New York National Guard Reoccupying Manor Road Armory

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The Manor Road Armory on Staten Island.

STATEN ISLAND , NY (06/09/2011)(readMedia)-- The New York Army National Guard will begin moving units back into the historic Manor Road Armory a year-and-a-half after the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs closed the building after asbestos was disturbed during a renovation project.

The 145th Maintenance Company and the 42nd Infantry Division's Tactical Headquarters 2 Division will begin reoccupying office spaces in the building later this month. Elements of the New York Guard, the state's volunteer uniformed defense force, the New York National Guard's Military Family Assistance Center, which is open to all military families, and the New York Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Command will begin moving back into the building as well.

Reoccupation is expected to be complete by the end of July.

The building was closed for rehabilitation on January 4, 2010 after window and exterior masonry renovation work on the armory, which was constructed in 1926, disturbed asbestos which had not been expected.

The asbestos was a component of a fireproof coating that was applied to the main ceiling in the armory's work spaces sometime in the 1940s or 1950s.

This material began to flake off and fall onto drop ceilings during the process of window replacement and masonry repairs. That project was part of the state's aggressive energy conservation and restoration effort at the historic building involving replacing deteriorated windows with updated, energy-efficient replacements that maintain the historic look of the building.

Soldiers and civilian personnel were temporarily relocated to other armories in New York City.

Total cost for the interior asbestos abatement construction work at the armory was $341,000 and $1.1 million for restoration of interior finishes. The Division of Military and Naval Affairs also took the opportunity to update armory safety features with the installation of a new fire alarm system during renovation.

Roof replacement was also recently completed at a cost of $1.1 million.

Planned projects to continue essential rehabilitation and sustainment efforts at the historic facility include installation of an energy efficient ventilation and air conditioning system repairing sidewalks and curbs and renovation of the armory's main conference room.

The Armory was constructed to house Headquarters Troop of the New York National Guard's 52st Cavalry Brigade on property which had been leased for use by Troop F of the New York National Guard's cavalry force. Construction started in 1926 and finished in 1927. The armory was designed in the castellated style which was popular in state armory building's in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and additional spaces and interior renovations were added in the 1950's .

The Staten Island Vietnam War Memorial is located on the armory grounds.The Manor Road Armory was granted landmark status in August 2010 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

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