Last Lap for Park Slope Armory Renovation
The city’s two-years-in-the-making transformation of most of the Park Slope Armory into a sports complex appears to be in the home stretch. The $16 million renovation of the massive space should be finished by late December or early January, according to the project’s construction crew. A peek inside the building, which will primarily be a…
The city’s two-years-in-the-making transformation of most of the Park Slope Armory into a sports complex appears to be in the home stretch. The $16 million renovation of the massive space should be finished by late December or early January, according to the project’s construction crew. A peek inside the building, which will primarily be a track-and-field center, shows that work’s been completed on the roof and most of the flooring’s been put into place. A few weeks ago, meanwhile, the city issued an RFP for a 10-year contract to operate the space, with bids due at the end of September. The RFP says the armory’s future concessionaire will have to keep the facility open to the public for a minimum of 20 hours a week. Given that the complex’s operator won’t be required to keep it open it to the public for more than a few hours a day, is the splashy renovation actually going to be a boon for Joe Average South Sloper? And, as someone on the Forum noted, what of the uptick in traffic that’s sure to result from the new complex?
Request for Proposals [nyc.gov]
Park Slope Armory [Forum]
I also ran track in High School. If local track meets are held there, this will be of tremendous benefit to the entire borough (and probably beyond)of high school track athletes. In my school days, we had to go to NJ or Connecticut in order to run on a nice fast indoor track. Then came the 168th st armory. faster tracks mean faster times, and faster times means more college scholarships. Politicians CAN do some good, sometimes!
i grew up in the city and was on the track team in high school, and we used to trek up to upper manhattan to use the armory near the gwb. by subway. twice a week. just like all the other kids who used it after school. sure, they’ll be car traffic on the weekends if there are track meets, but the people who use it on a day to day basis who aren’t from the neighborhood are likely to be school kids who aren’t driving.
The thing they have been working on for months is the air conditioning system.
I live a few blocks away me and my family look forward to utilizing the Armory space during the hours it’s open to the public.
Josephina Average South Sloper and her Joe Average Family
I wish they had built a pool. I’m not sure a track is enough to support all that space.
These buildings are great. The old engineering is a thing of beauty.
They used to film movies in there and the front was used as a women’s shelter.
The athletic use is perfect. I hope the surrounding community appreciates the new uses and brings the building back to life.
Just jump the gun. Call the city ridiculous and don’t read beyond headline and certainly don’t scan RFP. So much better to be critical and say something off top of your head.
Never mind the MINIMUM 20 hours per week is for evenings and wkends. DOE usage during day etc,etc,etc.
Why on earth would the city allow someone to operate the place for a measly 20 hours a week? Ridiculous. Other than that foolishness it sounds great
Hey, I’m excited. It’s better than it sitting empty. THe space looks pretty impressive actually.