New York City Selects Team for Long-Awaited Redevelopment of Storied Kingsbridge Armory

NEW YORK—After a host of failed attempts to reimagine the 108-year-old facility, New York City announced on Tuesday (Jan. 7) it had selected the team that will redevelop the city-owned and long underutilized Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx into a mixed-use complex that will feature sports and entertainment facilities and residential housing.

Fueled by approximately $215 million in federal, state and city funds, the New York City Economic Development Corp. reported that it selected the development team to transform the armory into a mixed-use project called “El Centro Kingsbridge.” The team, led by 8th Regiment Partners LLC, which reportedly consists of Joy Construction and Maddd Equities, was selected through a competitive request for proposals for the development rights issued last summer.

The Kingsbridge Armory opened in 1917 and was used by the United States military until 1994 before reverting to city ownership in 1996. Since that time, 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 skuttled all previous proposals.

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 utilize during the COVID-19 public health crisis, served as a temporary food distribution center and was used by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and local officials to store supplies for those impacted by the tragic Twin Park North fire in 2022.

The project site occupies most of the block bounded by West 195th 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.

Phase One of the project envisions a mixed-use development with a state-of-the-art event venue space, sports fields for local youth academies, cultural and commercial space, more than 25,000 square-feet of dedicated community space, an educational facility focused on workforce development, and more.

Phase Two is to include 450 units of permanently affordable rental housing adjacent to the armory. The redevelopment is expected to generate nearly $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, creating more than 3,000 construction jobs and 360 permanent jobs.

The project is backed by a $200-million investment by Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul, $2 million from Borough President Vanessa Gibson, $12 million from Councilmember Pierina Sanchez, and a $1.05 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the support of Representative Adriano Espaillat.

City officials noted that the development will be built 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 environmental review is expected to begin this winter, and the uniform land use review procedure is anticipated to commence in mid-2025.

“At the Kingsbridge Armory, 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, “In just one location, we’re delivering affordable housing for our neighbors, sports fields for our children, community spaces for our families, and so much more. The future of the Bronx rests in the Kingsbridge Armory, a proposal made possible thanks to the partnership of Governor Hochul, Representative Espaillat, and the countless, everyday New Yorkers who made their voices heard. Together, we are building a brighter, better future for the Bronx, starting with the Kingsbridge Armory.”

Bronx Borough President Gibson added, “El Centro Kingsbridge has the potential to boost the economy; increase tourism; invest in workforce development and small businesses; and create community space, recreational space, and opportunities for education and emerging markets.”

The winning proposal’s programming is centered around the column-free Drill Hall within the Armory, delivering on the community’s vision for a series of cultural, commercial, and community spaces. The development team will lead the design and construction stages of the project, as well as the operation of the renovated Armory.

“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, the borough, and the City of New York,” said Gabriella Madruga, principal, 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 redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory is a transformational project that will see this historic structure become another major destination in the Bronx and provide much needed well-paying union construction jobs for New Yorkers,” said New York City and New York State Building and Construction Trades Council President Gary LaBarbera. “We applaud Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul for the city and state’s tremendous investment of $100 million respectively towards this development, and our members look forward to working with NYCEDC and the 8th Regiment Partners on making El Centro Kingsbridge a reality.”