Frustrated students and community activists confronted Mayor Bloomberg last week on the steps of City Hall demanding more than new shops at the Kingsbridge Armory.

N. Clark Judd

An announcement last week declared that development powerhouse The Related Companies will transform the Kingsbridge Armory into a 575,000-square-foot, predominantly retail center. For decades, the armory was home to the New York National Guard - and for one regiment, it still is.

But the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance - a hodgepodge of trade unions, business associations, churches and community groups, says it holds the promise of so much more.

They held a press conference last week that put many of their concerns on display - and, literally, in Mayor Michael Bloomberg's face.

The mayor had to run a blockade of constituents, reporters and politicians who had arrived for KARA's press conference in order to enter City Hall early on April 24. Returning to his offices between a noon ribbon-cutting and a 3 p.m. press conference, he was chased up the City Hall steps by Jattna and Julia Ramirez, both 17, and Laura Olivero, 16, of Bronx International High School. The girls see the armory as a potential site for schools they say will alleviate the kind of overcrowding that has them taking classes in hallways.

The mayor told them to call his office to schedule a meeting. The girls were not impressed.

"We've been calling his office for eight months," said Jattna. "It's just not fair that students in the Bronx have to deal with this situation every day."

Schools were included in a 2006 request for development proposals the EDC drafted in conjunction with leaders from KARA and elsewhere in the community, said Community Board 8 Chairman Tony Cassino, who was not at the rally but has been involved with the armory planning for years.

He noted that a new school had been discussed for the northern portion of the site. "Somewhere along the line, that got dropped out. I'm not sure why," said Mr. Cassino.