A longtime Bronx community organizing group and the team picked by the city to develop the Kingsbridge Armory have announced an unprecedented deal that will allow the nonprofit to own 20% of the long-abandoned landmark.
The Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition and 8th Regiment Partners LLC, a joint venture between real estate firm Maddd Equities LLC and Joy Construction Corporation, announced the pact Tuesday evening, shortly before a public review process for reactivating the armory kicked off with a hearing at the local community board.
NWBCCC, which dates back to the 1970s movement to fight disinvestment in Bronx neighborhoods, had pressed for community ownership during the city Economic Development Corporation’s visioning process for the armory, which has seen repeated past proposed revival projects fail to come to fruition, and continued to press as EDC sought proposals from developers.
The group will obtain 125,000 square feet of the total 570,000 in space, split into two condominiums. Most of that would be set aside for affordable light manufacturing space aimed at accommodating Bronx-based businesses like Port Morris Distillery, which had to recently leave the borough, while up to 25,000 square feet would be used for a community hub that would include space for workforce development and entrepreneurship programs.
The 570,000 sq. ft. Kingsbridge Armory in The Bronx is being redeveloped into an event and recreation space, June 3, 2025. Credit: Alex Krales/THE CITY
Under a memorandum of understanding, both condos have 99-year leases. The community hub will be free to use while subleases for light manufacturing cannot be priced above 20% below market rates, or about $15 to $17 per square foot, NWBCCC executive director Sandra Lobo told THE CITY.
“We believe it’s a game-changer for development in New York City,” she said, noting the more than 4,000 people who participated in the visioning process spearheaded by the Together for Kingsbridge working group. “We haven’t had a project of this size, of this stature, to include community ownership in its DNA.”
Separate from the space allocated in the two condos, NWBCCC also signed up in the MOU to manage up to 20,000 square feet of commercial space as part of the housing phase of the project, which will include 450 subsidized units adjacent to the armory.
That space could aid distressed businesses in the Kingsbridge and Fordham business corridors, as well as vendors outside of the armory who would be interested in a brick-and-mortar setup.
Additionally, the agreement includes a community benefit fund that will be funded by project revenue. It is not yet clear what percentage that would entail or what the projected revenue would be for business at the armory.
“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,” said Gabriella Sottile, principal of Maddd Equities, on behalf of 8th Regiment Partners. “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.”
Dubbed “El Centro Kingsbridge,” the repurposed century-old armory will include a state-of-the-art event venue, a dedicated community space, a recreation center, an educational facility focused on workforce development, cultural and commercial spaces, sports fields and more.
The selection of the developer in January marked a major turning point for a national landmark that has been vacant since the city took over the property in 1996. A previous attempt to turn it into a national ice center collapsed after years of legal battles.
Another developer has sued the city over the selection of 8th Regiment, alleging political interference in the bidding process. That case is still pending in Bronx Supreme Court.
On Tuesday evening, Bronx Community Board 7 is holding a hearing about the Kingsbridge Armory development, kicking off a months-long Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.
“We are taking a major step toward redeveloping an incredible community asset — one with potential to deliver transformative and inclusive economic growth,” said local Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, who co-chaired the Together for Kingsbridge Community Vision Plan. “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.”
She added, “This is our once-in-a-generation chance to get this right — and we must.”
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