UPDATE: Protesters March Through Fort Greene To Oppose Bedford-Union Armory Deal

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A group of activists and labor union organizers marched from Fort Greene Park to the office of City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo on Wednesday.

Their demands: that Cumbo use her influential City Hall vote to "kill" the planned redevelopment of the Bedford-Union Armory in Crown Heights. With the help of a private developer, the city wants to turn the old armory into a combination rec center, office building and apartment complex.

Above all, protesters have said they want to see housing at the new-and-improved armory be 100 percent affordable for locals. The current plan designates around half of its rentals as "affordable" — and most will only be affordable (by federal standards) for families who make around $90,000 a year.

The march began at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in Fort Green Park and finished at Cumbo's office at 55 Hanson Pl., between Fort Greene and South Elliott places.

Scroll down for Patch's live updates from the march and rally. And for continuing coverage of the controversial plan for the armory, be sure to sign up for Patch's free daily newsletter and real-time news alerts from Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and Lefferts Gardens.

"BFC Partners, a luxury real estate developer, wants to turn the Bedford Armory into luxury condos a few 'affordable' units — units that are only affordable to people making well above Crown Heights median income," march organizers wrote on Facebook.

"The current Bedford Armory deal is a gentrification deal, plain and simple," they wrote. "Crown Heights needs REAL deeply affordable housing. We're calling on Laurie Cumbo to stop selling off our community and make the Bedford Armory 100% affordable housing."

See also:

• Bedford-Union Armory Developer Strikes Union Deal; Activists Not Impressed
• City Council Hopeful Will 'Say No' To Bedford-Union Armory Deal

The laundry list of groups that attended included the Democratic Socialists of America, the Crown Heights Tenants Union, New York Communities for Change and Laborers Local 79.

Live Updates

4:45 p.m.

We're on the scene and handing out these flyers. Come say hi if you see us!

5 p.m.

A crowd of about 200 people has gathered in Fort Greene Park.

Spotted among them: City Council candidate Ede Fox, who's challenging Cumbo on a slate that leans heavily against the armory redevelopment plan.

5:10 p.m.

Cory Bates from the group Vocal New York, pictured below, steps to the megaphone. "We're going to cause as much consternation as possible," he says.

5:15 p.m.

The march to Cumbo's office has begun.

5:30 p.m.

Among the classic rat imagery that pops up at most protests against non-union construction projects, we're spotting lots of signs that call out Councilwoman Cumbo by name. By face, too:

5:45 p.m.

Protesters are blocking traffic as they march across the street at Lafayette and Adelphi, then turn right down Fort Greene.

"Hey hey, ho ho, Laurie Cumbo's got to go!" they begin shouting as they get nearer to her office.

5:52 p.m.

Awkward moment: protesters pass Democratice District Leader Geoffrey Davis, a notorious Armory supporter, as he's sitting in his car.

"Shame on you!" they shout at his vehicle.

6 p.m.

The crowd has arrived at Cumbo's office. It's unclear if she will come down and address the crowd.

6:11 p.m.

A steady stream of speakers is on the mic again.

Here what the crowd looks like from across the street.

6:15 p.m.

Here's Fox, Cumbo's city council challenger.

"We need someone who is going to be tough and say, 'No, you are not going to take our land and turn it into luxury housing.'"

6:21 p.m.

Here's a statement we just got from a BFC Partners spokesman, who we spotted watching the protest once it got to Cumbo's office:

BFC is fully committed to revitalizing the Bedford-Union Armory and providing much-needed recreational facilities, affordable housing and affordable office space for the Crown Heights community. Our partnership with 32BJ SEIU will create good union jobs at the Armory and provide a new job training program that gives Crown Heights residents a real path to building middle-class careers.

The economic realities of cross-subsidizing a new rec center and the lack of housing subsidies mean that 50% affordability is the only housing option currently available at the Armory. Each job we undertake requires us to strike the right balance to ensure success for the project and achieve community goals that serve local families.

6:33 p.m.

Cumbo will not be addressing the protesters. Here's a statement from her spokeswoman, Kristia Beaubrun:

Council Member Cumbo has been dedicated to meeting with groups across the district to hear their concerns and aspirations for the community. It is unfortunate that some individuals do not share in that vision and have shared false information about her position on the project to create further confusion that does not bring us closer to solutions. Council Member Cumbo has not allocated any funding towards BFC Partners or Bedford Courts. She believes a lot of this misinformation can be solved through direct conversation. Council Member Cumbo has always welcomed open dialogue on issues concerning this district, such as the Bedford Union Armory and remains committed to continuing community conversations throughout the process. She is open to meeting with a few members of the leadership present at today’s rally who will hopefully continue to meet with her moving forward.

6:40 p.m.

That's all for us. Thanks again for following along!

Photos by Marc Torrence/Patch