South Bronx Community Shares Ideas for Future of Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront
Bronx Times
By: Gabriele Holtermann
South Bronx Unite held its second “Waterfront Community Envisioning” session at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church on St. Ann’s Avenue in Mott Haven on May 11, where the community shared their vision of the Mott Haven-Port Morris waterfront, which spans from the Harlem River to the East River.
The Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront plan is a project led by the Mott Haven-Port Morris Community Land Stewards and South Bronx Unite. The plan includes revitalizing seven underutilized areas along the peninsula: the 134th Street Gantries Park, the East 132nd Street Pier, the Stony Point Trail, the Bronx Kill Waterfront, the Alexander Avenue extension, the Lincoln Avenue Waterfront and the Park Avenue Boat Launch.
For years, South Bronx residents have advocated for developing the 4.5-mile stretch of waterfront in a multi-use open space for the community. Currently, most of the primarily public land owned by New York state is leased to private companies like FedEx, Waste Management and Fresh Direct. Heavy diesel truck operations, waste transfer facilities, landfills and power plants in the area pollute the air — the Bronx has the highest asthma rate in New York City — and the area is not designed for long-term flood protection.
