Bronx, NY – May 19, 2025 – Today, as the proposed redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory formally entered public review, NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez issued the following statement:

“Today marks a critical milestone for the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory: the start of public review, where Bronx residents can raise their voices and shape the future of this iconic site,” said NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez, who served as co-chair of the Together for Kingsbridge Community Visioning Process. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right — to deliver a project as beautiful, dynamic, and resilient as the people that call the Bronx home. From the start, I have made my intentions clear. I will evaluate this proposal thoroughly and center the guiding principles that our community articulated in the Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan, to: prioritize youth, uplift older adults, foster intergenerational relationships, create jobs and wealth for local workers, grow a regenerative, Bronx-centered economy, and maximize community ownership. As part of my review, I will also work with local stakeholders to seek community benefits with clear structures for accountability and ongoing community governance. In the coming weeks, my team looks forward to strong participation from Bronxites at the Community Board 7 public hearings. We must ensure that the redevelopment of this great structure is both transformative and equitable for generations to come.” 

First opened in 1917 as the home of the New York National Guard, the Kingsbridge Armory has been functionally vacant for more than 30 years. Multiple past redevelopment efforts did not come to fruition. In 2006, a proposal to turn the Armory into a shopping mall was eventually voted down by the City Council. And, after being introduced in 2012, a proposal to transform the Armory into a “national ice center” failed to secure adequate financing, even after the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) signed a historic community benefits agreement with the developer. Indeed, since the City of New York gained ownership of the site in 1996, local community organizing has been a constant force in attempts to revitalize this iconic landmark.

In October 2022, Council Member Sanchez partnered with NYC EDC, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and a Community Working Group representing a wide range of local stakeholders to launch a collaborative community visioning process. After nine months of engagement, 13 hours of public workshops, 950 survey responses, and more than 4,000 people reached, this effort culminated in the Together for Kingsbridge Community Vision Plan (English version here and Spanish version here). The Vision Plan set forth priority uses and guiding principles for the Armory, and was intended to shape the City’s Request for Proposals (RFP), which ultimately resulted in the selection of 8th Regiment Partners in January 2025.

Today’s certification marks the beginning of formal public review, known as the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). ULURP is the City’s approval process for changing what is allowed to be built where, and for what purpose. For example, how tall a building can be; whether it will be used for housing, commercial, or recreation space; acquiring or disposing of public land; and other possible changes. ULURP takes place over approximately seven months and offers multiple opportunities for public feedback.

In the coming weeks, Bronx Community Board 7 will hold two Public Hearings where members of the public can learn more about the proposed redevelopment and share their feedback. For more information on BXCB 7 public hearings, contact Karla Cabrera Carrera, District Manager, at kcabreracarrera@cb.nyc.gov.

  • CB 7 In-Person Public Hearing
    • Tuesday, June 3, 2025: at 6:30 PM
    • KIPP Elementary School, 2720 Jerome Ave.
    • Sign up to speak: bit.ly/4mufdrK

Access the public documents here: on.nyc.gov/3ZqqZsW

After the Community Board issues its recommendation, there will be additional opportunities for public feedback this summer and fall that are required as part of ULURP: with the Bronx Borough President, the City Planning Commission, and the City Council.

Those hoping to discuss the project with the Council Member’s office should send a meeting request to d14scheduling@council.nyc.gov.

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