Alternative uses for armory suggested by committee

Written by Greg Maker

Thursday, 04 March 2010 20:11

South side councilman: “We can’t stay in limbo forever”

The Save the Armory Committee (SAC) plans to propose that the New Rochelle Naval Armory be transformed into a community center, similar to the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

The SAC is trying to gain more of an idea of the direction the city is heading with the Echo Bay project, a plan to develop 11 acres on the south side of the city. The armory, located on Main Street, sits on the land intended to be developed, and its possible destruction has been a hot-button issue since the proposed project’s inception in 2008.

Councilman Al Tarantino (R-2nd District), whose district covers the entire proposed Echo Bay project, is trying to get more of an understanding of where the city is going with the projects and what its intentions are.

“When projects are announced, they tend to destroy an entire section of the community,” Tarantino said. “Look at LeCount Square and all the empty buildings around it. We can’t stay in limbo forever. At some point we need to sell the armory or have another group take it over if we are not going to invest money into it.”

Peter Parente and former New York State Assemblyman Ron Tocci, SAC co-chairs, met with City Manager Chuck Strome on Monday to continue to make their case for usage of the armory, which is currently unoccupied city property.

“If the city cannot do this project for five or 10 years the development is a dead issue,” Parente said. “If that is the case we will propose that the veterans take over the armory with the city’s blessings with potential help from Monroe College. I don’t think the armory should be given to a developer.”

Strome stated that the SAC has made no formal proposal. He met with Forest City Residential Group on Thursday, the developers for the project, and will update the City Council on the proceedings.

According to Executive Vice President of Monroe College Marc Jerome, Monroe is looking for a local field house to call home for their men and women’s basketball and volleyball teams in and around New Rochelle, with the armory being a place in mind. Thus far Monroe has made no commitment to using the armory.

Parente stated that neither he nor the SAC is against the Echo Bay project, going as far as saying that he even wants it to happen. He and the committee are simply against taking down the armory.

“We can use the armory for many different things,” Parente said. “Besides being a home court for Monroe if they choose to use it, we can have boxing and wrestling matches and floor hockey and flag football for the kids. The veterans can help the armory be self-sustaining by holding trade expos as well.”

Mayor Noam Bramson, who has spearheaded the Echo Bay revitalization plan, was contacted and declined comment.

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