing one about face after another leaving Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. puzzled as to what Councilman Cabrera was doing during the waning days before the final city council vote. 

  Diaz had the following statement about today's City Council Vote to approve the KNIC proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory.

 

  “After years of hard work and advocacy by elected officials, community organizations, our community board and the people of the Bronx, I am thrilled to see that the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory will finally become a reality.

“Today’s vote of the City Council represents the final hurdle cleared for the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC), a transformative project that will make the Bronx home to the nation’s largest ice sports center. KNIC will bring tens of thousands of new visitors to the borough, helping to stimulate our economy, while also creating hundreds of living wage jobs for Bronx residents.

“I am especially thankful for the support of our City Council and the entire Bronx City Council delegation, who understood the merits of the project and showed their strong support for it during today’s vote. The KNIC project will be good not just for the Northwest Bronx but for the entire borough, and the strong support of the entire Bronx delegation shows that to be true. I would also like to thank the developer, KNIC Partners, as well as Mark Messier and Sarah Hughes for their tireless advocacy on behalf of this wonderful project.

“This project is a victory for everyone involved, and represents the type of development we can see when everyone works together for the greater good. I look forward to this project’s completion, and the day when the Bronx can officially declare itself to be the premier ice sports destination in the United States, if not the nation,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

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, 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.

Also 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.

Kingsbridge Armory KNIC Proposal at the Finish Line

  The City Council’s Zoning and Franchises Committee heard testimony from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. today as to why the City Council should vote in favor of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center peoposal for the Kingsbridge Armory. Below is BP Diaz's testimony.

  Good morning, Chairperson Weprin and the members of the City Council’s Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee, I am Ruben Diaz Jr., Borough President of the Bronx. 

I am here today to offer my enthusiastic support for the Kingsbridge National Ice Center and the four ULURP applications, which when approved will facilitate construction of one of the most outstanding ice sports arenas in the world.  This project transforms an iconic yet vacant, landmark into a destination for thousands, and by so doing it will also revitalize an entire community and offer permanent living wage employment for Bronx residents. 

The key to the anticipated success of this project is that it represents the culmination of a comprehensive participatory process that included all those who have an interest in the future of the Kingsbridge Armory.  These parties include representatives of the surrounding community, the borough’s elected officials, the Mayor’s Office and the city’s Economic Development Corporation, as well as those associated with the Kingsbridge National Ice Center’s development team.   

I am pleased to highlight some supporting figures that substantiate my endorsement, such as an approximate $300 million dollar investment to restore and preserve an historic Bronx landmark, which entails the reconstruction of the entire drill hall floor;

The project will also pay its employees a living wage of $11.75 per hour without benefits, $10.00 per hour with benefits; which represents a great victory for this site, given where we started from. The redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory will create 170 full time equivalent permanent positions at the Armory, as well as 885 construction related jobs on site. In addition, the project is expected to create an additional 2,700 off-site jobs as a consequence of its development.

KNIC will generate 580,000 annual visits to the Armory, which in turn will generate new economic activity approximating $42 million annually.

My enthusiasm for this proposal and what it will offer the Bronx and our city is only surpassed by my support for the Community Benefits Agreement that has been achieved.  This agreement is historic, as it sets to paper benefits I believe establish a gold standard for all future projects that rely on the disposition and use of public sector assets.  Key components of this agreement include assurances that 51 percent of those working at the Armory will be Bronx residents, and that employers shall award 25 percent of the funds spent on employees performing construction, to Minority and Women/Owned Bronx businesses.

Beyond these stipulations, the developer has also pledged to provide an initial monetary contribution of $8 million, to be used towards developing and building out the 50,000 square feet of community facility space for an annual rent of $1.

In addition, $1 million dollars of ice time will be provided annually to local schools and community organizations. KNIC will also provide $250,000 for capital improvements of properties and local businesses,

I am also especially proud to note that this entire project will be environmentally sound, as a LEED Silver designation is being sought.

My administration is very proud of what the entire proposal represents.  It is a project that broadens the profile of the Bronx as a place where new ideas can become reality, where new approaches can bring about better results. 

So many people have worked so hard to bring this project to fruition. From elected officials, to the community board, to local organizations, to our non-profits, to the developer and everyone in between—what we are discussing today is the culmination of years, if not decades, of advocacy and effort to revitalize this magnificent structure. A vote in opposition to this project would be reprehensible.

In closing, I recommend approval of these applications and by so doing endorse the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory by the Kingsbridge National Ice Center.

  

Kingsbridge Armory UPDATE

This came in from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. on the City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission vote on the land marked Kingsbridge Armory.

 

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ

RE: LPC Vote on Kingsbridge Armory

“I am thrilled that the City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission yesterday pushed the development of the Kingsbridge Armory another step forward, issuing a ‘binding report’ that will allow the construction of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center to occur in this landmarked structure.

“As I have said numerous times, this project is going to have a tremendous positive impact on not just the Northwest Bronx but the entire borough, and I reiterate my support for the Kingsbridge National Ice Center,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

Borough President Diaz’s complete ULURP recommendations on the project, which were released yesterday, can be read 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.

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ ISSUES KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY ULURP

  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.

Ice Palace at Kingsbridge Armory Skates Through First Two Parts of the Land Use Process

  Tuesday night there was a public hearing, and then a vote by the members of Community Board 7 which approved the proposal to build 9 separate ice skating rinks on two levels inside the Kingsbridge Armory. Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) is the name of the corporation that will run the largest Ice sports Arena with 9 ice skating rinks and a seating area of 5,000 seats. New York Ranger great Mark Messier has been named CEO of KNIC and was at the presentation to CB 7 that took place at the Lovinger Theater inside Lehman Collage. 

  All the local elected officials or their representatives were in attendance, that was except for Councilman Fernando Cabrera. The Northwest Bronx Church and Clergy coalition and several other neighborhood groups from CB 7 that helped grind out a Community Benefits Agreement worth 1.7 Billion dollars all gleefully asked the CB 7 members to approve this first step of the ULURP process. The vote of CB 7 was overwhelmingly in favor of the KNIC proposal with only 5 members voting against the proposal. 

  The next step was on Friday where Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. (a proponent of this proposal) held a public hearing in the Bronx County Courthouse. From here the proposal goes to the City Planning Commission which has up to 60 days to decide on the proposal, then if approved it would be off to a City Council vote within 45 days of the CPC approval. It is hoped that this process can be finished this year under the current City Council and current Mayor, and not have to continue into the next administration and new City Council.

Left - you can see New York ranger great Mark Messier sitting and waiting for his turn to speak in favor of the KNIC proposal for the Kingsbridge Armory.

Right - Messier address the crowd inside the Bronx Courthouse Rotunda as to why the KNIC proposal should be accepted.

Left - Members of Community Board 7 during the public hearing at  Lehman College.

Right - CB 7 Chair Adaline Walker-Santiago reports on the overwhelming vote of approval from CB 7 for the KNIC proposal.

 

 The agreement between the Kingsbridge National Ice Center with the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance better know as the Community Benefits Agreement.

Mark Messier Named CEO of KNIC

 

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ

RE: Mark Messier Named CEO of KNIC

“I am thrilled that hockey legend and hall of famer Mark Messier has been named Chief Executive Officer of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, and that he will lead the transformation of the Kingsbridge Armory into the world’s largest ice sports facility.

“Since day one, Mr. Messier has proven to be a great friend of the Bronx with his unwavering support of the KNIC project. He understands the importance of responsible development in the Bronx and knows that this project will create living wage jobs and economic activity, will support important community and educational initiatives, and will provide New Yorkers with unprecedented access to a variety of spectacular ice sports.

“I am excited that Mark Messier will take the lead in the redevelopment of our beloved Kingsbridge Armory and I look forward to working with him as we transform the Kingsbridge Armory into a source of pride for the Bronx and the City for generations to come,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES PLANS TO TRANSFORM KINGSBRIDGE ARMORY INTO WORLD’S LARGEST INDOOR ICE FACILITY

Kingsbridge National Ice Center Will Feature Nine Year-Round Indoor Ice Rinks, Including a 5,000-Seat Feature Rink for Major Ice Hockey and Skating Events

KNIC Partners LLC Will Invest $275 Million to Redevelop the Vacant Building, Creating More Than 260 Permanent Jobs and 890 Construction Jobs

            Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced plans to transform the iconic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx – vacant since 1996 – into the world’s largest indoor ice facility. The landmark armory, which occupies a full City block at 29 West Kingsbridge Road, will be redeveloped into a 750,000-square-foot ice sports facility to be known as Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC). KNIC will feature nine year-round indoor regulation size ice rinks, including a feature rink that can seat approximately 5,000 people and be used to host national and international ice hockey tournaments, figure and speed skating competitions and ice shows. The project will also include 50,000 square feet of space designated for community uses. It is expected that KNIC will draw more than 2 million visitors a year, vastly increasing the options of ice facilities in New York City, where there are currently only seven year-round ice rinks, none of which are located in the Bronx. The project represents a private investment of $275 million, which will generate 890 construction jobs and 267 permanent jobs. Mayor Bloomberg made the announcement at the Kingsbridge Armory and was joined by KNIC Partners LLC Founder Kevin Parker, New York Rangers hockey legend Mark Messier, Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., City Council Member Cabrera and New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky.

           

            “Through this redevelopment the Kingsbridge Armory will now have an interior program befitting its iconic exterior architecture,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The construction of the world’s largest indoor ice rink facility will create recreational opportunities for millions of visitors and local residents, and most importantly create hundreds of jobs for the local community. This plan is proof that working together we can put aside our differences and do what’s best for the city" Bloomberg and Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. said.

“This historic announcement represents a great achievement for the Bronx and the entire City,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. “The Bloomberg Administration has long been committed to revitalizing the Bronx, and this $275 million private investment is another step forward, bringing a landmark building back to life with the largest ice sports facility in the world, while creating nearly 1,200 permanent and construction jobs that will contribute the area’s long-term economic growth.”

            “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for the historic Kingsbridge Armory,” said Kevin Parker, founder of KNIC Partners. “I thank Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Economic Development Corporation for this tremendous honor and for believing in our vision, and look forward to working with the community throughout this process to ensure the Armory’s future is as incredible as its past. This project is about opportunity, first and foremost, and we are confident the Kingsbridge National Ice Center will become a source of pride for the Bronx and all of New York City for generations to come.”

            “This is a fantastic project, one that will bring living wage jobs and new recreation opportunities to the northwest Bronx while completely transforming a long-vacant space into a new amenity that will complement the surrounding community,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This project shows the tremendous opportunity the Bronx has to offer, and I am proud to have helped move the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory forward.”

“Today we are one step closer to transforming the Kingsbridge Armory into an important economic engine for the surrounding Kingsbridge community and the Bronx as a whole,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “I am incredibly pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with the Kingsbridge National Ice Center that addresses the needs of the community I serve.”

            “I commend Mayor Bloomberg for his leadership in reaching this decision,” said New York Rangers legend and NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier. “As a hockey player, I believe the Kingsbridge National Ice Center will change the sport in the metropolitan area. As a New Yorker, I know it will also change this city, providing invaluable educational and athletic opportunity to thousands of young people, and transforming the Bronx into the new center of ice sports in the United States.”

            “Today is a day for New York City to celebrate,” said Olympic Champion figure skater Sarah Hughes. “The Kingsbridge National Ice Center – and the educational and fitness initiatives it will create – represents new possibilities for so many children, including those who dream of one day becoming Olympic champions. This is the start of something incredible for the Bronx and I am proud to be part of it.”

Of the nine ice rinks, five will be located on the main floor and four will be constructed on two platforms elevated approximately 40 feet above the main floor. At least two rinks at KNIC will be sled hockey-compatible for people with disabilities. The facility is expected to be open 365 days a year. In addition to the ice rinks, the facility will feature: a wellness center, with off-ice training fitness, rehabilitation and sports therapy programs; dressing rooms and lockers with storage for individual hockey equipment; concession space; retail space for ice sport goods; and parking for approximately 480 cars. Renderings are available at www.flickr.com/nycmayorsoffice.

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 with the goal of providing 12 hours of ice time each weekday during the school year and 9 hours each weekday during summer.

The project will now begin a comprehensive public and environmental review with an anticipated groundbreaking in late 2014. The entire project will be built in two phases, with the first phase, consisting of five ice rinks, 50,000 square feet community space, concessions and parking, expected to be complete by September 2018. The remainder of the project will be built in the second phase which is expected to open by September 2019.

KNIC Partners LLC was selected through a competitive public process that began with the issuance of an RFP by NYCEDC in January 2012, and will now enter into a 99-year lease for the property. The RFP sought a redevelopment plan that would promote economic growth in Kingsbridge and surrounding neighborhoods, provide quality jobs for local residents, and create an exciting destination for people throughout the Bronx and the City.

Built between 1912 and 1917, the Kingsbridge Armory was designed by the architecture firm of Pilcher and Tachau and is an outstanding example of military architecture featuring Romanesque arches, vaulted ceilings, decorative brick and terra cotta, and large battlement towers. Thought to be the largest armory in the world, Kingsbridge Armory is an approximately 575,000 square foot land marked building. The 180,000 square foot main drill floor measures 300 feet by 600 feet – more than a full New York City block – and is spanned freely by pairs of vaulted steel trusses that rise 110 feet above the drill hall floor. Beneath the drill floor, a 105,000 square foot basement level and a 207,000 square foot sub-basement formerly housed offices, a garage, rifle and pistol ranges, a dining room, a gymnasium, and an auditorium.  In addition, on the Armory’s south facade is a 35,000 square foot head-house, the central feature of which is a double-height entrance foyer with a vaulted ceiling. The Armory has not been used for military purposes since 1993. The City has invested about $30 million in capital funds for environmental cleanup in the building, replacement of its roof and repairs to the facade.

Left - Mayor Bloomberg at the mike announcing the plan to house the Kingsbridge National Ice Center at the Kingsbridge Armory. L - R are Mr. Kevin Parker of KNIC, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr., CB 7 chair Paul Foster, Councilman Fernando Cabrera, Gold Medalist skater Sarah Hughes, NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky.

Right - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. at the mike.

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