A longstanding Bronx grassroots organization has signed a “revolutionary” agreement with developers of the Kingsbridge Armory, guaranteeing a community ownership stake of up to 20% in the project.
Members of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) and development firm 8th Regiment gathered with union workers and elected officials on the armory steps to announce the agreement on June 3, immediately before Community Board 7’s first in-person rezoning hearing at a nearby school.
The agreement promises the creation of two nonprofit-owned “condominiums” in the project’s first phase, which involves transforming the historic armory building into a space for community and economic activity. One would feature a 25,000-square-foot community center offering a range of programs and services, along with a workforce development hub and additional amenities. The second condominium would provide up to 100,000 square feet of space for light manufacturing businesses, prioritizing those who have been displaced from the borough, according to the 8th Regiment.
For the project’s second phase, the agreement also stipulated that the 500-unit affordable housing component will include up to 20,000 square feet of retail space for local businesses. The residences and retail space would be located in a new 16-story building adjacent to the armory, and construction at that height is contingent on the rezoning process known as ULURP approval.
In addition, the development team will work with input and oversight from a Community Advisory Council, co-convened by NWBCCC, and a Community Benefit Fund will funnel revenue from the project back into the Kingsbridge area.
NWBCCC and 8th Regiment have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to these details and more, representing “a new model in shared governance,” said Sandra Lobo, executive director of the NBWCCC.
“This is a turning point for the armory and for how development can and should be done in the Bronx,” she said at the press conference.
Council Member Pierina Sanchez said previous proposals to convert the armory into a mall or skating rink failed due to a lack of community support and accountable development partners. This time, she said, is markedly different.
With a vision plan shaped by input from more than 4,000 residents, “We’ve never been more ready … than we are today,” Sanchez said.
The agreement marks a shift in the nonprofit’s role—from advisor to “officially a business partner in this deal,” said Andrew Kimball, president and CEO of the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC).
State Senator Gustavo Rivera and others praised Jorge Madruga, founder and principal of 8th Regiment for embracing the principle of community ownership. “He put his money where his mouth is,” Rivera said.
Long process
The process of transforming the armory from dark and empty to a vibrant, multi-use space has already been a long time coming for NWBCCC, whose members have been fighting for responsible and resident-led development of the armory since 1997.
The nonprofit submitted its own bid to the city for the project but ultimately lost out to 8th Regiment, which the NYC EDC announced as the winner in Jan. The president of Agallas Equities, another would-be developer that was not selected, has since sued the city and 8th Regiment, alleging improper political influence in the contract awards process. The case remains pending in the New York County Supreme Court.
As 8th Regiment moves forward, more plans for the armory are beginning to take shape. The developer has received several letters of interest, most notably from Live Nation, the international entertainment and concert promotion company.
However, seeing big concerts or anything else in the armory is still a long way off.
Phase one of development is expected to last from 2027 to 2030 and aims to create a mixed-use space with an arena for concerts and events, sports fields, retail, entertainment venues, a food hall and a workforce development site.
The second phase, projected to start in late 2027 and end in 2032, will result in 450 to 500 units of affordable housing for residents at 30%, 50%, 70% and 80% AMI ($34,020 per year up to $116,640 per year, at one-quarter of the units for each income level).
At the public hearing after the rally, Sanchez said the community must remain involved and active throughout the ULURP process and the years to come.
The meeting was a promising start, as nearly 60 people signed up to speak and well over a hundred filled the bleachers and chairs in the KIPP Elementary School gym.
In their presentation, planners from 8th Regiment and design firm fxcollaborative emphasized their commitment to environmentally responsible construction and union labor.
A representative from fxcollaborative said the main objective in working with such a unique, massive site is to not “mess it up.”
He outlined design details and amenities aimed at making the armory more physically accessible, fun and welcoming, but also said, “This is not a project about aesthetics, this is a project about impact.”
Community members were generally positive about the project but raised some concerns, mainly around displacement of vulnerable residents, businesses and vendors in the area.
Attendees discussed concerns that the project could drive up residential and commercial rents nearby. They also mentioned school safety during construction, assurances of union labor, inclusivity of voices on the Advisory Council and protecting the many street vendors near the armory.
While many details could not be fleshed out in this early phase, Lobo said developers have a “clear mandate” from the community and encouraged all residents to stay involved.
The hearing marked just the start of the monthslong ULURP process, and there are many more steps before the project goes to a City Council vote in Nov.
The ULURP actions for the project are for leasing the city-owned land to 8th Regiment and NYC EDC and rezoning the site to accommodate the planned 16-story residential buildings. Special permits will also be required for increasing the indoor arena capacity from 6,000 to 17,000 and building a parking garage.
Later in the process, Community Board 7 and the Borough President will cast advisory votes, and the project is also subject to approvals by the Public Design Commission and Landmarks Preservation Commission, as the armory was designated a city landmark in 1974 and placed on the National Register for Historic Places in 1982.
8th Regiment plans to break ground in 2026.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
