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 appears the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory may have hit a major road block -- the Bronx delegation of the City Council.

"In my book, this is an economic exploitation project because when you have families who can't make ends meet, pay their bills, pay their rent, we have a situation where it is called keeping people in poverty," said Councilman Joel Rivera.

The Council held a public hearing Tuesday on the The Related Company's plans to redevelop the vacant national landmark. Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the developer's proposal to turn the huge facility into a mall at a cost of about $310 million.

"The Bronx now has the state's highest unemployment rate of 13.3 percent. And the project will employ more than 2,000 people in construction and permanent jobs." said Related Companies Attorney Jesse Masyr.

While many community advocates support redevelopment, they say it has to provide jobs that pay more than minimum wage. They are calling for $10 an hour with benefits.

"What we want to see is real jobs with real living wages. For the record, as the delegation, what we are against is remaining in poverty," said Councilwoman Annabel Palma.

Related says they will pay union construction workers good salaries. But the company and the Bloomberg administration say they can't force stores in a mall to pay more than minimum wage.

"When it comes to things such as living wage, while we agree that it is a laudable goal and it's something that we are generally supportive of, we strongly believe that if it was a requirement to put that into the lease that it would render the project unleaseable," said Ethan Goodman of Related Companies.

"For us, it is about creating jobs, good jobs. But we want to see jobs get created here as a start. Because the alternative here of no jobs is worse than any of the other alternatives," said Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert Lieber.

City Council members who attended the meeting, however, weren't buying it.

"In 200 cities there are living wages requirements for publicly supported projects. Now if that is true there must be many retailers who are able to function in that kind of environment," said Councilman Oliver Koppell.

"I don't think providing living wages is going to destroy any project," said Councilman Larry Seabrook.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on the Kingsbridge Armory plan by December 17th, but it appears members will vote against the proposal if it doesn't change.