City Unveils Vision for Hunts Point Marine Terminal on Site of Former Jail Barge

Image Courtesy of NYCEDC

City Will Permanently Remove Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center from Hunts Point

Vision for New Hunts Point Marine Terminal on Site to Connect Cargo to Last-Mile Delivery, Generate $3.9 Billion in Economic Impact, Create Hundreds of Jobs, Remove 9,000 Truck Trips from City Streets Every Month

Plan Would Establish Economic Mobility Network in Hunts Point to Connect New Yorkers to Jobs, Invest Over $28 Million to Expand Waterfront Access and Improve Greenway

The city will remove the decommissioned Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center (VCBC) barge from Hunts Point and pursue an innovative Hunts Point Marine Terminal on the site to move freight off of ships and onto the last mile in their delivery.

The new marine terminal—which is estimated to create 400 construction jobs, 100 permanent jobs, and $3.9 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years—would form a key connection point between ports up and down the East Coast, including the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and other nodes in New York City. By building this new ‘Blue Highways’ facility, the terminal would remove an estimated 9,000 monthly truck trips from city streets and reduce roadway congestion.

The Hunts Point Marine Terminal will continue into a design and planning stage with continued community consultation. Additionally, NYCEDC will lead a comprehensive land remediation effort to address the site’s historical pollution, an essential step toward unlocking its future potential, which is anticipated to be completed in 2027.

The initiative aims to increase the utilization of New York City’s waterways to transport and deliver cargo—reducing emissions, decreasing wear and tear on roadways, alleviating supply chain bottlenecks, and moving goods more quickly from ships to shelves. Progress has been made on this initiative, including by the recent unveiling of the Downtown Skyport, a multi-modal hub for sustainable transportation and last-mile delivery; an investment of $18 million to upgrade port operations at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal; and a $164 million federal grant NYCEDC received to transform the 122-acre Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a modern, 21st-century maritime port and mixed-use community. The competition of each of these sites increases transportation resiliency and helps alleviate critical food security bottlenecks, making New York City better equipped to receive goods during times of emergency or disaster.

The Hunts Point Marine Terminal will build on the recently announced Blue Highways facility in partnership with Con Agg Global, which will be located adjacent to the Fulton Fish Market in the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center and next door to the new Hunts Point Marine Terminal. Con Agg Global’s facility, set to begin operations this year, will initially handle construction materials such as natural sand, gravel, and stone. Eventually, a permanent facility—currently seeking final sourcing and additional approvals—will handle more goods; it is expected to remove approximately 1,000 truck trips per month in the South Bronx. The permanent facility will feature an inland standard barge with a modular pier design to allow for rapid deployment, high capacity, and flexibility to adjust the design and layout based on evolving market demands for freight, including micro freight.

Moreover, NYCEDC has awarded $1.4 million to the Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation (GHPEDC) to lead an Economic Mobility Network in Hunts Point, connecting residents to training and local, good-paying jobs at the Food Distribution Center and innovation industries in the green economy. GHPEDC’s coalition partners will include WorkforceBX, The Point CDC, The Hope Program, Bronx River Alliance, Rocking the Boat, Fulton Fish Market Cooperative, Empire Clean Cities, and the Hunts Point Longwood Community Coalition. The Hunts Point Marine Terminal and the Economic Mobility Network represent the city’s long-term investment to advance equitable economic growth in Hunts Point.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city’s future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.