Central to the dispute is a state law passed in 2024 that protects “legacy cadet corps” — organizations that have used New York City armories for more than 100 years. The law requires that qualifying groups be provided space in their longtime armories, provided their use does not interfere with the building’s management.
“The Conservancy’s obsession with removing a great organization that’s benefitted thousands of children in so many ways for over a century defies all reason,” Rogatnick told Patch. “It’s certainly contrary to the will of the community as expressed numerous times over the past several years.”
The Armory’s current lease, signed in 2006, also includes a mandate to support programs related to the building’s social, aesthetic and military history — a provision Menin and Maloney pointed to in their letter.
Upper East Side State Sen. Liz Krueger also spoke out in support of the Greys this week.
“It’s absurd that the Park Ave Armory Conservancy is still working so hard to evict a 125-[year]-old kids’ afterschool program, two years after we had to pass a state law to protect them,” Krueger wrote on social media. “I will continue to stand [with] the Greys until the Conservancy comes to their senses.”