Site of future rooftop farm in Hunts Point

Opportunity to develop and operate a rooftop farm on a 200,000 sq.ft. building near the Halleck Industrial Development Site. On June 11, 2012, the Economic Development Corporation issued a request for proposals for the development and operation of a year-round rooftop farm on a 200,000-square-foot City-owned warehouse along the East River in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. The farm would be located on the roof of 600 Food Center Drive, which is currently occupied by Sultana Distribution and Citarella. EDC anticipates executing a lease with the chosen developer by the end of the summer of 2012, with construction beginning in the fall of 2012. The site is south of the Halleck Industrial Development Site, which is subject to a separate, and ongoing, EDC request for proposals process. (See CityLand’s coverage of the Halleck Industrial Development Site RFP here).

The warehouse’s lot is zoned M3-1, which permits heavy manufacturing uses. According to EDC, a rooftop farm or greenhouse would be permitted as-of-right on the warehouse.  The warehouse is located within the boundary of the Hunts Point Market Food Cooperative and is considered a “Market Property” under the State Agriculture and Markets Law. Therefore, the lease would require review through the City’s Environmental Quality Review process, but would be exempt from ULURP because it would be for a market-consistent (food-related) use.

The stated goals of the project include enabling and enhancing the City’s urban agriculture base and expanding and preserving quality jobs for local residents.

Interested developers must submit their proposals by July 9, 2012.

[Update: EDC has extended the submission deadline to August 6, 2012. Download and read EDC’s Addendum #1 here.]

EDC: Request for Proposals – Rooftop Farming (June 11, 2012).