Backed by $405 million in city, state, federal funding, and an anticipated federal loan, the project will create a new state-of-the-art, intermodal food distribution facility.
Plunkett, who joined the Bronx-based Simone Development Companies in 2018, is well known in Westchester County’s business and not-for-profit community.
Mortgage rates started the New Year with a decline to 6.25%, the lowest level since September 2024.
Backed by $405 million in city, state, federal funding, and an anticipated federal loan, the project will create a new state-of-the-art, intermodal food distribution facility.
NEW YORK—On Dec. 30, New York City officials announced that following a competitive procurement process, the New York City Economic Development Corp. had conditionally selected Aurora-Primus—a joint venture design-build firm with Aurora Contractors, LLC of Ronkonkoma, NY and Primus Builders, Inc. of Woodstock, GA as principal entities—to execute the $405-million redevelopment of the expansive Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx.
Over the next six months, the parties will work together to advance the project design and make sure the operational needs of the Hunts Point Produce Cooperative can be met at a financially sustainable cost. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026. Once constructed by NYCEDC, the new facility will be leased by the Hunts Point Produce Cooperative.
In March, NYCEDC issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) seeking statements of qualifications from qualified firms interested in performing the design, construction, and other identified activities for the Hunts Point Produce Market Redevelopment; a request for proposals was issued to a shortlist of firms that responded to the RFQ and the city.
Backed by $405 million in city, state, federal funding, and an anticipated federal loan, the project will create a new state-of-the-art, intermodal food distribution facility, improve air quality for nearly 13,000 Bronx residents who live on the Hunts Point Peninsula, and generate more than 2,000 new construction jobs, as well as preserve the good-paying jobs already at the current market, city officials stated.
“If you want to see the future of New York City, look to Hunts Point. With cleaner air, cutting-edge technology, and good-paying jobs for working-class New Yorkers, the new Hunts Point Produce Market represents the smart, forward-looking investments our administration has made every day in office,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “This new facility will help transport food from farms upstate to tables all across our city—reducing emissions, creating jobs, and bolstering our supply chain. When we came into office, we promised to build the cleaner, more affordable future Hunts Point deserved, and, with today’s announcement, we are delivering on that promise once again.”
“New York State is proud to invest $130 million in the complete transformation of the Hunts Point Produce Market—a facility that feeds millions of New Yorkers every day,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. “This redevelopment will deliver cleaner air and better health outcomes for Bronx families, create thousands of good-paying construction jobs, and build a first-of-its-kind all-electric food distribution hub that sets the standard for sustainable infrastructure nationwide.”
The project is backed by $130 million in city funding, $130 million in state funding through Empire State Development, $145 million in funding through federal grants (including the Federal Highway Administration), and financing anticipated to be raised by NYCEDC through a railroad rehabilitation and an improvement financing loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The Hunts Point Produce Cooperative—which consists of approximately 26 businesses—sources more than 2.5 billion pounds of produce each year; the cooperative then distributes that produce across New York City and beyond. The current market employs thousands of New Yorkers, supplies 25% of the city’s fresh produce, and occupies more than 100 acres in Hunts Point. It consists of four primary warehouse structures, two adjunct warehouses, and various administrative and maintenance structures all housing approximately 26 merchants. The businesses range from small firms with three employees to large firms with approximately 400 employees.
The new food distribution facility will improve daily market operations while enhancing the long-term viability of the city’s produce businesses by meeting market needs. The redevelopment will also eliminate the stationary diesel-fueled Transport Refrigeration Units (TRU), delivering cleaner air for the nearly 13,000 New Yorkers who reside in the Hunts Point peninsula.
“On behalf of the Hunts Point Produce Market and its more than two dozen independent businesses, we are grateful to the City of New York for its partnership and commitment to the future of this vital facility,” said Hunts Point Produce Market Co-President Stephen Katzman. “This agreement represents an important milestone and creates a clear framework for the next phase of work as we advance planning and design for a modern, more sustainable market that supports our mission of feeding New York City with fresh produce from around the world.”
Mortgage rates started the New Year with a decline to 6.25%, the lowest level since September 2024.
Levy previously served as Senior Vice President of Homeownership and Community Development at Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), New York State’s affordable housing agency.
The properties contain a contiguous expanse of forest, wetlands, and streams, as well as 1,150 feet of frontage on the Neversink River.
The New York metro region (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) ranked fifth among the metro areas with the longest time to save for a down payment.
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