Armory Plan's Fate: Now It's Up to the City Council

In November, the City Council will decide on the fate of the Kingsbridge Armory. The City Council has the final say on whether the landmarked facility will be turned over to the Related Companies for The Shops at the Armory – essentially a mall. The question right now is whether the Council is willing to OK the plan when there’s no sign of a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz is hoping the Bronx’s Council delegation will reject the plan if there’s no CBA and no provision requiring retailers to pay a living wage, as are Bronx residents who turned out en masse at a community forum on Sunday at St. Nicholas of Tolentine School.

Related’s proposal will first come before the Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee of the Land Use Committee on Nov 12. It will then go to the full Land Use Committee for a hearing and vote on Nov. 16. If it passes there, it will go to the full City Council the next day. (The schedule is subject to change.)

We’ll have more on where individual members stand and what each side’s chances are early next week, but for now, here’s a list of who serves on which committee. Tony Avella, who chairs the Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee, is siding with the borough president and the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance. And Melinda Katz, chair of the Land Use Committee, who appeared at the Sunday forum, was not yet willing to show her cards.

OK, here are the lists of committee members with Bronx members bolded.

Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee
Chairperson: Tony Avella
Simcha Felder
Eric N. Gioia
Robert Jackson
Melinda R. Katz
Joel Rivera
Larry B. Seabrook
Helen Sears
Albert Vann

Land Use Committee
Chairperson: Melinda R. Katz
Maria del Carmen Arroyo
Tony Avella
Maria Baez
Charles Barron
Leroy G. Comrie, Jr.
Elizabeth Crowley
Inez E. Dickens
Simcha Felder
Daniel R. Garodnick
Eric N. Gioia
Sara M. Gonzalez
Vincent Ignizio
Robert Jackson
Jessica S. Lappin
John C. Liu
Rosie Mendez
Annabel Palma
Joel Rivera
Larry B. Seabrook
Helen Sears
Albert Vann