The 369th Regiment (also known by their nickname, the "Harlem Hell Fighters") was initially housed at Astor Row on West 130th Street.
However, as a result of the unit's reorganization, the Armory Board was now obligated to create an armory for the 369th Regiment.
The city's acting mayor promised an armory structure to the 369th Regiment in 1919.
Funding for the 369th Regiment Armory was approved by the city in July 1921.
The initial plans called for building only the drill shed; an administration building was required for the armory to be fully functional.

The city located a site on Fifth Avenue between 142nd and 143rd Streets and demolished the tenements there.
Work on the armory's drill shed was begun with a groundbreaking ceremony in November 1921.
This was followed by a request for proposals to design the drill shed, for which five firms submitted bids.
Tachau and Vought, who had previously designed the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, won the commission and designed the structure in the Romanesque style.
Post & McCord were selected as the contractors.
The cost of the drill shed was estimated at $700,000, and the administration building, another $500,000.
The cornerstone was laid in November 1923, when construction was already progressing.
and the drill shed was finished the following November at a cost of $800,000.

The rest of the block was purchased by the city in 1929, in preparation for the administration building's construction.
In 1930, the Armory Board submitted plans for the $1 million administration building to the New York City Board of Estimate.
The new building would include a shooting range, auditorium, mess hall, and rooftop tennis courts.
Twelve firms submitted designs for the drill shed, and the commission was ultimately given to the lowest bidder, John S. Van Wart and Sidney Wein.
Work started in 1931 after the C & W Construction Company were named as the contractors.
The administration building was completed in 1933.
However, the New York Daily News reported in January 1934 that the 369th Regiment had refused to accept title to the administration building, citing various work defects such as a leaky roof.
As a result, the Armory Board opened an investigation into the construction of the 369th Administration Building.
The 369th Regiment (also known by their nickname, the "Harlem Hell Fighters") was initially housed at Astor Row on West 130th Street. However, as a result of the unit's reorganization, the Armory Board was now obligated to create an armory for the 369th Regiment. The city's acting mayor promised an armory structure to the 369th Regiment in 1919. Funding for the 369th Regiment Armory was approved by the city in July 1921. The initial plans called for building only the drill shed; an administration building was required for the armory to be fully functional.
The city located a site on Fifth Avenue between 142nd and 143rd Streets and demolished the tenements there. Work on the armory's drill shed was begun with a groundbreaking ceremony in November 1921. This was followed by a request for proposals to design the drill shed, for which five firms submitted bids. Tachau and Vought, who had previously designed the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, won the commission and designed the structure in the Romanesque style. Post & McCord were selected as the contractors. The cost of the drill shed was estimated at $700,000, and the administration building, another $500,000. The cornerstone was laid in November 1923, when construction was already progressing. and the drill shed was finished the following November at a cost of $800,000.
The rest of the block was purchased by the city in 1929, in preparation for the administration building's construction. In 1930, the Armory Board submitted plans for the $1 million administration building to the New York City Board of Estimate. The new building would include a shooting range, auditorium, mess hall, and rooftop tennis courts. Twelve firms submitted designs for the drill shed, and the commission was ultimately given to the lowest bidder, John S. Van Wart and Sidney Wein. Work started in 1931 after the C & W Construction Company were named as the contractors. The administration building was completed in 1933. However, the New York Daily News reported in January 1934 that the 369th Regiment had refused to accept title to the administration building, citing various work defects such as a leaky roof. As a result, the Armory Board opened an investigation into the construction of the 369th Administration Building.
369th Regiment Armory