The Kingsbridge armory was built between 1912 and 1917 and housed the National Guard's Eight Coastal Artillery Regiment. Since then it has been a homeless shelter and hosted dog shows, boxing matches, film production, even a concert by the Beach Boys. It was made a city landmark in 1974 and has remained vacant since 2000.
In 2009 Mayor Bloomberg backed an initiative to put the armory to use as a mall that would attract customers from the surrounding community as well as the rest of the Bronx and city.
Local activists, community groups and labor unions formed the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) to push for a community benefits agreement that would hold the mall's developer to a set of promises. Such an agreement would have required living wages for all employees.
When the mayor balked at the wage requirements, the project was voted down in December 2010 by the City Council.
Search for a 'Plan B'
In the wake of that vote, Bronx Borough President Rubin Diaz Jr., who led the push to kill the mall plan over the wage issue, launched the Kingsbridge Armory Task Force to look at alternative prospects for the armory.
Over a year's time, the Task Force hosted eleven monthly meeting to discuss requirements and criteria for proposals, which included proposals by the New York Arena Management Corporation, the YMCA and the World Changers Church International lead by TV minister Creflo Dollar, whose pitch included a mega church, child care programs, career counseling and a food and clothing bank. There was also a proposal to turn the armory into a velodrome, a racetrack for bikes.
For months there wasn't any news about possible plans for the space but recently, the National Cycling Association began promoting their plans to build the Olympic-size 250-meter velodrome and BMX park in the vacant space. The NCA wants to run a demonstration project, which will cost about $700,000, for eight weeks next spring. This will include a professional six-day bicycle race, with the possibility of permanent tenancy to follow.
Some see promise in bike plan
Several armories in New York City already serve as sports/recreation facilities. The Fort Washington Armory in Washington heights is a track-and-field center, and the Park Slope Armory is utilized by several schools in the community who lack gymnasium space for students. Most of the city armories, according to the armory report, run on public private partnerships. This hints at the possible success of a velodrome at the Kingsbridge armory.
Bringing cycling to the Bronx isn't a new idea. While largely forgotten, NYC—and specifically the Bronx—have a strong history of cycling. In the 1920's a velodrome was located on 225th Street before it was destroyed by a fire. Successful six-day races in NY were held at Madison Square Garden and the Kingsbridge Armory in the 1930's.
According to NCA President Jack Simes the velodrome spring demo will convey how successful the velodrome will be. Using the six-day bike race as the main event will help with the funding needed to turn the armory into a track and build grandstands. The second source of funding would be ticket sales, which will also help fund several youth programs that he plans to offer.
