Residents Meet With City About Vision for Bedford-Union Armory in Crown Heights

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Locals in Crown Heights and Prospect Lefferts Gardens would like to see the long-empty Bedford-Union Armory turned into affordable housing or a fitness center with a swimming pool and basketball court, or possibly a skating rink, they told the city at a planning meeting Sunday. Another public meeting will take place tonight at 671 Prospect Place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

After years of delays, the City issued a request for proposals from developers late last year, as already reported, and is now going through a process of public hearings, to be followed by a formal land-use review process. The armory, one of two in Crown Heights, is located at 1555 Bedford Avenue between Union and President.

“They’re getting input on community priorities, and they will take that information back to the developers they’ve selected to compete, and they will see what they can make work economically,” Community Board 9 First Chair Laura Imperiale told us.

The city presented various scenarios developers had proposed, including turning the armory into a hotel, which locals objected to, according to a story in DNAinfo.

The building was completed in 1907. It was designed by architecture firm Pilcher and Tachau.

Bedford-Union Armory Coverage [Brownstoner]
Postcard via Brooklyn Public Library

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