The Council voted 48-1 to approve the $320 million proposal to turn the cavernous armory into the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, which will count nine ice rinks and open in 2017. Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron cast the lone dissenting vote.
[See ElectricWeb | Blogger, Apr 29, 2013]
“This will be a world-class destination that will...revitalize the Kingsbridge Armory and bring more resources and jobs to this part of the Bronx,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
NHL great Mark Messier will be the ice center’s CEO.
The vote comes four years after the Bloomberg administration’s initial plan for Kingsbridge — a mall that would have been built by the Related Companies — was defeated in the Council, where members were upset the developer refused to guarantee a living wage for jobs.
Initially, the Council was reluctant to support the project because of concerns it did not have enough parking spaces and would flood the area with traffic.[See ElectricWeb | Blogger, Jun 24, 2012]
Under an agreement, KNIC Partners will shell out $250,000 to create a fund to pay for traffic improvements and a study of traffic conditions.
They’ll also pay $150,000 for signs along Kingsbridge Road and $25,000 for a campaign to encourage people to take public transportation to the ice center.
Bloomberg applauded the outcome, saying it “will bring an iconic Bronx landmark back to life.”
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