Residents in Kingsbridge Heights want the neighborhood to be designated a historic district but Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx) said he won’t support the move until after a proposed supportive housing facility is approved. Koppell contends neighbors are putting urgency on the landmarking effort in order to block the proposed facility.

Ruben Diaz, Bronx Borough President (D), is committed to developing a plan for the Kingsbridge Armory that the community will support. However, because of his role in defeating the city's plan for the site a few months ago, the city is not as optimistic about working with Diaz.

In his recent State of the Borough Address, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz (D), announced the creation of a Kingsbridge Armory Taskforce. While Diaz supports new development, he stressed the need for living wages at new development sites. According to Diaz, this is particularly pertinent when developers benefit from taxpayer subsidies for their projects.

The Gotham Gazette summarized the history of the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment plan and the project's defeat by the New York City Council. The article states that the project's current trajectory has shifted; community members and advocates have been able to place a living wage requirement back into the discussion for future plans.

City Councilwoman Helen Sears (D), raised her voice in opposition ot the City Council's defeat of the Kingsbridge Armory development project. Sears, who was the lone dissenter in the 45-1 vote, argued that the development project, despite lacking a living wage requirement, would have still brought money and new jobs into the Bronx.

The City Council rejected redevelopment plans for the Kingsbridge Armory by a vote of 45-1. Several City Council members argued that the project would not be beneficial to the community because it would not provide a living wage for employees. The developer continued to argue that such requirements are unprecedented in New York and would make the redevelopment project economically unfeasible.

In order to find a solution for the stall in the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment plans, the City has proposed an alternative to the living wage requirement that is being heavily pushed by community advocates.

The City Council was set to vote on the living wage debate over the proposed Kingsbridge Armory Mall on December 8th, 2009. Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr. (D), will not support the project unless workers are guaranteed at least an hourly wage of $11.50. The developer argues that this mandate will hinder the project.

Bronx residents raised their voices at City Hall, as they continued to push for a living wage requirement for the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment project. Both the City Council subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, and the Committee on Land Use, tabled the vote.

No compromise has been reached between local Bronx leaders and The Related Companies regarding the living wage provision for the proposed Kingsbridge Armory Mall. Opponents of the living wage requirement maintain that a mandatory living wage would cause the development to fail. Proponents, including Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera (D-Bronx) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.