In a press conference in City Hall the three leaders joined to discuss a possible mid-year groundbreaking at Hunts Point for a new facility, which according to the EDC's estimations will cost the city $81 million in the preliminary budget. All emphasized that a complete environmental impact study must be completed before anything can begin and that some significant traffic issues need to be addressed.
The hurdle the city needs to overcome is the management of traffic on the already congested Bruckner Expressway and Edgewater Avenue area. Ferrer said, "Trucks traversing Hunts Point Avenue is not a new phenomenon; it's been going on for 40 years." In response to an audience question regarding significantly high asthma rates in the Bronx, particularly in children he responded, "Certainly the truck traffic isn't doing a lot to enhance respiratory function.
"This project could actually go a long way to help," he added. "If the state were to move on its Bruckner/Sheridan Interchange I know the mayor and I will be more than happy to work with them to move on it."
Carey also suggested that speed bumps and other such measures could also keep trucks off some of the roadways in the area and reduce traffic. He also highlighted the need for the Bruckner/Sheridan Interchange to happen.
Ferrer also noted that the new 285,000 sf facility on 30-acres of vacant land on the southern end of the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center would create "a sensible synergy between the meat markets there and now the fish markets. It also makes sense for the existing Fulton Fish Market. Considering we are in the 21st Century, the market still handles fish in an 18th-Century way--that had to change and it will change."
He noted the new refrigerated market. The US Food and Drug Administration now prohibits the selling of seafood outdoors, the current set-up at the South Street market. Also, business hours can be extended at the new site, as South Street's hours are restricted because public streets are utilized. The new market will be 35,000 sf larger than the current market and the mayor said he expects 1,200 jobs to be created in the Bronx, 200 more than exist now in the Manhattan location.
When asked about the plans for the original site, the new Guggenheim located was of course mentioned, as were potential residential and retail projects. Officially, Giuliani said "We'll turn our attention to the original site mid-year."
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