NYCEDC, Elected Officials and Community Members Celebrate the Holidays with Tree Lighting Ceremony and Annual Winter Festival in Hunts Point
HUNTS POINT, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) hosted a Holiday Lighting Ceremony in collaboration with The Point Economic Development Corporation (The Point) at their Annual Winter Festival for local children and their families in Hunts Point. Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, Assembly Member Marcos Crespo, Senator Luis Sepulveda, The Point President and Chief Operating Officer Mara Torres and members from the community celebrated the holidays with performances from The Point’s Student Choir, toy giveaways, family portraits with Santa, a circus performance, and arts and crafts from local vendors.
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The Holiday Lighting Ceremony marks a milestone for the Hunts Point Peninsula, a mixed-use development that will become a vibrant gathering space for community members. Last month, New York City Economic Development Corporation, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Housing Development Corporation in partnership with the development team Hudson Companies, Gilbane Development Company and Mutual Housing Association of New York broke ground on the first phase of the Peninsula. The transformational project will convert the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center into 740 units of affordable housing, open space including a new public plaza, light industrial business opportunities, community facilities, and ground floor retail to the Hunts Point neighborhood.
"For many years, The Point has served as a community leader offering educational programming and jobs for residents in Hunts Point,” said NYC Economic Development Corporation President and CEO James Patchett. “It’s why we’re thrilled to be a sponsor for the Holiday Lighting Ceremony, which will serve as an annual tradition for families at the new Peninsula. I’d like to thank The Point, our local elected officials and community members for their continued partnership. I look forward to hosting more events together in the future.”
"The Point’s Annual Winter Festival serves as a great opportunity to bring the community together and celebrate the holiday season," stated Council Member Rafael Salamanca. “This year’s event holds special meaning for the Hunts Points community as it is the first of many joint celebrations held in conjunction with the Peninsula development. I thank The Point, EDC and neighborhood partners for once again bringing the joys of holiday season to the South Bronx."
“The Holiday Lighting Ceremony brings the community together in the spirit of the season during the most wonderful time of the year,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This event gives local families a fun place to spend quality with their loved ones and connect with their neighbors. Thank you to the EDC and The Point for helping to bring holiday cheer to Hunts Point.”
Phase one of the Peninsula will include 56,000 square feet of industrial space—designed to support various Bronx-based small to medium-sized industrial and light manufacturing businesses—in addition to 183 units of deeply affordable housing, studios to three-bedroom units, for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income New Yorkers. An additional 10 percent of the units will be set aside for formerly homeless individuals. The first residential phase is expected to be completed in 2021.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation creates shared prosperity across New York City’s five boroughs by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs. NYCEDC works with and for communities to provide them with the resources they need to thrive, and we invest in projects that increase sustainability, support job growth, develop talent, and spark innovation to strengthen the City’s competitive advantage. To learn more about our work and initiatives, To learn more about our work and initiatives, please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
