New York Construction Report staff writer
The City of New York will move ahead with the removal of the decommissioned Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center (VCBC) from Hunts Point and begin planning for a new marine terminal that aims to shift cargo deliveries off trucks and onto water-based transport.
The NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is issuing a request for proposals to remove the retired jail barge, decommissioned in 2023. The move clears the way for a proposed Hunts Point Marine Terminal, part of the city’s broader effort to reduce road congestion and pollution by expanding its “Blue Highways” freight initiative.
The marine terminal is expected to serve as a logistics hub for transferring goods from larger ships to smaller barges and ferries for local delivery across the city. Officials estimate the project could generate about 400 construction jobs, 100 permanent jobs, and $3.9 billion in economic impact over three decades. It may also eliminate up to 9,000 truck trips from city streets each month.
The facility would link with other marine infrastructure, including the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, enhancing cargo movement along the East Coast and within the city’s five boroughs.
As part of the redevelopment, the city has allocated more than $28 million in its Fiscal Year 2026 executive budget to expand the South Bronx greenway. The new bike network will extend along Halleck Street and improve access to the waterfront.
Plans for the terminal are rooted in the city’s “Hunts Point Forward” initiative, a 15-year plan launched in 2022 that outlines strategies for economic growth, public health improvements, and infrastructure upgrades in the neighborhood. The plan includes a $40 million commitment to Hunts Point.
In addition to planning and design, NYCEDC will oversee land remediation at the VCBC site to address legacy pollution, with completion targeted for 2027.
The Hunts Point Marine Terminal will be adjacent to a separate marine facility being developed by Con Agg Global, which is set to begin operations later this year and focus initially on construction materials. That site is expected to reduce about 1,000 truck trips per month in the South Bronx.
To support job access, NYCEDC has awarded $1.4 million to the Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation to launch an Economic Mobility Network. The initiative aims to connect local residents with employment and training opportunities in sectors like food distribution and green industries.
The announcement comes as the city continues broader plans to develop a “Harbor of the Future,” including ports and innovation hubs in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Governors Island, with goals of enhancing supply chain resiliency and advancing green economic development.
The Vernon C. Bain jail barge, moored in the Bronx since the early 1990s, has long been a symbol of overcapacity in the city’s correctional system. Community groups and advocates have pushed for its removal for years, citing environmental and social impacts on the surrounding area.
The site’s redevelopment marks a step toward reshaping the waterfront and advancing infrastructure aimed at reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable logistics.
