Bronx residents push for agreement with Related

Residents are putting pressure on Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz to secure a Community Benefits Agreement with the Related Companies, the developer that could transform the now-vacant Kingsbridge Armory into a shopping mall. With Community Board 7’s July 14 vote on whether to support the Related Companies’ bid past, prior Bronx CBAs have been put into harsh perspective. “People realize now that the CBAs that have been happening in the Bronx haven’t really been legitimate community benefits agreements,” said community advocate Bettina Damiani. Damiani pointed to the Yankee Stadium CBA as a particularly egregious example. For his part, Diaz pledged stronger oversight of the Kingsbridge CBA, which could prohibit certain types of development at the site or include provisions for oversight of project funds.