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. For the past 27 years, the armory has been vacant, but was utilized during the COVID-19 public health crisis, served as a temporary food distribution center and, early last year, was used by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and local officials to store supplies for those impacted by the tragic Twin Park North fire.

The project site occupies most of the block bounded by West 195^th Street, Reservoir Avenue, West Kingsbridge Road, and Jerome Avenue. The site is largely occupied by the Armory building that totals more than 570,000 square feet, including a 180,000-square-foot drill hall and an 8,000-seat auditorium.

“After years of dwelling on the history of the Kingsbridge Armory, we are finally looking ahead to its remarkable future,” Gov. Hochul said. “I know how critical the future of the Armory is to this community and to the entire borough of The Bronx, which is why I prioritized locking in $100 million in state funding that will allow this transformative project to move forward. Working with local leaders and our partners in the City of New York, the Kingsbridge Armory will anchor this neighborhood, address longstanding community needs, and boost the local economy and I anticipate a Project Labor Agreement to create good-paying union jobs at this site as we work to bring this project to fruition.”

Backed by a combined $200-million investment by the state and New York City, the redevelopment could deliver more than 1,800 jobs, including 1,100 construction jobs, and up to $10 billion in economic impact to the Bronx based on initial estimates, state officials noted.

“The Kingsbridge Armory is a tremendous public asset that is not serving the community. This project has the potential to unlock billions in economic impact for the city while creating over 1,800 good jobs right here in the Bronx,” said Mayor Adams. “And after sitting down with more than 4,000 Bronxites over the past nine months, we are proud to deliver their vision for the armory’s next chapter: a source for good union jobs and a beacon of opportunity for the Bronx.”

Since 1996 a number of redevelopment plans have been proposed, including plans for a large ice rink complex and a major shopping center. However, local opposition and financing issues scuttled all previous proposals.

The “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan” is the result of an extensive, community-driven process that kicked off in November 2022 and included a series of public workshops and engagement opportunities designed to develop a shared vision for how this tremendous public asset can support the neighborhood and the community’s economic development priorities.

The process resulted in the identification of preferred industries that community members believe would allow the armory to attract major private investment. Those preferred industries include film and television, sustainable manufacturing, emerging technologies and urban agriculture.

Community members also identified a set of complementary uses to provide equitable access to services and work opportunities for Bronx communities. Those complementary uses encompass seven possible sectors: vocational training and a small business incubator; retail, food, and beverage uses; community gathering and organizing space; Bronx arts and culture space; recreation and health and sustainable food systems. The community also stressed a desire for the project to hire local and union talent, sourced from Bronx-based businesses, and provide vocational training to residents.

According to the NYCEDC website, the agency is conducting site tours on Fridays from Aug. 11 through Aug. 25.