The proposal to redevelop the largest armory in the country into a shopping mall became one step closer to reality Monday following a vote by the city's planning commission. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.

With an 8-to-4 vote Monday, the city planning commission approved the redevelopment of the massive Kingsbridge Armory -- not exactly what the northwest Bronx community wanted to hear.

It has been a long running debate between the city and the community. Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants The Related Company, a huge developer in the city, to turn the long-vacant armory into a shopping mall that will have some community space. Local activists who have the support of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Junior say they need living wage jobs in the mall, not minimum wage pay checks.

"I am not kidding around. There are too many young people and families suffering in the Bronx," said Heidi Hynes of the Northwest Bronx Community Coalition. "This plan they are putting forward is not good for the Bronx. We demand good jobs for the Bronx."

"The fact still remains these jobs are not allowing for Bronx families to get themselves out of poverty, to support their families, to pay for their kids to go to college, to pay for a mortgage," Diaz Jr. said.

The mayor's office fired back Monday, saying the $310 million rehab of the armory will create 1,200 permanent jobs and more than 1,000 construction jobs at a time when people need them the most -- a claim Diaz, Jr. said he is not buying.

"He wants his millionaire friends to get the IDA funding, and these low interest rate loans. He wants his millionaire friends to reap all of the benefits," Diaz Jr. said.

The proposal to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory now heads to the City Council where there could be a public hearing before Council members vote on the plan.

"There has to be some serious negotiation on issues raised by the community and the labor movement before I am ready to vote," said City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell.

The City Council is expected to vote on the plan by the end of the year.