Historic Collaborative Agreement in Kingsbridge Armory Development Project
“This is a historic agreement between 8th Regiment Partners and NWBCCC – epitomizing the community-led process to transform the long under-utilized Kingsbridge Armory into a mixed-use development that will bring good-paying jobs, housing, recreation, and cultural programming to the Bronx,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Andrew Kimball.
THE BRONX – Local community and economic development organization Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC) and 8th Regiment Partners, the developer selected by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to lead the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory, have announced an unprecedented collaborative agreement for the transformative overhaul of the historic landmark. The agreement comes after months of good-faith negotiations with the development team, underscoring a key commitment of the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan” to maximize community ownership. With the launch of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) earlier this month, the project is now advancing through the public approval process that will enable the transformation of this long underutilized site into a vibrant public asset.
The details of the agreement were unveiled at a press conference and rally outside of the Kingsbridge Armory on Tuesday, June 3. Community members, elected officials, labor leaders, and others came together prior to the Bronx Community Board #7 Land Use Committee hearing to officially announce the details of the new agreement and show unity prior to that event.
Aligning with long-term community interests, the resulting agreement between NWBCCC and 8th Regiment Partners includes unprecedented elements in a City-owned project, such as: Two long-term subleased community-owned condos will be developed, comprising over 20 percent of the total site footprint, for community use. One condo will serve as a 25,000-square-foot community hub, providing space for community activities, workforce development, entrepreneurship and worker cooperative business development. The other condo will offer up to 100,000 square feet for affordable light manufacturing, aimed at accommodating Bronx-based businesses that have been displaced from the borough; Through a Master Condo Association, these community-owned portions of the project will help govern major operational and strategic decisions; Up to 20,000 square feet of affordable commercial space will be set aside for small and local businesses during the housing phase of the development, focusing on vulnerable businesses along the Kingsbridge corridor; and In addition to the required Project Labor Agreement with NYC building trades, there is a commitment to encourage neutrality agreements that ensure quality, family-sustaining jobs and protect workers’ rights to organize across the site.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson expressed her support for the project.
The agreement commits to maintaining high environmental standards and emphasizes community ownership by establishing a Community Council, co-convened by NWBCCC. This council will provide ongoing input on tenant mix, programming, and additional strategies for community investment. Additionally, a Community Benefit Fund, funded through project revenue and governed by the Community Council, will support long-term local investments in initiatives aimed at wealth-building and community ownership. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between NWBCCC and 8th Regiment Partners, a joint venture of Maddd Equities and Joy Construction.
New York City Council Member Pierina Sanchez said she is proud to be involved with the undertaking.
The final agreement reflects core priorities, including community ownership and governance, identified through the comprehensive public visioning process co-led by NWBCCC in partnership with Council Member Pierina Sanchez and NYCEDC. Over 4,000 Bronxites shared their vision for the future of the Kingsbridge Armory through surveys, workshops, visioning sessions and community meetings. Residents of all generations and backgrounds collectively identified the principles and values that matter most in creating a new economic engine for the Bronx.
“This agreement marks a transformative shift in how development can and should happen in our communities. For decades, Bronx residents have organized for a say in the future of the Kingsbridge Armory. We’re proud to have secured a model that reflects what the community has always called for: shared governance, community ownership and real investment in our people,” said Sandra Lobo, Executive Director of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. “Through community-owned condos, democratic decision-making and a structure for long-term investment in local businesses and workers, this agreement begins to fulfill our collective vision of building a more just, resilient and self-determined Bronx.”
“This milestone agreement reflects the power of community leadership, with support from mission-aligned partners and funders who share NWBCCC’s belief that communities are the experts of their own experience and must lead in shaping their future,” Lobo continued. “East Freedman & Main, Barretto Bay Strategies, Kyanite Partners, and many others played critical roles in supporting our planning, development and advancement of a vision rooted in equity, ownership and long-term community governance.”
Gabriella Sottile of Maddd Equities addresses attendees.
“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, Maddd Equities on behalf of 8th Regiment Partners. “This MOU is a historic document that outlines exactly how our team will work together with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition to bring the Kingsbridge Armory to life, for the betterment of this neighborhood and the Bronx. 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.”
“This is a historic agreement between 8th Regiment Partners and NWBCCC – epitomizing the community-led process to transform the long under-utilized Kingsbridge Armory into a mixed-use development that will bring good-paying jobs, housing, recreation, and cultural programming to the Bronx,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “NWBCCC has been instrumental in the redevelopment efforts, including as Co-Chair of the Community Working Group and the Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan and we are thrilled to be continuing this partnership as we bring this project to fruition and deliver on promises made to the Bronx.”
8th Regiment Partners has put forward a vision to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory into a thriving, community-centered hub that delivers economic opportunity, social infrastructure, and cultural vitality for Bronx residents. Guided by the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan”, the first phase will consist of a mixed-use development with a state-of-the-art venue space and entertainment uses, sports fields, cultural and commercial space, light industrial manufacturing space, an educational facility focused on workforce development, and over 25,000 square feet of dedicated community space. Phase two includes approximately 450 units of permanently affordable rental housing adjacent to the Armory.
“The Barretto Bay Strategies team is beyond thrilled at this outcome and proud of our work with NWBCCC, East Freedman & Main, and all the other partners and supporters of the Northwest Bronx vision for an equitable, sustainable, and community-owned Kingsbridge Armory,” said Paul Lipson, Principal, Barretto Bay Strategies. “Our work in the borough spans nearly 4 decades and this is truly the first large-scale project in memory with community ownership embedded in its DNA and homegrown enterprise at its beating heart. While there will undoubtedly be obstacles and tribulations ahead, the work going forward will be sustained and fortified by NWBCCC’s crystal clear vision, firm and enduring values, and strong, hard-won partnerships.”
The Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment is backed by a $200 million investment by Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, $2 million from Borough President Gibson, $12 million from Council Member Sanchez, and a $1.05 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the support of Representative Espaillat. The construction will be executed under a project labor agreement, ensuring fair wages and benefits for construction workers. 8th Regiment Partners’ proposal was selected after a rigorous request for proposal process that was informed by a nine-month public engagement process with over 4,000 community members, which produced the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan.”
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.
8th Regiment Partners aims to break ground in 2026.
Source: Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition
Photo credits: 8th Regiment Partners