The city of New York is saying goodbye to the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, known colloquially as "The Barge." Mayor Eric Adams, along with leaders from NYCEDC and DOC, has revealed plans to replace the decommissioned jail barge with an innovative Hunts Point Marine Terminal, aimed at streamlining the city's cargo operations and reducing street congestion. The anticipated transformation is set to create jobs, revitalize the South Bronx, and forge a new chapter in the borough's history.
During its years of operation, the floating jail facility was a fixture on the Bronx's Hunts Point waterfront, but now the space is being envisioned for goods movement, according to the NYC Mayor's Office. Provided that the project moves forward as planned, the city expects to generate $3.9 billion in economic impact over the next three decades and create hundreds of jobs in the process. Removing the barge is freeing up not just physical space, but also possibilities for a community long overshadowed by the penal system's presence.
The envisioned marine terminal would be a linchpin in the city's larger "Blue Highways" initiative. As mentioned by Mayor Adams, this initiative embodies an effort to harness New York City's waterways for the transportation of goods, thereby reducing environmental impact and easing roadway burden. The proposed terminal, as Mayor Adams stated, is a step forward to "unload cargo from all across the world for delivery throughout New York City" and to demonstrate cities' capacity for "bold, ambitious things," as per the NYC Mayor's Office.
Alongside the marine terminal project, a sprawling plan to enrich the South Bronx community includes bike lane expansions and land remediation efforts. As Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión Jr., who served the Bronx as borough president and councilmember for nearly 12 years, announced, the project not only intends to address existing congestion and air quality issues but also promises to enhance waterfront accessibility and encourage greener modes of transportation.
Furthermore, in the interests of economic growth and environmental justice, the city is allocating $1.4 million to the Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation. This funding aims to support the local workforce in attaining jobs within the burgeoning green economy. The ongoing investments in the "Harbor of the Future" span various boroughs and sectors, positioning New York City at the forefront of climate innovation, sustainable living, and economic diversification.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson underscored the project's significance, highlighting how "the new terminal will create good-paying union jobs and long-term economic opportunities for Bronx families." These changes move in tandem with city’s historic decarceration plan and a push towards humane justice systems. President and CEO of The Fortune Society, Stanley Richards, a Bronx native himself, expressed the change as not just a structural alteration but as a symbol of healing for the South Bronx – "a more just future," according to the NYC Mayor's Office.
