A redevelopment project at the Hunts Point Produce Market that was intended to improve air quality in the South Bronx has stalled after the cooperative that operates the market and the city failed to reach an agreement.
The project is intended to transform the Hunts Point Produce Market into a state-of-the-art, all-electric distribution center.
The goal was to reduce pollution for an estimated 13,000 Bronx residents while preserving the market and jobs in the community.
More than $400 million was allocated to the redevelopment, but City Council member Justin Sanchez said the cooperative failed to reach an agreement with the city on a lease for the site.
“Over $400 million was not enough for the cooperative members to come to an agreement and actually find a way to work with the local community to make sure that we are getting these 1,000 diesel trucks off of our streets and actually into a new facility,” said Sanchez, a Democrat who represents the Bronx.
Sanchez said the two sides were separated by several million dollars in negotiations.
“Moving up from $4 million in rent to $14 million in rent is a large jump,” he said. “However, we worked to cut that down from the $18 million in rent we were originally in negotiation to ask for.”
Robert Leonard, spokesperson for the Hunts Point Cooperative, denied that the lease price was the reason the project fell apart. He said the proposed redevelopment plan was the issue.
“We look forward to working with the city to come up with new development plans that allow us to continue to do that at appropriate levels during the construction process. This last iteration of a plan did not allow us to maintain that level of throughput continuously – which would have taxed our ability to supply our customers and consumers with fresh produce,” Leonard said in a statement.
The market is currently home to 26 businesses and supplies 25% of the city’s fresh produce, according to the city.
The stalled redevelopment was intended to be part of a larger revitalization effort in Hunts Point that also includes a city-run grocery store nearby.
The grocery store and produce market projects are separate, but city officials and community leaders say both are intended to bring health benefits to an underserved area.
An Economic Development Corporation spokesperson said the Mamdani administration remains committed to working with the Hunts Point Cooperative and union workers to address environmental concerns.
“Mayor Mamdani’s administration is committed to working alongside the Hunts Point Cooperative and the union workers who keep this market running to confront the quality-of-life and environmental burdens residents have carried for decades. That means finding ways to reduce truck traffic, addressing the nearly 1,000 diesel-powered trailer units onsite,” the spokesperson said.
In the meantime, Sanchez plans to introduce legislation aimed at reducing emissions from truck refrigeration units.
“These diesel refrigeration units that are running 24-7 in addition to all of the traffic that we get from the Cross Bronx, the Sheridan Expressway and all of these highways converging and all of it together is a best-case scenario for asthma in our communities,” Sanchez said.