Kingsbridge Armory CBA campaign

(photo credit- New York Times)

Bettina Damiani of Good Jobs New York reports on the Clawback Blog that the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA) is seeking to negotiate a CBA over the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, a 575,000 square foot structure built in 1917 and slated to be turned into a shopping center (see here and here for information about the redevelopment project and here for photos of the existing building).

KARA is part of a larger community alliance, the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NBCCC), and it's made up of tenant and neighborhood associations, faith based groups, unions, elected officials and other community-based groups. The Alliance is seeking commitments to living wages, union protections, local hiring goals, community space and environmental protections. To achieve these goals, it's seeking to negotiate a CBA, a Labor Peace Agreement and a project labor agreement. KARA was involved in the process of selecting the developer for the project, Related Companies, which is also the developer of the Gateway Center at Bronx Terminal Market.

A New York City Economic Development Corporation press release explains that the project will include between 25 and 35 retail stores as well as an anchor department store, landscaped rooftop space open to the public and a public plaza. It will be built using green design and is expected to attain LEED silver status. Elected officials and Related spokespersons expressed their desire to continue working with the community during the development process.