For two years, local leaders and residents have demanded the vacant old Fordham Library building be turned into something that benefits the underserved and densely populated community. But recently, the city quietly gave control of the 27,400-square-foot structure over to the Health Department for use as an animal shelter.

With every large-scale urban development project, like the overhaul planned for the Kingsbridge Armory, comes the inevitable question: How will the community benefit? The answer varies depending on factors such as the project’s popularity, the number of jobs created and the public land use review process.

It’s also increasingly about the community getting the developer to sign a binding agreement, offering certain benefits to the community – such as local hiring preferences, job training programs for local residents, or money for local service programs.

The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance dominated the first official public hearing to discuss community hopes and concerns regarding the massive renovation of the 100-year-old landmark.

Redevelopment plans for the Kingsbridge Armory will almost certainly undergo significant changes in the coming months as the developer, the Related Companies, shepherds their plan through the land use review process and negotiates with community stakeholders. But here’s where things stand so far: What Related plans to put in the Armory • 897,860 square feet of new uses • 377,235 square feet of retail and restaurant space (some local, some national chain stores, the ratio is unclear) • 164,285 square feet for parking • 57,485 square feet for a new cinema • 33,240 square feet for a fitness club or

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Jay Wright, the head coach of men’s college basketball power Villanova University, stood in front of about 50 Bronx middle schoolers earlier this summer at the Riverdale Country School.

The assembled kids were all members of New Heights New York City, a non-profit organization based in University Heights that provides athletic and academic after-school, summer, and weekend programs year-round for 155 middle and high school students.

The struggle over who will lead the Bronx Democratic Party has, as expected, landed in court with both factions trying to invalidate each other’s half of the meeting to elect officers at the Utopia Paradise Theater. The case will come before a state Supreme Court judge on Monday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m.

As the city’s Department of Education begins crafting its next five-year capital plan, which will determine where new schools will be built and which schools will receive renovations, Council Member Oliver Koppell wants to make sure his district’s overcrowding issues are adequately addressed.

All three Council members from the Bronx that represent the Norwood News coverage area – Joel Rivera, Maria Baez and Oliver Koppell – have endorsed a plan to extend term limits to include a third term. All three were facing a job change or unemployment after 2009. The rest of Council’s 51 members are split or undecided.

A listing of public and community meeting in the northwest Bronx.