It seemed that hell would freeze over before the Kingsbridge Armory would ever be developed, but after more than a decade, city officials finally reached a deal to transform the iconic building into the world’s largest ice skating center.
Once completed, Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC), will boast nine indoor ice rinks, create 900 construction jobs and more than 260 permanent positions paying a living wage, according to city officials.
“I am thrilled about these plans,” Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. said on Wednesday. “KNIC will bring complementary development, living wage jobs, millions of new visitors and amazing community programs to our borough.
Diaz joined Mayor Bloomberg, the developers, and ice sports professional athletes like Mark Messier to unveil the plans inside the long-vacant armory Tuesday. Construction would begin next year, city officials said.
Over the years, there have been several designs for the space – a landmarked structure set on five acres at W. Kingsbridge Road and Jerome Ave. that once housed a National Guard artillery unit.
In 1996, School District 10 officials proposed converting the armory into an educational campus. In 2000, then-Mayor Giuliani wanted to turn the building into a sports, retail and entertainment complex. Other developers proposed erecting community space, a gym, movie theater, a bank and at least one big box retailer.
Bloomberg and Diaz clashed over a plan by the Related Companies to convert the armory into a shopping mall. Diaz contended the move would worsen traffic conditions and spark job losses along the Fordham Road shopping corridor while generating jobs that wouldn’t pay a living wage. Bloomberg said it would bring more than 2,200 new jobs and $300 million in private investment into the borough. The City Council rejected the proposal in 2009.
Diaz had lobbied hard for the ice center.
He and Bloomberg seemed to have put their disagreement behind them, even embracing at one point during Tuesday’s press conference.
“The Bronx is going to be the home to the single greatest ice center in the world,” Diaz said. “As Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday, stores can go anywhere, retail can go anywhere. But how often do we have a chance to build such an amazing project?”
jcunningham@nydailynews.com
