The enormous, monumental building located at the intersection of Jerome Avenue and West Kingsbridge Road in the Kingsbridge Heights neighborhood of the Bronx has been the subject of heated debate for many years. It was once one of the largest armories in the world, then it was used as a homeless shelter, a film set, an exhibition hall, and a venue for boxing matches and various events. In 1974, it was granted city landmark status, and in 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. But today, the fate of this city “star” is uncertain. We’ll tell you how this came to be in this article on bronx-yes.
History and Various Uses of the Building
The Eighth Regiment of the New York State Militia traces its history back to units founded in 1786. It took part in George Washington’s inauguration and witnessed significant events in American history. The modern Eighth Regiment is now the 258th Field Artillery Regiment. Since 1895, it was stationed at the old “Squadron A” armory on Park Avenue in Manhattan. But it soon moved to the Bronx.
In the early 20th century, a large reservoir was planned for Kingsbridge. During the work, however, some military artifacts were found, likely from nearby fortifications dating back to the Revolutionary War, although no official archaeological studies were ever conducted. The project was handled by the firm of architect Lewis Pilcher, who two years later became the state architect. It was he who, in 1911, proposed to New York state legislators that a new armory be built on the site to continue the military history of the area and expand the infrastructure of the U.S. Army. The famous 128th Regiment eventually relocated there from Manhattan.
During World War II, the armory was actively used for military purposes. Herbert Lehman, a former governor and U.S. senator, recalled visiting it in 1942, when about 10,000 military personnel were stationed there. Just imagine the scale! Data on the weapon stockpiles stored at the Kingsbridge armory are not publicly available, but the numbers were likely impressive. For a time, the armory was used as one of New York City’s few registration centers for immigrants from enemy countries, as well as a homeless shelter. After the war, the city offered it to the UN General Assembly as a temporary home until the organization’s main building was completed.
In 1957, two new buildings were constructed, after which the Landmarks Preservation Commission recognized the former armory as an outstanding example of military architecture. However, in the following years, the main building fell into disrepair, and by the 1990s, the guard units stationed there were primarily conducting their operations in other facilities on West 195th Street. Despite this, the armory was always available for temporary use. Over the years, it has hosted dog and boat shows, boxing matches, concerts, meetings, conferences, and other large-scale events. In 2006, Warner Bros. leased the armory for six months to film “I Am Legend” starring Will Smith. This is where the sets for the scenes in Washington Square Park were recreated. In 2010, the music video for the song “Just Tonight” by the rock band The Pretty Reckless was filmed within its walls.
The former armory building was also used as an emergency supply and food distribution center during emergencies: after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York in 2020.
Exterior and Interior Features
The main nine-story red brick building features some of the best brickwork in the city. A row of stone elements with conical reinforcements runs beneath the curved metal roof, and turrets are located at the corners.
At the center of the south facade is a two-story office wing with the main entrance, known as the head house. Two semicircular towers with conical roofs rise above its front. The transition to the service wing is distinguished by angled walls and low circular towers. The main entrance is framed by a round arch with heavy iron gates and double doors, surrounded by stone steps.
Inside, the building features a large 17,000-square-meter hall and an 800-seat auditorium. The two basement levels, which were once occupied by military equipment, are now used as storage facilities, lecture halls, and sports venues (including a basketball court, a shooting range, and a fitness room). Some of the rooms have preserved elements of Colonial Revival style, with columns on panels and Adamesque-style mantelpieces.
Lewis Pilcher created an impressive design for the time, inspired by the grand railway stations of the early 20th century. However, the Bronx armory had both supporters and critics. An architectural archive described it as an embodiment of “simplicity, straightforwardness, convenience, and adaptation to specific requirements.” But some considered the building absurd, believing it looked like two separate parts.
Read the article about a 19th-century fortification in the Bronx by following this link.
Unfulfilled Dreams for a New Life
When all guard units, except for the 258th Field Artillery Regiment, the descendant of the original Eighth Regiment, left the site, the city granted a local non-profit, the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, a grant to develop a plan for the armory’s reuse and reconstruction.
In 2008, as the city prepared to announce the winning bidder, local activists, community organizations, and labor unions formed the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA). One of KARA’s demands was for a school to be opened, but the city government claimed it was impossible.
The winning bidder, The Related Companies, promised to invest $310 million to renovate the armory and turn it into a shopping complex.
But in 2010, the City Council rejected The Related Companies’ plan. Residents expressed their discontent, arguing that they needed schools more than shopping malls. Efforts to find reconstruction solutions continued. In the fall of 2010, the office of then-Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo and Councilman Diaz brought in students and faculty from NYU’s Capstone program to develop a new plan.
In 2012, a new proposal was unveiled—the Kingsbridge National Ice Center (KNIC) project with nine ice rinks and a 5,000-seat hockey arena. Although Diaz approved the project, local residents were hostile to it. The Ice Center was approved in 2013, but due to a lack of funding, the project remained on paper.
Hope for a Brighter Future
In October 2022, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) once again began accepting proposals for the reconstruction of the Kingsbridge Armory. Local communities demanded more involvement in the redevelopment process.
One of the proposals was the idea from the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition to create manufacturing spaces, food establishments, and performance venues. KARA continued to push for educational facilities.
Finally, New York selected developers, raising hopes for the project’s realization after many years of planning. In January 2025, the city chose the proposal from “8th Regiment Partners LLC,” which included the creation of a large public space with various sports facilities, event spaces, a 13,000-person conference hall, commercial areas, and 450 residential units. The project received $12 million in funding from the City Council, $2 million from the Borough President, and more than $1 million from the federal government.
EDC President Andrew Kimball stated that the “8th Regiment Partners” proposal aligns with the community’s vision and has a well-thought-out design and financial viability. Construction is planned to begin in 2027 with a goal of completion by 2032.
“We are putting together a coalition of accountability made up of religious institutions, community-based organizations, unions, and small businesses who are going to be monitoring and advocating for what’s in the project document on a continual basis,” said NWBCCC Executive Director Sandra Lobo.
So, we’ll see if the Kingsbridge Armory reconstruction project finally gets off the ground this time, or if something else gets in the way.
Read an article about another prominent building in the Bronx—the Bronx Borough Hall—by following this link.