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From: Mike <>
Subject: [BronxRoots] The Empty Armory...
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2003 09:45:44 -0600


NOO YAWK TIMES
November 16, 2003

KINGSBRIDGE HEIGHTS

An Empty Armory Bursts With Possibilities

By SETH KUGEL

When completed around 1914, the massive brick castle in
Kingsbridge Heights, the Bronx,
was said to have the world's biggest drill hall. Over the years, the
Kingsbridge Armory has
had other moments of glory, including a Beach Boys concert in 1971. But
as military use dwindled in
the 90's, squabbles arose over what to do with the deteriorating
building. The structure has sat
unused since 2000.

On Wednesday, officials of the city Economic Development Corporation
will go to the Bronx seeking
local ideas for the 500,000-square-foot space. It hopes to make an
official request for proposals
within three months.

The city has its eye on economic uses. "What we've always said is that
it has to be self-sustainable,"
said Janel Patterson, an agency spokeswoman.

But many local leaders are still proposing what they have long felt
should occupy the huge space:
schools. In the late 90's, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy
Coalition, working with Pratt
Institute in Brooklyn, devised a plan that included three schools, an
indoor sports complex, a
community center and retail space. The Giuliani administration wanted to
build a $110 million sports,
entertainment and retail center; while that plan was not realized, the
city spent $30 million to replace
the roof and make other repairs.

Today, "There are a range of possibilities, although I think the
consensus is that it's still not
appropriate for schools," said Ms. Patterson. However, Marge Feinberg, a
spokeswoman for the
Department of Education, said that area schools are overcrowded and the
school option was still
open.

Recently, E.D.C. and elected officials discussed placing schools around
the armory so students could
use a potential recreational facility within.

Councilwoman Maria Baez said she would welcome certain businesses, like
a movie theater, but not
big box retailers, who in her view would hurt local stores. Other
politicians suggest locating the Police
Academy there.

Phyllis Reed, a member of the community and clergy group, holds out hope
for at least 2,000 new
classroom seats at the armory. She said the armory could be
self-sustaining even if it did include
schools.

"Schools have to be paid for wherever they're located," she said. "It's
going to be considerably less
than it would be to build the schools someplace else."

But she is also excited about businesses in the armory. "We're talking
about a cineplex, and retailers
that we sorely need," she said. "Why do we need to go to Manhattan to go
to a bookstore, and
Riverdale to get a computer disk?"

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