It has been called the world’s largest armory — a palatial fortress in the middle of the northwest Bronx, with turrets overlooking the subway station.

But for nearly 30 years, the Kingsbridge Armory has languished despite grand plans by mega-developers, billionaire investors and celebrities to repurpose the 570,000-square-foot landmark.

Now, an unusual community-led partnership aims to succeed where those efforts failed by creating an economic and cultural hub for those who live and work in the predominantly low-income neighborhood. It hopes to bring high-tech manufacturing jobs, a live performance space, new businesses and affordable housing to the city-owned site.

The proposed development, if selected by city officials, would be led by the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, an influential nonprofit group that has fought for racial justice, affordable housing and economic development in the city’s poorest borough since 1974. The plan grew out of years of frustration among community leaders and residents who were tired of being sidelined in previous plans for the armory.

“We’ve been fighting back for a really long time,” said Sandra Lobo, the executive director of the coalition. “It’s time to fight forward.”