Hunts Point is slated to receive a $140 million investment, under a new economic recovery plan for the city that Mayor Eric Adams has announced.
The recovery initiative, called, “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,” describes a multi-point plan for the city’s recovery. No other spending under the plan was detailed beyond what the mayor said would be directed to Hunts Point.
Of the $140 million promised by Adams, $100 million will go towards improving infrastructure at the Hunts Point Produce Market, while the other $40 million will go to improving surrounding infrastructure and neighborhood parks.
The produce market was built in 1962 on just 40 acres, but it has now grown to 113 acres and employs about 3,000 workers, according to The New York Times. Many of the market’s buildings are more than 50 years old.
“We will support the redevelopment of the Hunts Point Produce Market, recognizing its vital role in the food supply chain that employs thousands of New Yorkers and supplies 25 percent of the city’s fresh produce,” a report detailing elements of the recovery plan said. “A resilient food system is central to the city’s future and will be integrated into neighborhood planning work across the city.”
Many of the businesses in the market helped feed the South Bronx during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Councilman Rafael Salamanca.
“We fed over 65,000 people in Hunts Point,” Salamanca said. “If we want these businesses to continue to provide this type of service for New Yorkers and the tri-state area, we need to ensure that they have an upgraded facility.”
Many vendors worked throughout the pandemic, risking themselves to provide food for the entire city. Last year, the workers went on strike for the first time in 35 years for a $1-an-hour raise.
The mayor’s economic recovery plan includes 70 actions divided into five strategies for economic growth. Other priorities cited in the plan include improving public safety, bringing the 2026 FIFA World Cup to New York City, and creating a cultural district on Governors Island.
“New York City’s recovery cannot and will not be about going back to the way things were,” Adams said Thursday during an appearance at the market. “We are going to rebuild, renew, and reinvent our city and our economy for today, tomorrow, and generations to come.”
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