To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

It was a heated debate Wednesday as to what kind of development should be built inside of the old Kingsbridge Armory. The Related Companies, a construction firm, is proposing a massive shopping mall. At Community Board 7's public hearing, Related tried to gain support of the crowd.

"Shops at the armory will be about 500,000 square feet of entertainment, retail, and community space," said Ethan Goodman of Related Companies. "We project 1,200 permanent jobs and over 1,000 construction jobs."

Some said they liked what they heard.

"What it means is the opportunity to bid on the ongoing janitorial services and the construction cleanup of the stores and the project itself, creating more jobs," said Mark Dominguez of Urban Cleaning Contractors.

But many said they are not buying the offer of low-wage retail jobs.

"This armory redevelopment could be the economic engine of new hope and possibilities or it could be another way for wealthy developers to suck resources out of the northwest Bronx," said resident Doug Cunningham.

The Kingsbridge Armory is larger than Madison Square Garden, meaning plenty of stores can be put inside of the nearly 100-year-old building. But workers from local grocery stores are worried over the possibility of a 60,000-square-foot supermarket at the armory.

"With the subsidies that they are receiving from the city and state, subsidies that we pay in taxes, we never got subsidies," said Martin Sloan, president of Morton Williams Supermarkets. "We pay the taxes for the subsidies for the competition that will turn around and hurt us."

"They are going to take away my job," said supermarket worker Christine Colangelo. "I won't have my job If that comes in."

The city says it is working with the community and Related to make sure the project is a positive addition to the neighborhood.

"We would like to see the future occupants bring jobs, community space, and services to this area," said David Lombino of the Economic Development Corporation.

Community Board 7 says it will vote on this issue next month. Whether it is a vote for or against, there still needs to be hearings with the borough president's office, the City Council and mayor before Related is allowed to build anything in the armory.