Schumer: NDAA Authorization Is A Major Step Forward For A New Armory For NY Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division In Capital Region!
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer yesterday announced a major step forward for building a new armory and readiness center for the NY Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters to be located in Colonie at the former site of the old Heritage Park minor league baseball stadium that was home to the Albany-Colonie Yankees. The long needed new HQ will also consolidate NY Army National Guard facilities currently located at Watervliet Arsenal, which is needed to maximize space and accommodate planned modernization and expansion projects at Watervliet Arsenal.
Schumer explained the current armory does not meet Army division HQ requirements, and securing this authorization for funding in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 is a critical milestone that unlocks the funding process. The next step is to pursue funding in future appropriations. The $90 million authorization he secured to be eligible for the project in the Senate is a massive step forward for the NY Army National Guard which has long been pushing for a new modern expanded armory and readiness center.
“This is a major step towards securing funding to build a new Armory for the 42nd Infantry Division, all while breathing new life into the former site of the Heritage Park minor league in Colonie. NY’s Army National Guard is critical to our national security, but the 42nd Infantry Division’s current headquarters was built over 50 years ago and needs more space to meet the Army’s growing requirements. When I heard the NY National Guard needed help to continue its vital mission and service in the Capital Region, I immediately got to work to secure this critical funding authorization so it can receive future appropriations funding in order to begin the process of building a new, modern facility,” said Senator Schumer. “This funding authorization in the Senate’s national defense bill is a major milestone for building a new state-of-the-art armory and readiness center for the Rainbow Division. I will continue to fight tooth and nail to secure this funding in future appropriations so we can get shovels in the ground for this new Armory.”
Major General Ray Shields, Adjutant General, New York National Guard said, “Senator Schumer has delivered again for the New York Army National Guard – in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2026 with $90M in authorized federal funds to build a new Readiness Center in Albany for the historic 42nd Infantry Division. Because of the Senator’s efforts to authorize this funding, we are one step closer to the construction of this new 140,000 square foot facility. The impact of this facility on the Division’s readiness will be significant and long lasting.”
Schumer explained that the 42nd Infantry Division Armory in Troy was constructed in 1971 for a smaller organization, but the current Armory housing headquarters does not meet the Army’s minimum facility requirements, with the Division growing and needing a larger space. Simultaneously, the Watervliet Arsenal is modernizing its manufacturing facilities and production streams. However, as a result, this will displace the National Guard Division’s warehouses located on Watervliet Arsenal grounds by 2028. The New York Army National Guard will move the warehouses at Watervliet Arsenal to the site of the current Armory will continue to be used by the NYNG.
Building a new, modernized Armory to house headquarters and consolidating warehouses, now at Watervliet, to the old Heritage Park site in Colonie would ensure that the 42nd Infantry Division has the centralization, resources, infrastructure, and capabilities needed to maintain the division’s mission readiness and its training and deployment activities.
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, “Building a new Capital District Armory on the former site of Heritage Park would be a win-win for both the NY Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division and Albany County. A new division headquarters, on what has been a long vacant county-owned property, would accommodate the need for more space in a modern facility. It would also provide a nice shot in the arm for our restaurants and hotels in that area. I want to thank Senator Schumer for his continued efforts to move this forward and secure funding for what will be a transformational project. This state of the art center will keep the Division mission ready and be able to maintain vital training and preparation for deployments.”
Schumer took action to push for the federal funding needed to support the Army’s operations in the Capital Region. NY State has already provided $5 million to acquire a new Capital Region location for a headquarters facility near the Albany International Airport that is shovel-ready and capable of handling large military vehicles. The state has also delivered $10 million to advance design and has pledged to contribute an additional $30 million to bring this idea to life if the federal government is able to deliver the $90 million needed to complete the project
