The Kings Bridge Wildlife Conservation Area reopened to the public April 1 following construction and planting to restore a natural floodplain This makes Kings Bridge the first restoration project along the upper French Broad River to open to the public people can witness the transformation as restored wetlands and meadows provide flood safety and wildlife habitat excavators reshaped the ground to create a slough and 36 acres of wetlands — features that used to be common along the river Loftis predicts the site will be popular for birding “The Wildlife Commission is excited to present this to the public as a place for people to get out and immerse themselves in a natural habitat," said Loftis "It’s an opportunity to see a wide range of species 191 between Mills River and Hendersonville Conserving Carolina purchased the 87 acre former sod farm in 2020 and transferred it to the Wildlife Resources Commission in 2021 have collaborated on multiple natural floodplain restorations in recent years including Mouth of Mud Creek and Pleasant Grove While there are plans for trails at other restoration sites we’ve been sharing the story of nature making a comeback at our natural floodplain restorations," said David Lee Conserving Carolina’s natural resources director "Now people can see that transformation for themselves by visiting Kings Bridge and observing how the land changes as new plants grow in and fish and other animals start to take advantage of the resources there.” More: Land purchase by Conserving Carolina will expand Oklawaha Greenway in Hendersonville Loftis says that newly installed tracking equipment is already detecting fish in the slough the largest fish native to the French Broad which is like a pond connected to the river provides much needed habitat for fish by creating a calm backwater His agency is now tracking fish in four sloughs at three restoration projects “We see fish using the sloughs during high water periods to get out of the flow," said Loftis "They're also using them seasonally during the spawning season Fish need this backwater habitat for respite during high flows We’re checking all the boxes with these backwater areas.” birders see a high diversity of species at Kings Bridge because of the variety of habitat songbirds and raptors all frequent Kings Bridge “That interface between the aquatic environment and the terrestrial environment gives you everything from muskie to monarchs,” said Loftis Kings Bridge was closed to the public during the restoration work Hunting is not permitted due to the proximity to nearby homes and the entire site is a designated safety zone Fishing is not permitted in the slough during March April or May when fish are spawning and young fry are emerging fishing along the riverbank is permitted year-round You can find directions to the Kings Bridge Wildlife Conservation Area in Google Maps You can walk an access path to the mouth of the slough and the riverbank.Loftis says that in the future the agency intends to open a boat put-in and create a loop trail around the site please watch your step and avoid harming the young plants growing on the site This restoration project on new public land is made possible by generous funding from U.S It was only one week before Tropical Storm Helene that the construction phase of the Kings Bridge restoration was completed creating low areas for wetlands and plugging drainage ditches — as it turned out just in time to help absorb water from the epic flood More: A place for the water to go: Natural floodplain restorations improve flood safety calculates that Kings Bridge stored approximately 475 million gallons of water the equivalent of 720 Olympic swimming pools All of this water was held on the floodplain instead of moving downstream This is what a floodplain is supposed to do — take on water when the river overflows natural floodplains are rare along the upper French Broad Most of the river is lined with berms meant to keep the water from spilling onto the land ditches are in place to drain water off the land.At a restored natural floodplain like Kings Bridge the river is invited to spill over onto its floodplain this allows the water to spread out and slow down This means less floodwater rushes downstream It also allows sediment to deposit on the floodplain A natural floodplain also holds water like a sponge Natural areas also filter water as it makes its way into the river the enhanced riparian buffers-wooded areas along the river-at Kings Bridge extend for nearly two-thirds of a mile Visitors to Kings Bridge can see a special community of plants beginning to leaf and flower during their first spring in this new home says the conservation partners chose of an array of native plants that will provide abundant food for wildlife This plant community is informed by Native traditions and includes artisan resources that are important for Cherokee crafts the Cherokee cultivated natural communities that offered rich sources of nutrition for people and wildlife New plantings bring this tradition back at Kings Bridge with young trees and shrubs that include pawpaw plants that provide valuable artisan resources — like rivercane for basket making and yellowroot for dyes — are now growing at Kings Bridge with plans for future sustainable harvest by the Cherokee Nelson had the chance to see the mist rising off the water in the early morning and to share the space with bald eagles Even very early in the process of restoration “We’re starting to see this site come back to life.” By: 7:00 am on April 16 Permits have been filed for a 12-story mixed-use building at 101 East Kingsbridge Road in Kingsbridge Located between Creston Avenue and Grand Concourse the lot is one block from the Kingsbridge Road subway station Moses Freund of The Vaja Group is listed as the owner behind the applications The proposed 120-foot-tall development will yield 48,095 square feet with 47,952 square feet designated for residential space and 143 square feet for commercial space most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 630 square feet The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar Wieder Architect is listed as the architect of record Demolition permits were filed in March for the single-story structure on the site An estimated completion date has not been announced Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews hopefully the existing store can use the new space and I hope the building is as “green” w/ energy efficiency as possible & balconies for the apt’s too🌷👍 ga('send', 'event', 'beautyofblock', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Standard_336x280-100-2.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'PCRichards Builders Division', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PCR_Beko_Compact_YIMB_336x280.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'yimby+', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image.png', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram var sb_instagram_js_options = {"font_method":"svg","placeholder":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/instagram-feed\/img\/placeholder.png","resized_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sb-instagram-feed-images\/","ajax_url":"https:\/\/newyorkyimby.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY® LLC YIMBY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF NIKOLAI FEDAK / NEW YORK YIMBY LLC A 28-year-old man is dead following a fatal shooting in Kingsbridge Heights in which a 33-year-old woman was also shot A police spokesperson said the shooting took place on Wednesday when officers from the 50th Precinct responded to a 911 call regarding an assault in progress at 2690 University Avenue one block away from the Kingsbridge Armory off West Kingsbridge Road UNK Candy and Grocery is located on the street level of the address officers observed a 28-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his head,” a police spokesperson said “EMS responded and transported the victim to St Barnabas Hospital in critical condition where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.” who was transported by private means to NYC Health and Hospitals/Woodhull [in Brooklyn] with a gunshot wound to the left hip Police said there were no arrests for now and the investigation remains ongoing the NYPD press office said the shooting took place outside Norwood News spoke to one female resident of the area who declined to be identified and who said she had heard from neighbors that around four young people ran from the scene in different directions (two in one direction and two in another) the NYPD press office confirmed that a group of people who had allegedly fled he location northbound along University Avenue were sought in connection to the incident The deceased has been identified Marji Daoud from Yonkers The female resident said she had heard from neighbors that the victim who died may have worked at a store on University Avenue and that he was “Arabic.” We are checking if this is the case with police and will share any updates we receive While at the crime scene later on Wednesday night a white saloon car was seen heard (and later seen) driving at a somewhat accelerated pace southbound along University Avenue towards the cordoned off crime scene but breaked just in time to avoid breaking through the police cordon and rear-ending a police crime scene unit parked just in front The driver was seen and heard being questioned by a police officer and there was seemingly some discussion over his documentation but he was later seen making a U-turn and going on his way The police officer was heard saying something to the effect of he could have taken his vehice away from him but he chose not to at the other end of the crime scene on University Avenue another man was seen on the street being handcuffed by police officers and later placed in a waiting ambulance He appeared to be somewhat intoxicated and it was not clear why he was being detained We asked some bystanders but they were unaware of what had happened the NYPD press office later said that to their knowledge it did not appear that the arrest was related to the earlier shooting We will share further details should we receive them View current print edition Click here to read our disclaimer >> By: 7:30 am on January 8 Phase One of the project will transform the Kingsbridge Armory’s 180,000-square-foot Drill Hall into a mixed-use hub Plans include a state-of-the-art event venue and an educational facility focused on workforce development Phase Two will add 450 units of permanently affordable housing adjacent to the Armory backed by a $215 million investment from local and federal stakeholders is projected to generate $2.6 billion in economic impact The renovation is the culmination of multiple rounds of community engagement with over 4,000 participants contributing through events The resulting “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan” laid the foundation for 8th Regiment Partners’ winning proposal Construction will be guided by a project labor agreement to ensure fair wages and benefits for workers with environmental review starting this winter and land-use procedures anticipated in mid-2025 our administration saw a historic yet underutilized site as an opportunity to dream and deliver a bold forward-looking vision for The Bronx,” said Mayor Adams we’re delivering affordable housing for our neighbors The future of The Bronx rests in the Kingsbridge Armory a proposal made possible thanks to the partnership of Governor Hochul and the countless everyday New Yorkers who made their voices heard What site exactly is “adjacent to the Armory” where this housing is to be built The rendering on the press release from the EDC website shows a residential building just north of the Armory Not sure I like the fact the northern view of the Armory will be blocked by it and that little bit of landscaped breathing space will be lost Looks like the Corbusian slab of a building will be shoehorned in there about as uncomfortably as those apartments next to St John the Divine that went in some years back I’ll guess we’ll see what happens and creating a new space makes a lot of sense The northern views of the Armory are nothing special and hopefully this new building has some connections into the armory to generate foot traffic through the space It could also be beneficial to connect the Armory directly to the Kingsbridge Rd Apartments have replaced the one story businesses there I have heard for decades about Kingsbridge Armory and various plans for it ( remember the skating rink?) Does it mean nothing will happen ( no we are seeing actual construction on the former Iron Triangle property which is larger and was NYC’s biggest eyesore ( Thank God for that) but until I see bulldozers call me skeptical Thrilled that FXCollaborative is the designer here Pleased there is a sibstantial housing component here which based on claimed unit count shoukd be a sizable building Thrilled the Armory itself will receive a loving restoration That said I do wish the ice center would have becone reality That would have been such a unique venue that would have had high profile programming al-resident attraction that would further energize the neighborhood Workforce development at “El Centro Kingsbridge” isn’t going to be on NBC Sports It is a shame the Ice Center didn’t happen That would have been a nationally unique facility Sad the Winter Olympics trials won’t be happening in The Bronx Had Bloomberg stayed in office it would have happened Deblasio helped sabotage it because he saw ice sports as elitist That said – how can this facility be financially self sufficient??? Would it not cannibilize other facilities in the region – including stores But I think it might end up needing subsidy I wouldn’t be surprised if this doesn’t happen I know its landmarked but its better off being demolished and replaced with apartment towers and an entertainment venue And what is this thing with developers using Latin themed names for developments Feels exclusionary to me and something this high profile shouldn’t be in another language no matter where this would It would be just as inappropriate as a large public project with a Chinese name and characters in Chinese Flushing or a Hebrew name and characters in UOJ Borough Park But nah – this is the largest armory in the whole country Wish someone would renovate and develop the Armory in Washington Heights It’s the premiere indoor track and field facility in the country… The previous developers wanted to do the same thing for ice sports in the Bronx I am not certain the “summer people” are into winter sports The Armory was used for trade shows way back when There was one on the upper Eastside where the “castle” part was kept and the rest torn down for a play area a far smaller armory was turned into a district police headquarters This stands on “holy ground” where the Flushing Remonstrance was signed in 1657 Kingsbridge Armory on all meanings and explanations are here Will Morton williams let this be build Will the politicians not ask for 200k dollars So many promises nothing done The whole thing should be housing with an indoor park in the middle I lived in the area 20 years and its been another 18 since i left and nothing was ever done with this building that entire time I remember the national guard working out of it still when i was a child So many plans through out the years were rumored and nothing ever actually came to fruition Dont understand where the building to the north will be as there are 3 schools across the street from the armory to the north Two firefighters were treated for minor injuries after a four-alarm residential fire broke out in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx on Wednesday night the department received a call at 5.56 p.m 15 for reports of a fire on the fourth floor of a 4-story building at 3030 Heath Avnue between Albany Crescent and Summit Place [FDNY later said they believe it may have even started in the cockloft under the roof and spread to the top-floor but are still investigating.] the fire broke out within walking distance of local Ladder 46 firehouse at Bailey Avenue and Heath Avenue said the multiple dwelling was a non fire-proof H-type building [60 X 60] or utility property “Fire extended to the cockloft,” FDNY officials said He said there are 6 apartments on each floor FDNY officials said a 2nd alarm was raised for the Heath Avenue fire at 6.10 p.m. comprising 168 fire and EMS personnel responded to the blaze which according to Diana Finch from the Bronx Park East Community Association could be seen from her home on the 9th floor of her building in the East Bronx The FDNY said the blaze was brought under control at 8.08 p.m and FDNY fire marshals are investigating the cause “We arrived here in under four minutes Our engine companies moved in very aggressively stretching multiple hand lines to that top floor and also to the roof Our ladder companies also did a phenomenal job opening up many of the voids in that cockloft and cutting open the roof.” Wood said one of the main challenges encountered by firefighters was the wind which pushed the fire across the cockloft which he said was undivided and extended across the roof space adding that this made the response very challenging Asked if there was construction being carried out inside the building Woods confirmed they did not and everyone self-evacuated Asked about the 4-alarm nature of the fire “Firefighting is extremely physically demanding It’s labor-intensive and the constant relief of the units the amount of fire and the amount of apartments that are involved it’s just very labor-intensive…..hence the fourth alarm.” Asked if the cause of the fire was potentially suspicious “There are no injuries to any of the occupants There is extensive damage to approximately six to eight apartments our units did a phenomenal job preventing further extension and damage.” Residents both from the affected building and some neighbors from other nearby buildings were seen standing in the cold on the street on an evening where temperatures had dropped to 28 degrees Fahrenheit and frost and ice was seen on the street in places We asked Miguel if he knew how the fire started I was downstairs.” He said his family were also ok Miguel said those in the third and fourth floors in both buildings couldn’t return due to the fire damage He seemed to believe the residents on the lower floors could We’re checking with the Red Cross if that was the case and will update this story upon receipt of clarification.’ “After the fire on Heath Avenue in The Bronx the American Red Cross has registered 17 households and 34 individuals (of which four are children) for emergency assistance including temporary lodging Our Disaster Action Team also provided meals and other care items to impacted residents.” The spokesperson added, “The Red Cross is still on scene to help connect with additional impacted residents. Any residents impacted by this fire who need help with their recovery and are not able to connect with the Red Cross on scene should call 1-877-RED CROSS (877-733-2767) and select option 1.” “There is extensive damage to approximately six to eight apartments and those people are being relocated and taken care of by the American Red Cross.” However the Red Cross advised us that a full vacate order is now in place for the building and referred us to NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for the extent and duration of the order DOB said DOB inspectors were called to the scene on Wednesday evening to conduct a structural stability inspection of the building following the fire “Our inspection at the scene determined that the building sustained extensive structural damage caused by the fire DOB has issued a Full Vacate Order for the entire building after it was determined that it was not safe for people to be occupying the fire-damaged building All residents displaced by the fire were offered emergency relocation assistance by the American Red Cross.” “The Vacate Order will remain in effect until such time as the owner makes the necessary repairs to make the building safe for occupancy DOB inspectors were back on scene earlier this morning working with our partner agencies to conduct additional inspections of the fire damaged buildings and plan cleanup operations DOB will be back on scene tomorrow morning for another interagency meeting.” there are open violations for the building with civil penalties due active low pressure boiler violation number 06078 another Construction / Plumbing (OATH/ECB) violation number 39042008N was recorded for failure to maintain the building in a code-compliant manner “Observed on second floor apartments 2A and 2C in the kitchen area behind gas stoves a new construction violation number 25-00064 was recorded with the following update “Structure rendered non-compliant at time of inspection water & smoke damage throughout entire premises along with windows out Severe charring to structural wall/ceiling framing Exposure #1 (Heath Ave) parapet wall severely leaning forward.” The Red Cross later added that the initial number of 34 people helped by the organization reflected those present at the location on Wednesday night and those who had reached out to them later but has since been revised we are now at 21 households consisting of 45 individuals (of which seven are children),” Frederic Klein of the Red Cross said “Any residents who were not available on-scene last night and who need help with their recovery should call us at 877-RED CROSS.” two MTA “Out of Service” buses were seen being waived past a police vehicle on Bailey Avenue at one point likely called to pick up residents and transport them elsewhere A Red Cross official was overheard talking to an official we believe was with NYC Department of Emergency Management about the possibility of relocating residents to a local school for registration Fire and emergency units could be seen all along Bailey Avenue from at least 230th Street and the NYPD had blocked off the other end of Bailey Avenue at 231st Street Heath Avenue was also blocked off by the NYPD to vehicle traffic at Summit Place as more fire units and emergency vehicles almost filled the street to Bailey Avenue An official from NYC Department of Sanitation was also seen at the site of the fire two of whom were just coming home from work to find the building on fire and one of whom had been inside in her third-floor apartment when the fire broke out They all said they and their families were safe One of the residents commented that it was a “lucky” time that the fire broke out as most people were at work The female resident who declined to be identified who had been inside her apartment appeared slightly traumatized by the event The fire was upstairs on the fourth [floor] ‘stay here,’ but they started to go downstairs I have not moved from where I am right now.” I don’t know.” Asked if it was difficult getting out with the smoke she said it was more or less okay but there was water and glass falling down on top of them as they exited from the higher floors [as firefighters attacked the flames] it was calm.” Asked if she recalled hearing a fire alarm go off she said she didn’t but heard the firefighters outside We asked the FDNY about alleged reports that no fire alarm was heard by some residents “Part of the investigation conducted by Fire Marshals.” Later we spoke to another female resident of the area who lived in 3018 Heath Avenue who said she was on her way home from work when she received a call from her 33-year-old son who lived in another building nearby (but not the affected fire building) Click here to view a short video by Norwood News of the scene Click here to read FDNY’s fire safety tips always close the door behind you!” fire officials say Your quick action can make the difference.” *Miriam Quiñones contributed to this story A popular animal hospital on Kingsbridge Road in Fordham Manor that has served the community for 90 years was seriously damaged when an after-hours fire broke out inside the hospital on March 27 the blaze broke out inside of the Armory Animal Hospital between Morris Avenue and Jerome Avenue in Fordham Manor inside the ground floor of the three-story building The department said no injuries were reported We have asked if this means no humans or animals “I’m not seeing any reported injuries to animals for this incident.” We also reached out to Animal Care Centers of New York to see if they had potentially taken in any affected animals following the fire We are endeavoring to speak to the owner of the hospital and will share any updates we receive We were instructed to call back and did a few times but so far An unnamed FDNY spokesperson said the blaze required a second alarm response with 106 fire department personnel from 25 units called to contain the blaze The spokesperson said the fire was brought under control at 10.09 p.m workers were already working to gut the hospital Windows to the offices above it were already boarded up and the stench of smoke was noticeable a block away One woman was seen exiting the hospital to greet a male visitor and the two had a long embrace An unidentified employee said that one bird had died in the offices upstairs A second person who works with the hospital would later also confirm that one bird died a full vacate order is in place for 18 E Kingsbridge Road “FDNY VIA OEM REQUESTS A STRUCTURAL STABILITY INSPECTION OF BUILDING DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE,” an extract from a NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) website read Kings Wine & Liquors next door apparently suffered no damage and the shop was open for business as usual on Friday the windows to the apartments above were also seen boarded up A look into the hospital’s waiting room from the street showed a pair of holes in the ceiling that were clearly visible We asked “Ana,” the owner of Continental Beauty Salon if she knew if the residents who lived over her shop were affected “The people still have problems because the fire department damaged the windows and the people aren’t living there now.” She added that the residents were given temporary shelter Norwood News contacted the Red Cross for more specifics about any rehoused residents “After the fire on East Kingsbridge Road on March 27 the American Red Cross registered one household (two adults and one child) for emergency assistance including financial assistance and temporary lodging Our Disaster Action Team also provided care items to impacted residents “Our casework team has met with this household to help them identify longer-term recovery needs and connect them with non-profit and/or government partners who can assist Any residents impacted by this fire who need help with their recovery and have not already connected with the Red Cross should call 1-877-RED CROSS (877-733-2767) and select Option 1.” When asked if they had assisted any animals they said they had not on this occasion but mentioned “If a family displaced by disaster includes a pet our Disaster Action Team has pet kits they can provide (which includes things like pet food and there are hotels that we can arrange for people which accommodate pets.” and spread to the basement and up to the third floor It originally started in the animal hospital The fire department poured a lot of water on the roof and third floor and the water came down affecting the beauty salon.” Ana said that her business has been serving the community for over 100 years and that different owners of the store had taken over the shop every 20 years or so and I have been here for 35 years.” Having just remodeled her store five years ago which transports animals for the Armory Animal Hospital said he has worked with the owner Dr but the bird did pass away.” He added that the death was likely from smoke inhalation the mortgage holder for the building is 18 E Kingsbridge Road LLC with an address in Brewster one reader commented that the building is “soon to be a high rise.” as their landlords had apparently begun considering more lucrative offers in light of the impending Armory redevelopment plan According to the EDC and other City officials Phase II of the winning redevelopment proposal “El Centro Kingsbridge,” (if it goes ahead given the lawsuit) includes “450 units of permanently affordable rental housing adjacent to the armory.” We reached out to EDC to ask if 18 E Kingsbridge Road falls under the plans for the referenced adjacent affordable housing We were informed by EDC on April 4 that it does not We had also asked for confirmation of the tax block and tax lot numbers of the (adjacent) buildings which do fall under the RFP plans we were informed by EDC that the affordable housing market will be constructed adjacent to the Armory but no address or tax block / tax lot details were shared We asked again for the specifics and will share any updates we receive One person we spoke to in the context of the fire alleged that in the past the hospital had at times accepted animals/pets for overnight / temporary stays at the hospital at times but had gradually tried to pull back from doing so more recently News of the Fordham Manor animal hospital fire preceded other later news that the Happy Cat Sanctuary burned down on Long Island at the end of March, resulting in the death of its owner and founder, Chris Arsenault, and around 108 rescue cats Arsenault reportedly started the sanctuary after rescuing a litter of kittens in the wake of dealing with the loss of his own son in an road accident He reportedly was trying [and did manage] to rescue [some] of the cats when he died At home fire safety tips can be found at www.fdnysmart.org The Office of the Bronx Borough President had previously launched a series of fire safety training sessions around the borough in conjunction with the FDNY The American Red Cross previously gave the following advice regarding pets and fire safety “Keep pets near entrances when away from home Keep collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue them keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.” Additional advice included affixing a pet alert window cling and writing down the number of pets inside a home and attaching the static cling to a front window “This critical information saves rescuers time locating your pets,” the website extract read The website for Armory Animal Hospital is as follows: https://guardianvet-armory.com/contact-us/ For some related coverage on this topic, click here, here, and here By: 6:30 am on April 4 Permits have been filed for an 11-story mixed-use building at 5517 Broadway and a 12-story building at 205 West 230th Street in Kingsbridge the lot is near the 231st Street subway station Steven Westreich of Westorchard Management is listed as the owner behind the applications The proposed two-tower development will yield 115,295 square feet with 93,529 square feet designated for residential space and 199 square feet of community facility space The 112-foot-tall 5517 Broadway building will have 65 residences and the 124-foot-tall 205 West 230th Street building will have 99 units most likely rentals based on the combined average unit scope of 570 square feet The structure will also have 13 open parking space Kao Hwa Lee Architects is listed as the architect of record Demolition permits have not been filed yet There’s a reason this is a vacant lot Godwin Terrace is a beautiful little street that has seen significant development in the past few years – unfortunately losing some amazing old mansions but replacing them with much-needed affordable(ish) housing Follow on Instagram var sb_instagram_js_options = {"font_method":"svg","placeholder":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/instagram-feed\/img\/placeholder.png","resized_url":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sb-instagram-feed-images\/","ajax_url":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY® LLC This story has been updated to include statements received from different parties since Friday The documents filed in New York State Supreme Court allege “a troubling pattern of political interference, procedural violations, and apparent intellectual property theft that [allegedly] corrupted what should have been a fair and transparent [Request for Proposal (RFP)] public process” for the redevelopment of the City-owned Armory An RFP is a business document that announces a project and solicits bids from qualified contractors to complete it “This isn’t just about our company; it’s about proving that The Bronx won’t tolerate business-as-usual corruption and every broken rule until justice is served and this community gets the development it truly deserves.” “Though Congressman Adriano Espaillat [NY-13] is not a respondent in the complaint we are considering federal litigation to hold him accountable for his [alleged] direct involvement in [allegedly] corrupting the process Our legal team is also evaluating moving to amend our filing to include NYC Councilmember Pierina Sanchez [C.D.14] as a respondent based on new evidence of her [alleged] active role in subverting due process.” a copy of which has been received by Norwood News “EDC [allegedly] improperly awarded the project to 8th Regiment Partners LLC a joint venture of Maddd Equities and Joy Construction despite [alleged] glaring irregularities in the procurement process and compelling evidence that the winning team [allegedly] stole key elements of their proposal from rival bidder the firm’s lawsuit seeks to nullify the contract awarded to 8th Regiment Partners compel disclosure of all records about the selection process state and federal law enforcement agencies While at least one social media post had been circulating online since March 28 that suggested the deputy borough president had resigned, her LinkedIn profile had [until around April 11] remained unchanged. A footnote included in the filed lawsuit (complaint), as reported by The Bronx Times Peguero is set to return in April 2025 to work as a lobbyist at her former employer where she will work exclusively on the Kingsbridge Armory project.” Norwood News reached out to the Office of the Bronx Borough President for comment on the deputy borough president’s employment status, and on April 7, the Office announced she had resigned to focus on her family, as reported We also tried (initially unsuccessfully) to reach the deputy borough president directly for comment Agallas Equities also alleges EDC broke its own rules by allegedly allowing Maddd Equities’ team to secretly revise its proposal after the submission deadline and allegedly ignoring required scoring criteria to favor the applicant which Agallas Equities describes as “the politically-connected bidder.” Agallas Equities went on to allege that EDC refused to release key records about the the Kingsbridge Armory winning bid selection despite receiving FOIL [Freedom of Information Law] requests Agallas also alleges stolen intellectual property alleging the winning proposal copies distinctive elements from Agallas’ plan including: The firm also alleges a Maddd principal allegedly admitted his team had [devised] “no programming” [in preparing for their submission] “This case exposes how political connections trump merit in New York City development deals We’re sending a clear message that no one is above the law and certainly not elected officials who abuse their power.” Asked if Agallas Equities had prior formal contact with the opposing legal parties to the lawsuit before the court filing it had also had prior formal contact with Espaillat and Sanchez in relation to the situation Tavarez’s longheld interest in the Armory becomes more clear further below its policy is “to provide equal opportunity for any business to compete for contracts using public funds or authorized by the City of New York.” As reported mixed-use plan for the long-vacant Armory was unveiled by City and State officials on Jan when 8th Regiment Partners LLC was named as a selected partner and Kimball announced “El Centro Kingsbridge” (The Kingsbridge Center) as the name of the latest chosen redevelopment plan for the Kingsbridge Heights-based Armory “Phase One of the project envisions a vibrant mixed-use development with a state-of-the-art event venue space over 25,000 square-feet of dedicated community space an educational facility focused on workforce development They said the latest proposal is designed to serve both the local community and the broader region and that programming is centered around the 180,000-square foot They said the development team would lead the design and construction stages of the project as well as the operation of the renovated Armory “Phase Two includes 450 units of permanently affordable rental housing adjacent to the armory,” adding that the redevelopment was expected to generate nearly $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years creating over 3,000 construction jobs and 360 permanent jobs In November 2024, the mayor announced that two Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) had been secured with NYC Building & Construction Trades Council (BCTC) for various elected officials confirmed that the Armory redevelopment would indeed be carried out under a PLA ensuring fair wages and benefits for construction workers They said the environmental review was expected to begin this winter and the uniform land use review procedure (ULURP) was anticipated to commence in mid-2025 both during and post-development and construction the nonprofit 501(c)(3) even submitted its own redevelopment proposal as part of the latest RFP process but was ultimately unsuccessful Lobo, along with Sanchez, was a co-chair of the most recent “Together for Kingsbridge” envisioning process and coalition behind the latest redevelopment plan for the Armory located at West Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Avenue and local procurement and technical assistance for small local businesses At least 51 percent of the resulting jobs were set to be filled by the local community under its terms due to a perceived lack of movement with the KNIC project at the time an alternate idea for the Armory’s use began to be floated in the form of an international salsa museum A press conference was held on June 15, 2021 at which board members for the International Salsa Museum Corp The same entity registered as a nonprofit in 2022 Since the Salsa museum did not appear to have been part of the original KNIC redevelopment plan Norwood News asked then-KNIC project developer in June 2021 if indeed such a salsa museum was being considered as part of any final KNIC project As reported Parker said the designated community space (negotiated under the above-referenced CBA) was being managed by CAC though a member of the 11-member CAC board had no input into how CAC planned to use that designated community space Parker also confirmed he had not been approached directly to discuss a salsa museum He also stressed that neither had the required lease between KNIC Management and the City of New York been signed yet He reiterated that the community was free to develop the designated “community space” within the Armory however it chose the New York State Office of General Services the New York State Military & Naval Affairs National Guard held ground-breaking ceremonies for a $10 million upgrade to two annexed buildings situated on the grounds of the main Kingsbridge Armory complex located adjacent to the main armory building In addition to that $200 million, a further $2 million was pledged by the Bronx Borough President’s office Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) NWBCCC, as the longtime key stakeholder in the process had most recently proposed six recommendations for the Armory’s future use Of the latest announced “El Centro Kingsbridge” development plan “The City’s vision calls for a ‘redevelopment that creates quality jobs there is only a general list of intended future uses for the Armory without any concrete information on the programming or partners who will help bring it to life and meet these goals.” wanted the Armory finally transformed into an economic engine that prepares people for good-paying jobs of today and tomorrow and maps a path for the power and capital generated by The Bronx to support The Bronx “We are convening a Coalition of Accountability made up of faith and small businesses that will continually monitor and advocate for a project that is transparent and genuinely invests in the community that surrounds it,” Lobo said “The coalition will center its work around four areas: good jobs It will also pursue a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement that ensures these core priorities become a reality.” She added, “The Armory must be rebuilt by workers who can be sure of their safety, and be home to good union jobs once construction is complete Its activation cannot jeopardize the economic livelihood of the working people of the Bronx and accelerate the displacement of residents and businesses We also seek to understand how the City’s Guiding Principle of community ownership will come to life.” Lobo concluded, “This is the third attempt to develop the Armory one that may finally be on the road to ‘[ensuring] this community gets the investment it deserves while strengthening New York City’s economy,’ as the vision articulates We will remain cautiously optimistic and proactive in our work to achieve this vision ensuring that our community can withstand the pressures of gentrification and thrive amid the coming changes Kingsbridge and the Bronx deserve nothing less.” As reported, a rally was held on Jerome Avenue by East Kingsbridge Road in December 2023 amid concerns the commercial leases for small business owners operating in the vicinity of the Armory were at risk as their landlords apparently began considering more lucrative offers in light of the impending Armory redevelopment “This is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership that will revitalize one of the most unique and historical buildings in New York.” the Office of the Bronx Borough President [for comment from both the borough president and the deputy borough president] We received a statement from an 8th Regiment Partners spokesperson on Monday “We are proud of the restorative plan we have put forward for the historic Kingsbridge Armory – a plan that includes many community priorities that were laid out during the public visioning process.” successful track record executing public-private projects in New York City we look forward to continuing to work with the Bronx community over the coming months and years to deliver the jobs housing and economic benefits of this City-supported project.” our position remains the same: the Kingsbridge community has waited far too long for the Armory to be activated in a way that truly serves the people of The Bronx We continue to hope that nothing delays or derails the opportunity to realize a transformative project that delivers community ownership and lasting economic benefit for our neighborhoods.” we received the following statement from the Office of the Bronx Borough President “It is not uncommon with large projects like this to have some litigation There is a great deal of time and money invested in the bidding process There have been no valid claims made involving The Office of the Bronx Borough President and it is evident that the Office was named merely in an attempt to generate news and attention.” “The redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory is a long-overdue investment in The Bronx Attempting to obstruct this development for selfish business and political reasons is nothing short of disgraceful.” We also received the following statement from EDC on April 1 “After a rigorous evaluation of all proposals NYCEDC selected El Centro Kingsbridge’s proposal which is consistent with the values of the Kingsbridge Vison Plan and the requirements of the RFP,” the department wrote We were informed that due to pending litigation The department reiterated that the “El Centro Kingsbridge” proposal exemplifies the “Together for Kingsbridge” vision plan and demonstrates the greatest ability to deliver on a diverse program as outlined above “The Request for Proposal process and selection of a developer for the Kingsbridge Armory is at the sole discretion of the NYC Economic Development Corporation,” the councilwoman said “As I have made clear since the beginning the guiding principles set forth in the ‘Together for Kingsbridge’ vision plan the result of nine months of robust community engagement will remain my north star through the process,” she added “We must ensure that the redevelopment of this great structure is both transformative and equitable for generations to come.” Norwood News will share any additional feedback we receive Joy Construction has an address at Fulton Street in Manhattan and Maddd Equities has an address on Long Island As reported NWBCCC announced on its 50th anniversary a planned merger with the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI) a partnership expected to expand the two group’s collective reach across the entire borough EDC is a domestic public benefit corporation organized under the not-for-profit corporation law of the State of New York with a principal place of business in Manhattan Editor’s Note: The headline for this story has since been updated to include a reference to the [chosen] developer which has also been sued in addition to the EDC It has also been updated to reflect the fact that Andrew Kimball Other background and supplementary details as well as additional responses to questions raised about the case A 27-year-old woman has been hospitalized following a stabbing in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx An NYPD spokesperson said police received a 911 call at 5.50 p.m regarding a woman who was stabbed at 3410 Kingsbridge Avenue officers discovered a 27-year-old female with multiple stab wounds throughout the body,” the spokesperson said “She was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital (in Manhattan) Police said they were questioning one person regarding the incident A large pool of blood spatterings was seen on the corner of Kingsbridge Avenue and West 234th Street where a parking lot is located and the block on West 234th Street between Kingsbridge Avenue and Broadway was blocked off by police We later asked the NYPD if the stabbing took place at the parking lot or elsewhere and they said it took place inside an apartment but may have expanded to the wider area Footprints mental health clinic is located across the street from the parking lot The manager of MyUnique Thrift store on West 234th Street said customers had come into the store earlier saying something had happened outside on the street but when he later went to check he said he just saw police and a lot of commotion but didn’t see what had happened He confirmed nobody came into the store seeking assistance We spoke to one local male resident who declined to be identified and asked him for his reaction to the stabbing He spoke about another incident he had just witnessed that day when he saw a man reportedly stealing two bunches of flowers from a local deli and there’s a crime scene here where somebody got stabbed in the parking lot.” “I don’t know if there was a robbery or an argument over a parking space but there’s a lot of crime going on and it’s a shame what’s going on in this world.” The 50th Precinct stationhouse is located two blocks from the crime scene at Kingsbridge Avenue and West 236th Street We asked the man if he was interested in seeing more police in the area it’s just that you never know where a crime is going to be committed,” he said Asked if there was generally crime in the area it’s been a while since any kind of crime has been around here.” it’s a wake-up call from the neighborhood There should be more patrolling on these blocks People just don’t have the money to buy We spoke to another woman who was walking down Kingsbridge Avenue towards the crime scene carrying a bunch of flowers “Oh my Lord!” and declined to give any further comment We spoke to another male resident of the area at the crime scene itself and asked if he had seen what happened “Someone was… someone was hurt I do.” Asked how he felt about his general safety “It’s… anything can happen anywhere and things like this are very rare.” We mentioned the mental health clinic located across the street from the crime scene and asked if residents had experienced any safety-related or other issues with patients attending the clinic who was just walking up Kingsbridge Avenue and asked for his assessment of crime in the area “The only other time that anything has ever happened was seven years ago.” He said there had been a stabbing at the McDonalds on 238th Street He mentioned that someone had been stabbed and had died “That was it but this is very quieter That’s why I was completely shocked when I walked by they taped off the area and everything.” We asked Randy if in his experience there had been any issues with patients at the nearby mental health clinic homeless or mentally sick people around here,” he said It’s extremely quiet.” Of the victim Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story reported (incorrectly) that the referenced parking lot was located at Kingsbridge Avenue and West 233rd Street it’s located at West 234th Street and Kingsbridge Avenue We apologize for this error which has since been corrected Laura Mouser watched the waters of the French Broad River rise higher and higher Trees shook in the wind as the vast brown river poured around them Laura and her husband live just across the river from land owned by Conserving Carolina in Etowah — the Pleasant Grove natural floodplain restoration They moved there a few years ago from Florida seeking a place that would be safe from the hurricanes that constantly batter the Florida coast They enjoyed the views over the river and the protected open space beyond Laura’s neighbor had told her that the river never rises beyond a certain height Laura watched as it easily surpassed that point The water swallowed up her husband’s vegetable garden Then it overtopped the six-foot fence around the garden the river had filled the wide-open valley in front of their house and climbed the hill where they live toward the brown picket fence around their yard how much higher would it have gone without the natural floodplain restoration at Pleasant Grove More: Conserving Carolina's matching gift challenge will support conservation 1.25 billion gallons of floodwaterEarlier this year, Conserving Carolina completed the Pleasant Grove restoration on the site of an abandoned golf course The conservation nonprofit brought back natural features like wetlands and a slough (which is like a pond that connects to the river) They also breached berms along the French Broad so that in high water the river can spill onto its floodplain instead of carrying all that water downstream in massive floods engineer Greg Jennings from Jennings Environmental who designed several Conserving Carolina restoration projects He found that just three restoration projects along the French Broad River — Pleasant Grove Mouth of Mud Creek and Kings Bridge — contained at least 3,680 acre-feet of water picture 3,680 acres covered in one foot of water that was a drop in the bucket — but the already terrible flooding could have been that much worse And for some local residents it made a real difference Lisa Moffit, who lives near the Mouth of Mud Creek restoration in Mills River “I feel like the hard work y'all did kept our house on Mud Creek Road from flooding worse.” the neighborhood that borders that restoration every inch of water that could spread over the floodplain and soak into wetlands instead of relentlessly rising meant that homeowners on the edge of the flood were spared the restored natural floodplains would also reduce downstream flooding — not just local flooding Because berms are taken out along the river banks the river can overflow and spread out instead of sending so much water pouring downstream the river was so high that it overtopped all berms; the water was going to access the floodplain regardless during the moderate to heavy floods that occur regularly in Western North Carolina natural floodplains can mean significantly less flooding for downstream farms and communities — especially with a growing network of restorations More: Laurel Green Park and playground reopens after year-long stream restoration Conserving Carolina has completed seven restoration projects and it is currently working on nine more the cumulative effect of more restoration projects like these can make an even greater difference," said David Lee Conserving Carolina’s Natural Resources Director "And we don’t always have to do a full-scale restoration We improve resilience every time we conserve the farmland and natural areas that already exist in the river corridor Each conservation and restoration project contributes to a more resilient network of flood control that helps to safeguard both natural ecosystems and human communities.” The newest restoration — Kings BridgeThe newest restoration project is the 87 acre Kings Bridge Wildlife Conservation Area in Mills River the work of reshaping the land — breaching berms and forming depressions for wetlands — was completed just one week before Tropical Storm Helene that was just in time to alleviate the impacts of the epic flood Kings Bridge is public land owned by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission which partnered with Conserving Carolina on the natural floodplain restoration “Reconnecting rivers with their floodplains restores the natural form and function of the land and water interface," said Scott Loftis the Mountain Aquatic Habitat Coordinator with the agency "The ecosystems services achieved through these restoration projects not only promote resiliency of our natural resources but also increase storage capacity of flood flows during high flow events.” which has been planting native species at Kings Bridge “Even though the construction just finished we’re starting to see this site come back to life.” Kings Bridge is temporarily closed for the restoration work including time for the newly planted shrubs Nelson predicts that it will be popular with birders since there’s already an abundance of waterfowl “Every day we’re seeing rare birds out here,” said Nelson Lee says that restorations reduce the risk from extreme weather on several fronts A natural floodplain provides multiple benefits Features like sloughs and wetlands were once common along the French Broad River Bringing back these natural features restores vital wildlife habitat and Natural floodplains also improve water quality by filtering out sediment nutrients and pollutants before they can enter rivers and streams restoration projects enhance outdoor recreation Kings Bridge will reopen to the public in 2025 for fishing Conserving Carolina is working toward greenway connections that will provide public access And a system of walking trails is planned for Pleasant Grove Natural areas that are full of life also provide a richer experience for the many people who float or paddle on the French Broad River “Natural floodplains offer so many benefits in terms of wildlife habitat "And when we go through extreme weather events a network of conserved farmland and restored natural floodplains can make our communities safer and more resilient.” More: Conspiracies, misinformation beset Lake Lure after Helene; residents tell different story Rose Jenkins Lane is the communications director for Conserving Carolina The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying the person seen in the attached photos who they said is sought in connection to an assault that occurred in the Kingsbridge Heights section of The Bronx at the intersection of Jerome Avenue and West Kingsbridge Road an unidentified person approached a 29-year-old male victim and slashed him in the face with a cutting instrument “The unidentified individual fled on foot traveling northbound on Jerome Avenue,” a police spokesperson said “The victim sustained a laceration to the face and was transported by EMS to St Barnabas Hospital in stable condition.” As reported the NYPD is also asking for the public’s help identifying three people sought in connection to a separate assault (slashing) Building applications have been filed with NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) for the construction of a new 12-story building at 205 West 230th Street both in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx The 112-foot-tall 5517 Broadway building will have 65 residential units and the 124-foot-tall building at 205 West 230th Street will yield 99 units The new structure will also have 13 open parking space Demolition permits have not yet been filed and an estimated completion date for the new building has not yet been announced The site is located around two blocks away from the site of an early morning, 5-alarm commercial fire which ripped through several small businesses along West 231st Street and Godwin Terrace on Dec Norwood News has followed up with the FDNY on the cause of the fire and will share any updates we receive The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying the person seen in the attached video and photo who they say is wanted in connection with an attempted robbery that occurred in Kingsbridge Heights at the intersection of West 195th Street and Jerome Avenue a 40-year-old male victim was approached by three unidentified people and attempted to forcibly remove a necklace for him,” a police spokesperson said and EMS responded and transported the victim to St Crime statistics for the 52nd Precinct which covers some or all of Bedford Park and for the 46th Precinct which covers some or all of Fordham The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying the person seen in the attached photos and video who they say is sought in connection to an assault that occurred in Kingsbridge Heights an unidentified person got into a dispute with a 43-year-old male victim They said the unidentified person approached the victim and slashed him with an unknown object traveling southbound on Bailey Avenue to parts unknown “The victim sustained a minor laceration but was not hospitalized as a result of this incident,” a police spokesperson said The suspect is described as male and was last seen wearing a black baseball cap a joint venture between real estate firm Maddd Equities LLC and Joy Construction officials chose 8th Regiment Partners LLC to spearhead the project The winning proposal includes a two-phase plan featuring a diverse mix of uses serving both the local community and the broader region Programming will center on the 180,000-square-foot Drill Hall within the armory forward-looking vision for the Bronx,” Adams said Adams continued: “The future of the Bronx rests in the Kingsbridge Armory everyday New Yorkers who made their voices heard starting with the Kingsbridge Armory.” Designed by architect Lewis Pilcher in 1917 the Kingsbridge Armory has more than 570,000 square feet of floor space making it the world’s largest armory military until 1994 and the city took over ownership of the building in 1996 The armory was designated as a city historic landmark in 1974 and listed on the National Register for Historic Places in 1982. During the pandemic, the armory served as a temporary food distribution center, and in 2022, was used by local officials to store supplies for residents impacted by the Twin Park North fire Last September, Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a new request for proposals to transform the historic largely underutilized site into a project aimed at boosting economic opportunities in the Bronx The RFP followed the release of the “Together for Kingsbridge Vision Plan,” which laid out the project goals envisioned by the community and local stakeholders Through an extensive public engagement process the city’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) collected feedback from over 4,000 participants and conversations with roughly 75 stakeholders Participants included local elected officials representatives from community organizations Officials last year put the project cost at roughly $500 million with $200 million pledged by Adams and Hochul $2 million from Borough President Vanessa Gibson $12 million from Council Member Pierina Sanchez Department of Housing and Urban Development “We are excited for this opportunity to work with all of our government partners to transform this incredible landmarked space into a thriving center of economic activity for the community and the City of New York,” Gabriella Madruga Maddd Equities on behalf of 8th Regiment Partners “This is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership that will revitalize one of the most unique and historical buildings in New York We are humbled to be the stewards of a property and a project that will leverage New York’s rich historical past to create an exciting and dynamic future.” The project is expected to generate almost $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next three decades while creating more than 3,000 construction jobs and 360 permanent jobs An environmental review is slated to begin this winter and the uniform land-use review procedure is expected to commence in mid-2025 Construction is expected to start in 2027 and finish by 2032, as first reported by The City By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a6ee8b17684b3ef61399f5000d1ea22f" );document.getElementById("d57a537edf").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment STOP ADDING MORE PEOPLE IN SUCH A SMALL AREA AND START UTILIZING THE SPACE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE AREA This can become a community center for the Bronx providing afterschool programs for kids fitness programs for Bronx natives and just a place to hang out and build a community that’s what the area craves I’m sure someone’s gonna say “BuT tHeREs no MoneY in ThAT” Half can be office spaces and the other half can go to the community that way it can run itself By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find the home of your dreams We’ll provide current market comps and connect you with a trusted expert By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can unsubscribe at any time A man was assaulted aboard a D train as it approached Kingsbridge Road subway station on Monday night They said the incident took place at around 9.25 p.m when a 35-year-old man was aboard a northbound “D” train in the vicinity of Grand Concourse and East Kingsbridge Road “An individual punched him in the face causing bruising and pain after a verbal dispute,” they said “The victim refused medical attention.” Norwood News was inside the subway station and witnessed the aftermath of the incident where police were initially seen in pursuit of those involved and the men were later seen being interviewed about the incident Police also asked bystanders if they had witnessed the incident One of the men was seen holding his head in pain and had a bloodied face Another who appeared to be possibly under the influence of alcohol appeared to be telling police that he and the victim were related “He’s my cousin.” However the victim appeared to be denying this and was heard saying “I don’t speak Spanish.” He was charged with assault in the third degree He is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law The D train was somewhat delayed but departed after around 5 mins as the investigation continued on the platform Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More The Kingsbridge Armory has stood between Reservoir and Jerome Avenues for more than a century and since the city took over ownership in 1996 — with exception of occasional film shoots — it has sat empty elected leaders say the long-neglected space will be developed into affordable housing commercial space and sports fields under the name: El Centro Kingsbridge After several years of community engagement Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday the selection of a developer longtime residents of the neighborhood said they are excited to see the change “I feel like it is going to be good for the children and also to bring new lives over here,” resident Erica Rivera said It has been here for years and it has always looked old,” resident Frammy Disla said Several plans to develop the site over the years never materialized The armory is a New York City landmark on the National Register of Historical Places and was set to become more than a half dozen ice skating rinks under then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2013 Turning it into a mall was also suggested at one point “What is different is that the public sector is going to be investing alongside the private sector,” Andrew Kimball president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation said on “Inside City Hall” about what makes this time different state and federal governments are putting up $215 million for the project Phase one is to include a mixed use development sports fields for local youth leagues and a 25,000-foot community space Phase two is to have 450 units of affordable housing adjacent to the armory Ruben Torres has lived in the neighborhood for 50 years and says he hopes to see the redevelopment completed If we can keep it clean and keep it thriving that would be wonderful,” Torres said. “It is a gorgeous building.” Officials anticipate construction will start in 2027 The project is contingent on zoning changes and a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure which takes about a year and requires approval of the City Council The project will create 3,000 temporary construction jobs 350 permanent jobs and generate $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years according to the NYC Economic Development Corporation The NYPD is looking for the public’s help locating a 15-year-old girl who is reported missing from the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx Police said that Janeigh Soto of 5480 Broadway was last seen at 120 West 231st Street Black Hispanic and was last seen wearing a black bonnet and was carrying a backpack with sunflowers Editor’s Note: The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition located at West Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights an NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) representative said that the eagerly anticipated chosen project and developer for the Armory would be announced before year-end Meanwhile, on Thursday, Adams said the PLAs ensure union jobs are guaranteed on major City development projects. Lobo noted that during the mayor’s press conference remarks, it was noted that the Kingsbridge Armory was one such City project which was subject to a PLA. She said this was thanks to the advocacy of NWBCCC, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and other community stakeholders who were part of the “Together for Kingsbridge” negotiations in recent years “Creating and sustaining good jobs is a fundamental principle of the City’s vision to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory and it starts on Day One of construction,” Lobo said “For the Armory to truly live up to its potential as a once-in-a-generation economic engine for The Bronx the project must commit to paying those who build and work within it a living wage from the very beginning.” Adams announced that in addition to two secured PLAs the EDC had also signed a letter of intent with BCTC to negotiate in good faith additional PLAs for the Hunts Point Produce Market and the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay projects amounting to a cumulative $1.88 billion in construction work The major was joined for the PLA announcement by BCTC President Gary LaBarbera president and CEO of NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley of NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and he believes in ensuring that the people who built this City can afford to work and live in this City.” Adams said LaBarbera understood the mayor’s wish to diversify the workforce making sure it reflects the people of the City “A blue-collar mayor…this is a blue-collar city,” Adams continued adding that construction [and other] workers weren’t asking for handouts “They are asking to give the right salaries and benefits that they deserve for their families You can’t build luxury high-rises and affordable housing when the men and women who are putting the shovel in the ground cannot participate in that success,” he said Adams said the negotiated PLAs will connect New Yorkers to good-paying local jobs and career opportunities and promote and protect local economic growth “That is why we are hiring from our communities and hiring union workers and that is why these agreements also have ambitious M/WBE (minority and women-owned business enterprise) goals because our minority / women-owned firms have been passed by for these projects for decades.” He said the agreements also mean the City will be “able to build and complete projects faster and more efficiently by reducing bureaucracy They actually save money to the capital plan and the capital budget We also have historic provisions in PLAs to reach into underserved communities and bring people into the building trades through our pre-apprentice and direct entry programs and our recruitment programs.” We are doing things that have never been done before with the mayor’s leadership in terms of these PLAs the horizontal PLA never existed before the Adams administration.” LaBarbera acknowledged there had been a sense before that the M/WBE community and the unions could not work together but that this was no longer the case “We can exactly accomplish workforce development creating good union jobs and pathways into the middle class and also supporting M/WBEs to come into this work and hopefully eventually through a mentorship program become good union contractors,” he said Torres-Springer confirmed that the PLAs will incorporate DDC’s “Design-Build” concept which allows the department to complete public projects faster and more efficiently by entering into a combined design and construction contract LaBarbera said the PLAs bring the cost of the project down and avoid the need to negotiate with individual unions “It’s an agreement that’s signed by the affiliates of all the building trades in the City of New York,” he said In response to a question on the estimated savings from the use of PLAs the feasibility study demonstrated it’s worth $347 million worth of savings; that’s a fact.” It is understood that PLAs will also be negotiated for various NYCHA projects across the City For a previous story in 2021 on safety and fairness within the construction industry in The Bronx, Norwood News spoke to a Bronx union representative who alleged at the time that some developers hire and pay untrained laborers as low as $15 an hour without any healthcare or benefits When at least one company we spoke to denied this saying it complied with all applicable laws and safety regulations the union rep alleged some developers circumvent the regulations by using subcontractors (which are not bound by any contracts/regulations) to hire cheaper Norwood News has asked the City to confirm if the developers hired for City projects under these newly agreed PLAs and specifically the Kingsbridge Armory project and that any sub-contractors hired by these developers will be made subject to all applicable laws Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues OSHA cards to construction workers usually following 10-hour or 30-hour safety courses there has been an increase in fraudulent activity related to these courses over the past several years,” an extract from OSHA’s website reads This was backed up by at least one construction worker we spoke to in the last year or so who alleged fake OSHA cards were being sold regularly on the black-market in New York City Norwood News reported in April that NYC Department of Small Businesses Services (SBS) was urging more than 17,000 active construction workers to apply to SBS’s no-cost training program after their site safety training (SST) cards issued by Valor Consulting were deactivated following the revocation of the company’s status as a city-approved We were informed by City officials that the engineer was disciplined because the plans he drew up caused the building to collapse because he was responsible for the work at the site and we were informed that he should have looked at the engineer’s plans and quickly realized that they were potentially unsafe Both the engineer and the contractor were deemed responsible for the collapse We were further informed that the building owners were not disciplined they did the right thing by hiring construction professionals to make façade repairs to their building We were further informed that unfortunately the construction professionals they hired failed them Norwood News reached out to the City regarding allegations made in the last year or so by at least one construction worker we spoke to that certain developers allegedly circumvent training and safety regulations in the building sector through the use of subcontractors who As reported a fire broke out in the historic Kingsbridge Armory on West Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights on Saturday April 20 Lobo is optimistic about the PLA news as it pertains to the Armory “We are proud to have advocated for this Project Labor Agreement in the Request for Proposals and congratulate the building trades for landing these agreements on other key projects across the city This is a promising first step toward the hundreds of good union jobs we expect to grow out of the Armory project.” The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying and locating the person seen in the attached photo who they say is wanted in connection with an assault that occurred in Kingsbridge at the West 231 Street and Broadway subway station an unidentified male approached a 63-year-old female victim as she was exiting a northbound 1 train and pushed her “The female sustained multiple injuries to her face wrist and ribs and was treated on scene,” police said “The suspect fled on the moving northbound ‘1’ train.”