The Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC), and 8th Regiment Partners, the winning bidder selected by NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), to lead the latest redevelopment project for the long-vacant, City-owned Kingsbridge Armory, joined EDC, labor unions, and elected officials at the Armory on Tuesday, June 3, to announce details of a new historic joint partnership negotiated in the context of the redevelopment which formalizes some community ownership and governance of the Armory site.

 

While the Armory’s protected status as a historical building and the largest armory in the country limits what it can be used for, the latest project announced in January is called “The Kingsbridge Center (El Centro Kingsbridge),” a two-phase, multi-use project expected to be finalized some time in 2030 and 2032, respectively.

 

As reported, the first phase will consist of a mixed-use development with a venue space and entertainment uses, sports fields, cultural and commercial space, light industrial manufacturing space, an educational facility focused on workforce development, and over 25,000 square feet of dedicated community space. Phase II includes around 450 units of permanently affordable rental housing adjacent to the Armory, where currently the National Guard operates from two annexes on West 195th Street, between Jerome Avenue and Reservoir Avenue.

 

NWBCCC, a nonprofit that unites diverse peoples and institutions to fight racial justice and economic democracy through community organizing, has, as reported, over decades been a key stakeholder in the development discussions around the Armory. The nonprofit had even submitted its own bid as part of the City’s latest RFP (Request for Proposal) launched in 2023 to redevelop the site, but was ultimately not selected. Over many years at various events, NWBCCC has long chanted the refrain, “Who’s Armory? Our Armory!”

[An RFP is a business document that announces a project, describes it, and solicits bids from qualified contractors to complete it.] Back in 2013, as part of the prevailing Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment discussions on the now-abandoned Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) project, NWBCCC had worked tirelessly to broker with KNIC Management, the then-selected but now-abandoned developer, a first-of-its-kind community benefits agreement (CBA). The organization learned much from that process.

 

Sandra Lobo, NWBCCC executive director, said the latest agreement marks a transformative shift in how development can and should happen in Bronx communities. “For decades, Bronx residents have organized for a say in the future of the Kingsbridge Armory,” she said. “We’re proud to have secured a model that reflects what the community has always called for: shared governance, community ownership and real investment in our people.”

 

According to 8th Regiment Partners, EDC, and NWBCCC, the latest partnership agreement “aligns with long-term community interests” and “includes unprecedented elements in a City-owned project.” These include:

• two long-term, subleased, community-owned, developed condos, comprising over 20 percent of the total site footprint dedicated to community use, with one condo serving as a 25,000-square-foot community hub providing space for community activities, workforce development, entrepreneurship and worker cooperative business development, and the other offering up to 100,000 square feet for affordable light manufacturing aimed at accommodating Bronx-based businesses that have been displaced from the borough;
• guarantees through a Master Condo Association, that community-owned portions of the project will help govern major operational and strategic decisions;
• up to 20,000 square feet of affordable commercial space set aside for small and local businesses during the housing phase of the development, focusing on vulnerable businesses along the Kingsbridge corridor; and
• in addition to the required Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with NYC building trades, a commitment to encourage neutrality agreements that ensure quality, family-sustaining jobs, and protection of workers’ rights to organize across the site.

 

Lobo continued in part. “Through community-owned condos, democratic decision-making and a structure for long-term investment in local businesses and workers, this agreement begins to fulfill our collective vision of building a more just, resilient and self-determined Bronx.”

 

We asked Lobo what was the deciding factor which led NWBCCC to enter into this latest partnership with the chosen developer. She said that for over 30 years, NWBCCC had organized to ensure the project would benefit Bronx residents. She said the [Together for Kingsbridge] envisioning process identified community ownership as a core priority and NWBCCC then worked to negotiate that and other top priorities with 8th Regiment Partners.

 

She said the MOU was signed on May 28 after months of negotiations, and was triggered by the commencement of the ULURP process, which, as reported, kicked off last month, with the first (virtual) public hearing held on May 31. A 60-day community board review, led by Bronx Community Board 7, is currently underway.

 

 

A second public hearing has since taken place and was held at nearby KIPPS Elementary School on Jerome Avenue around the corner from the Armory after the partnership announcement on June 3 (more to follow). “We believed it was important to enter the public process with a strong agreement that clarified the integration of community ownership and demonstrated commitment to inclusive, community-centered development in The Bronx,” Lobo told the Norwood News.  

 

We also asked Lobo if NWBCCC was putting up any financing towards The Kingsbridge Center project. She said, “At this stage, NWBCCC’s contributions are focused on program development, and coordinating public subsidy and philanthropic support for the community-owned components. NWBCCC will be responsible for securing capital and operating resources to build out and activate the spaces we will co-develop within the Kingsbridge Armory.”

 

The MOU partners said the latest agreement reflects core priorities, including community ownership and governance, identified through the public envisioning process co-led by NWBCCC and local city council member, Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14), and EDC, which began in 2022.

 

As reported, since then, over 4,000 Bronxites have shared their vision for the future of the Armory through surveys, workshops, visioning sessions and community meetings. Lobo was also a co-chair of the “Together for Kingsbridge” working group which led the community through the envisioning process for the Armory, prior to the RFP kick-off in 2023.

Of the latest partnership, Gabriella Sottile, principal at Maddd Equities, one of the partners that makes up 8th Regiment Partners, the other being Joy Construction, said, “From the outset of envisioning the transformative redevelopment of this historic structure, our development team has made it crystal clear that we understand the value of having strong community partnerships.”

 

She added, “This MOU is a historic document that outlines exactly how our team will work together with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition to bring the Kingsbridge Armory to life, for the betterment of this neighborhood and the Bronx. We look forward to having the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition not only as a long-term tenant but a key partner in this project for years to come.”

 

For his part, EDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball, said, “This is a historic agreement between 8th Regiment Partners and NWBCCC, epitomizing the community-led process to transform the long under-utilized Kingsbridge Armory into a mixed-use development that will bring good-paying jobs, housing, recreation, and cultural programming to The Bronx.”

 

EDC is a domestic public benefit corporation organized under the not-for-profit corporation law of the State of New York, with a principal place of business in Manhattan. Commending NWBCCC on their long-term work on the redevelopment, Kimball said EDC was thrilled to continue partnering with them to bring the Armory project to fruition.

The MOU parties said the agreement commits to maintaining high environmental standards and emphasizes community ownership by establishing the Community Council, co-convened by NWBCCC.

They said this council will provide ongoing input on tenant mix, programming, and additional strategies for community investment. Additionally, they said the Community Benefit Fund, funded through project revenue and governed by the Community Council, will support long-term local investments in initiatives aimed at wealth-building and community ownership.

 

Sanchez said the latest MOU agreement is a major step toward redeveloping “an incredible community asset.” She spoke again of her memories as a child growing up in the shadow of the Armory, understanding it to be some type of “castillo” (a castle). She said it was a site with potential to deliver transformative and inclusive economic growth for the area.

 

“This partnership reflects the values and priorities laid out by thousands of Bronxites in the ‘Together for Kingsbridge’ Community Vision Plan, which called for a project that delivers good-paying union jobs, space for youth and families, and economic development rooted in our neighborhoods,” the councilwoman said. “It also brings us closer than ever to a long-standing demand from our neighbors: that the Armory’s redevelopment reflects true community ownership.”

Mentioning how she has given birth to two children since she first became involved in the project after she was elected at the end of 2021, Sanchez concluded, “As the project moves through ULURP, I will continue to evaluate the proposal with the rigor it deserves, guided by the Vision Plan, ongoing public input, and my steadfast commitment to maximize community benefits for the people of The Bronx. This is our once-in-a-generation chance to get this right, and we must.”

 

For her part, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, recently endorsed in her upcoming reelection campaign by the Transport Workers Union and several Bronx Democrats, among others, said, “From the very beginning, we have been steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that the reimagining of the Kingsbridge Armory is community-led, community-driven, and community-focused.”

 

She added, “The transformation of this historic castle in the heart of the West Bronx is more than a redevelopment project; it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to spark economic growth, empower our neighborhoods, and deliver on a promise of equity and opportunity.”

Meanwhile, State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) talked about how he had lived in the area for several years and had watched as previous efforts to redevelop the armory fell through. He said in part that it was encouraging that a historic organizing force from the community will now have a seat at the table in the Armory’s transformation process.

 

He went on to say that the community’s aspirations, needs, and concerns about the development must be thoroughly reflected in a legally binding agreement (CBA) that includes enforceable anti-displacement measures to protect small businesses and clear frameworks for community ownership and revenue-sharing mechanisms to directly benefit local residents.

 

“We cannot afford to repeat past mistakes and I am confident that NWBCCC’s direct involvement in this project will ensure we move forward in the right direction,” Rivera added.

As reported, Manhattan-based Agallas Equities had also submitted a bid as part of the latest RFP but was not selected either. The company has since filed a lawsuit against EDC, 8th Regiment Partners, and various current and former politicians and City officials, broadly alleging “a troubling pattern of political interference, procedural violations, and apparent intellectual property theft that [allegedly] corrupted what should have been a fair and transparent [RFP] public process.” The City denies any wrongdoing and the case is ongoing. Read more here.

 

Agallas has also asked NYC Department of Investigations (DOI) to investigate a potential conflict of interest around the selection of 8th Regiment Partners as the winning bidder of the RFP. Additionally, Manny Taveras of Agallas Equities recently dismissed remarks made by NYC Mayor Eric Adams regarding the possible launch of a microchip production plant at the Armory, citing health and other concerns. Norwood News reached out to Taveras for comment on news of the latest partnership as described above. We will share any feedback we receive.

 

State Senator Robert Jackson (S.D. 31) and George Alvarez (A.D. 78) also congratulated the partners on the latest agreement, as did Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), though the latter was not present for the announcement.

As reported, the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment is backed by a $200 million investment by the mayor and NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, a further $2 million from the Bronx borough president, $12 million from Sanchez, and a $1.05 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with the support of Espaillat.

 

Of the various union members in attendance, including 32BJ and the Bronx Brigade, at least one union leader spoke about the importance of hiring local union labor for the project, among other priorities. Many other union members later spoke at the second public hearing held after the press conference (more to follow).

 

City officials previously announced that construction for the Armory project will be executed under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA), ensuring fair wages and benefits for construction workers, as reported. We have since asked for confirmation of whether this covers both Phase I and Phase II of the project, since this was a question raised at the second public hearing.

We have since been informed that, as reported last year, NYCEDC signed a Letter of Intent with the Building Construction Trades Council (BCTC) to enter good faith negotiations for a PLA for the first phase of construction of the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment. EDC said 8th Regiment Partners agreed to participate in the PLA for the redevelopment of the Armory drill hall building (Phase 1).

 

Additionally, EDC said that the project, from construction through operation, will be subject to New York City’s “Community Hiring” program. We asked EDC for more details of what that entails and they said it’s very similar to “HireNYC.”  More information can be found here.

 

EDC added that while the housing component (Phase II) does not have a Project Labor Agreement, 8th Regiment Partners has committed to working with 32BJ for building service workers for both phases. Additionally, they said the development team has also agreed to work with Laborers Local 79 for the Phase II construction.

EDC officials said 8th Regiment Partners’ proposal was selected after a rigorous RFP 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 Kingsbridge Armory opened in 1917 and was used by the United States military until 1994 before reverting to city ownership in 1996. The armory was designated as a New York City Landmark in 1974 and placed on the National Register for Historic Places list in 1982. According to 8th Regiment Partners, they aim to break ground in 2026.

 

To view some short videos of the latest partnership announcement, click here and here. Click here to read our story on the first public hearing held May 28. More to follow on the second hearing.

The public hearings will continue as the project proceeds through the required stages of the ULURP process. We will share more details of future hearings as they become available. To view a full copy of the presentation made by EDC on the project at the second public hearing on June 3, click here.

 

Joy Construction has an address at Fulton Street in Manhattan, and Maddd Equities has an address on Long Island.

 

As reported, NWBCCC announced on its 50th anniversary a planned merger with the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI), a partnership expected to expand the two group’s collective reach across the entire borough.

 

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story referred to the latest partnership as a community benefits agreement (CBA). However, only the Memorandum of Understanding has been signed to date. A future community benefits agreement is still to be fleshed out.