A plan to modernize the Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx has stalled, putting a roughly $650 million project aimed at upgrading one of New York City’s most important food distribution sites in doubt. Bronx officials are trying to salvage the proposal, Gothamist reported Tuesday.
The proposed renovation would replace aging facilities with a modern, all-electric distribution center. City plans called for expanded refrigerated warehouse space and improvements to traffic flow, waste handling and working conditions. Reducing reliance on diesel-powered equipment was also intended to improve air quality around the market.
A key obstacle has been the lack of a new lease agreement between the city and the market’s cooperative, according to an earlier report by NY1. That disagreement had already halted progress in August, despite hundreds of millions of dollars being allocated to the redevelopment.
The stakes extend beyond the market’s merchants. Hunts Point is a major link in the city’s food supply, while nearby residents have long faced pollution from heavy truck traffic and diesel equipment. The latest setback leaves the project’s timetable uncertain as local officials seek a way to revive negotiations and preserve the planned investment. }
