Thursday, March 5, 2009

No Meeting, No Armory Tax Breaks, Groups Demand



Elected officials and KARA activists rally against tax breaks for Bronx developer, Related Companies, which plans to turn the Kingsbridge Armory into a shopping center.

Concerned Bronx residents expressed frustration on the steps of City Hall today as they rallied against giving tax breaks to the developer of the Kingsbridge Armory, Related Companies, which intends to turns the armory into a shopping center. The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) held a public hearing today to obtain community feedback on Related's application that requests $17.8 million in tax breaks.

The Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) organized the rally and has urged the IDA to postpone its decision until Related agrees to sit down with KARA and establish a Community Benefits Agreement that includes living wage jobs (40 hours/week at $10 an hour plus benefits), employment preference for Bronx residents, community space for youth and senior programs, schools to alleviate overcrowding, and the option for employees to unionize.

"This is probably one of the most important issues in the Bronx today," said Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera. "It's time that companies contribute more. We [Bronx residents] need a community bailout plan."

Councilman Oliver Koppell acknolwedged that the development project at the armory represents an opportunity to restore the historic landmark but he added, "Related must sit down with KARA and negotiate a proper agreement."

"We are not making outrageous demands," said Comptroller William C. Thompson. "We don't want to see development that pushes our people out."

During the hearing community leaders and residents, including representatives for Congressman Jose Serrano and State Senator Pedro Espada, urged the IDA to postpone its decision until Related agrees to meet with KARA.

IDA's board of directors will meet next Wednesday, March 11, at 9:00 a.m. (at IDA's office in downtown Manhattan, 110 William Street, 4th floor) to decide whether to reject or accept Related's application. The meeting will be open to the public and IDA encourages community members to attend.

More on the tax breaks issue in the latest issue of the Norwood News.

Posted by Ivonne Salazar at 4:08 PM
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8 comments:

  1. Who are you kidding here? The real story is that The Northwest Coalition is the real force behind Kara. They are financially supported by Associated Supermarket (next to the armory), who is arm twisting Related to stop any QUALITY and affordable supermarket in the Armory. We are tired of buying substandard foods at higher prices. Northwest is only looking out for themselves. Of course they want a youth center...for themselves! I smell self interest.
    ReplyDelete
  2. Tom from the BxMar 6, 2009 06:49 AM
    I don't think I need to defend the credibility of the 35-year-old Northwest Bronx Coalition from an anonymous smear, but I will say that if I was the owner of the Associated I wouldn't like the idea of $18 million of my and my neighbors taxes being used to subsidize my competition during a historic budget crunch.
    ReplyDelete
  3. Wait, what Associated supermarket? In case you haven't noticed Associated supermarket have become "Morton Williams" which are even more expensive.

    For the record, I welcome the Related Companies and their plans for the Kingsbridge Armory; ladies and gents don't be afraid of change.
    ReplyDelete
  4. Tax breaks for the Armory is lost revenue for the city. Its hurts the community and the city as a whole. The city already has a similar tax exempt deal with Madison Square Garden that it can't recapture.vote no to such tax breaks and demand that Related pay their fair share.

    VMS
    ReplyDelete
  5. Tax breaks for the Armory is lost revenue for the city. Its hurts the community and the city as a whole. The city already has a similar tax exempt deal with Madison Square Garden that it can't recapture. Vote no to such tax breaks and demand that Related pay their fair share.

    VMS
    ReplyDelete
  6. Dear "Anonymous",

    I'm not sure who you are (Related, etc.) but you are misrepresenting information. All Morton Williams wants is fair competition. We have been here for over 50 years, employ 750 people who we send throughout the city, and provide 100% paid for health coverage. We have never received a government subsidy. We oppose the government providing a developer with a subsidy which can be used to put us (the loyal taxpayer and Bronx employer) our of business.
    Avi Kaner
    Vice President
    Morton Williams Supermarkets
    ReplyDelete
  7. the issue is who is going to stand up for the community's interests in this negotiation and will they have any clout. the record on this sort of thing on recent large projects (yankee stadium, gateway, and the filtration plant) is not encouraging.

    a point of interest is that when he was in the council, adolfo carrion rode heard to insist on studies that armory planning took into account the retailers on kingsbridge and fordham roads. is there anyone going to to that now and if they do, will they have the muscle to have some affect?

    so far, the pattern on the armory project and with the bloomberg administration is that the community is going to get thrown a bone to keep them at bay and give the press a line it can use... and then the thing will proceed along its merry way.
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  8. So, this will be interesting. Unlike Gateway and Yankee Stadium, the pols are all siding with local activists in insisting that the developer sit down with the community. Also unlike both those projects, there is a broad coalition -- staffed by community organizers -- of community groups, religious institutions and labor unions putting the heat on the developer.
    I think the political circumstances are different with the armory, Gary. Maybe the pols aren't doing a heck of a lot, but they're following the lead of the community in this instance. Only time will tell if that will make a difference. But we'll know soon. Will Related sit down with KARA or not? Stat tuned.
    ReplyDelete

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