Kingsbridge Armory: Bronx BP, EDC & KNIC urged to negotiate in good faith with KARA and other community stake-holders,

[Bronx Scoop]

On Monday, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. praised the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) as the “perfect fit” for the Kingsbridge Armory.   As a Bronx resident and a member of the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), my message to Borough President Diaz Jr. is this: the only way to ensure this project is a “perfect fit” is to publicly call on the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and KNIC to put the commitments they made to your office in the lease agreement with the city.   There are inconsistencies in what KNIC has committed to community residents and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.  In a letter to KARA in October, KNIC promised 220 “full time equivalent” (FTE) jobs.  Borough President Diaz Jr. said in August, they had committed to create 170 FTE jobs and in his OP-ED Monday, he stated they would create 170 full-time jobs. Full-time equivalent jobs means part time and seasonal work. Bronx residents need to know with certainty how many full time, permanent, living wage jobs this project will create. Borough President Diaz Jr. said in his August press statement that KNIC will provide more than 50,000 square feet of community space, however KNIC wrote to KARA in October that they will provide “up to” 50,000 square feet.  In August, Borough President Diaz Jr. stated that KNIC was committing to LEED Gold sustainable design, however KNIC wrote to KARA in October that their project will be LEED Silver, a lower standard.   Bronx residents need KNIC’s commitments to our community to be in an enforceable agreement that benefits both developer and community.  That requires transparent negotiations among all the stake holders.  We urge KNIC, the EDC and Mr. Diaz to negotiate in good faith with KARA and other community stake-holders, so that our neighborhood residents- who have fought to get this project developed for over a decade- know that we have a deal we can count on . 

Pastor Doug Cunningham Bronx, NY

KARA is a coalition of 19 neighborhood organizations fighting for permanent, full-time living wage jobs for local residents, 50,000 square feet of community space that is affordable or free for neighborhood organizations, business opportunities for low-income entrepreneurs from the Bronx, and LEED Gold sustainable design of our Kingsbridge Armory.