City invites big plans for landmark Bronx armory.

New York City Economic Development Corporation issued a Request for Proposals for the sale and redevelopment of the landmark Kingsbridge Armory, a 575,000 s/f building at 29 West Kingsbridge Road in the Kingsbridge Heights section of the Bronx.

The goal of the RFP is to transform the Armory into a unique mixed-use facility that will anchor the local community and create a unique destination to attract visitors from throughout the City and the region. The RFP envisions a mix of retail, entertainment, and recreational uses, as well as space for community uses.

"Realizing the potential of this unique building is a very high priority for the Bloomberg Administration," said EDC Interim President Joshua J. Sirefman.

"In addition to serving as an economic catalyst for the surrounding community, the redeveloped Kingsbridge Armory will serve as a model for the adaptive re-use of historic buildings, especially armories, throughout the country. I want to thank the members of the Task Force for their thoughtful input into and support of the RFP. I am confident that it will generate great interest in this monumental building."

To ensure that the selected project plan meets the needs of all stakeholders, EDC worked with the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Task Force to craft the RFP. The Task Force includes city, state and city elected officials, their appointed community representatives, and city agencies.

The RFP delineates the economic development goals that responses must address, such as complementing the schools to the north of the Armory, strengthening and diversifying the local retail base, providing jobs for local residents, and incorporating principles of sustainable design.

"I have been working for many months with the Mayor's Office, the NYC Economic Development Corporation, and community representatives through the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance on the Request for Proposals," said Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion. "This has been a constructive process and I look forward to reviewing the development proposals."

Built between 1912 and 1917, the Kingsbridge Armory was designed by the architecture firm of Pilcher and Tachau and is an outstanding example of military architecture featuring Romanesque arches, vaulted ceilings, decorative brick and terra cotta, and large battlement towers. It is thought to be the largest armory in the world, containing 575,000 square feet of space, the heart of which is a drill floor measuring 180,000 square feet, more than a full City block.

Beneath the drill floor are large basement levels that formerly housed offices, a garage, rifle and pistol ranges, a dining room, a gymnasium, and an auditorium.

On the south facade, the ornate head-house with its impressive double-height entrance foyer and vaulted ceiling serves as a grand entrance to the building.