CM Cabrera, 52nd Pct Community Affairs & NYPD Explorers Paint Over Graffiti on Kingsbridge Armory

By MIRIAM QUINOÑES & SÍLE MOLONEY

On Thursday Jan. 7, Councilman Fernando Cabrera, representing District 14, joined the 52nd Precinct Community Affairs Unit and the NYPD Explorers in painting over graffiti that had been sprayed on the walls of the Kingsbridge Armory at the junction of Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Avenue. Speaking to the Norwood News after the bulk of the work had been completed, Cabrera, who is serving his final term as a council member and is currently running for Bronx borough president, said, “We’re right here at the Kingsbridge Armory. This was full of graffiti. News 12 reached out to us about

Starting Monday, the Bronx will no longer be the only borough in New York City without a kosher food distribution site as part of the City’s Get Food program. After weeks of advocacy from Bronx elected officials, the City has agreed to distribute free kosher grab-and-go meals at P.S. 24 in the the borough starting Monday, May 11, opening the City’s prevailing meal distribution program to observant residents in the borough for the first time since the program’s launch. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Council Member Andrew Cohen had been advocating for kosher food offerings in the Northwest Bronx to

Norwood News Year in Review (Development)

By DAVID CRUZ

What a year in 2019 for the Bronx! In keeping with tradition, the Norwood News paused to look back on 2019 with a highlight of several ongoing stories we’ve followed this past year. Development Large-scale development became the operative word in 2019, with a flood of projects happening simultaneously in Norwood and Bedford Park, prompting a story recapping readers on those projects on the Vol. 32 No. 11 edition and an in-depth piece entitled “The Vanishing Homeowner” in the Vol. 32 No. 23 edition. The common denominator was simple: the Bronx has become such an attractive place for developers that it’s

KNIC Project Lumbers Along, New Deadline Set

By DAVID CRUZ

The owner behind the beleaguered and virtually dormant Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) project, revealed a new start time for the plan, telling the Norwood News he intends to see the ambitious project through despite ongoing delays and legal follies. “I’m very confident we’re gonna get there, it’s just not a straight line, nothing ever is in life,” said Kevin Parker, KNIC’s owner, in a phone interview with the Norwood News. “but we’re not going away and we’re here we’re battling and we’re putting one foot in front of the other taking the steps to get this thing done and

Securing Kingsbridge Ice Center Funding a Waiting Game

Much of the talk across the city has been focused on its failed attempt to keep Amazon locked into a deal that would have brought a state-of-the-art campus to Long Island City, Queens. Critics wanted more than the estimated 25,000 jobs it promised to bring. The outright resentment over how the deal was rushed through with very little input from the existing residents who live in New York City, according to reports, riled progressive Democrats to organize. Hindsight being 20-20, perhaps Amazon’s stakeholders could’ve headed the northernmost borough in the city to find how communities are won over by massive

CB7 Chair Unexpectedly Resigns, Will Remain Member

By DAVID CRUZ

Adaline Walker-Santiago, the chair of Community Board 7 who brought a cheerleading style to her leadership, unexpectedly resigned on April 17. In her announcement to members and the general public at the latest community board, Walker-Santiago pledged to remain a member of the north Bronx board. Her resignation as chair is effective April 30. Walker-Santiago told the Norwood News shortly after her announcement that her decision to step down stemmed largely from freeing up her time. She said she plans to travel abroad, spend more time with family, and continue serving as a life coach. For the last five years, Walker-Santiago

Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on KNIC's Progress

By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked Kingsbridge residents their thoughts on the re-development of the Kingsbridge Armory which has now languished for years, and a recent behind-closed-doors meeting. Well, I always thought that people should be notified at any time and there should always be an open door for any comments. If you’re going to do it under the table, then it’s not worth it. And if you’re going to spend $500 million dollars, help the homeless first. Hell no! I don’t want an ice skating rink here. They need to make it a building for homeless people, something for the homeless.

KNIC Founder Reaffirms Commitment to Build Project (Thumbnail)

By DAVID CRUZ

Kevin Parker, founder of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center project, told community stakeholders at a closed-door meeting today that the massive project is under way despite being stalled for four years. The meeting, held at Concourse House just blocks from the Kingsbridge Armory, the expected home of the center, was organized by State Sen. Gustavo Rivera. “I felt confident going into the meeting and I feel much more confident after I left the meeting that the project is going forward,” Rivera told the Norwood News several hours after the meeting wrapped up. “Is the [project] happening tomorrow? Sadly, no.” Much of the

At State of the Borough BP Highlights Fixes and the Needs (Web Picture)

By MARY MELLON

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. delivered his ninth State of the Bronx address before an audience of supporters, well-wishers, and fellow elected officials. For nearly 45 minutes, Diaz stood composed as he delivered a speech that largely underscored the borough’s positives while lambasting the city’s shortcomings. But read between the lines, Diaz’s speech also showed his sights set on higher office. “Look at how different things are in this borough today than just a decade ago,” Diaz said. “We have set the bar for the entire nation on transformative urban renewal and development. We are the new standard