South Bronx Residents Oppose Warehouse Proposal
Local groups are urging officials to reject a new warehouse and instead build a clean energy hub at the old printing plant.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Commercial
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South Bronx community groups are calling for the rejection of a proposed warehouse development at the site of the former New York Post printing plant. Residents instead urge the city and state to support a clean energy hub with recreational space at the 447,000-square-foot Harlem River Yards property.
Why it matters
Local advocates are opposing the project due to concerns over increased heavy-duty truck traffic and the neighborhood's existing health burden. The area currently sees high rates of pediatric asthma and respiratory distress, which residents fear will worsen with more last-mile distribution centers.
The former New York Post printing plant spans 447,000 square feet within the Harlem River Yards, a site held under a 99-year lease that began in 1991 and runs through 2090. Local health data shows that one out of six children in this South Bronx neighborhood currently struggles with asthma.
The players
South Bronx Unite
A community-based organization focused on environmental justice and local planning initiatives in the South Bronx.
Prologis
A global logistics real estate company that operates several distribution centers in the area and seeks to acquire the printing plant site.
Amanda Septimo
A member of the New York State Assembly who supports the community-led alternative proposal for the printing plant site.
Richie Torres
A U.S. Representative who has previously engaged with federal agencies regarding the development impacts in the Bronx.
The details
Prologis is under contract to purchase the site, adding to their existing footprint of distribution centers in the South Bronx. South Bronx Unite advocates for an alternative plan that replaces warehouse logistics with solar panels and community-accessible recreational areas to mitigate regional environmental hazards. This effort aims to pivot away from the logistics-heavy development model currently dominating the riverfront corridor.
Timeline
1991: The State of New York established a 99-year lease for the Harlem River Yards.
November 2021: Representative Richie Torres wrote to the Department of Transportation regarding site usage.
October 23, 2026: Community members held a rally and press conference to voice opposition.
2090: The state's long-term lease for the Harlem River Yards is set to expire.
The Home Front
The controversy highlights a growing tension between industrial logistics expansion and residential public health in dense urban areas. This debate over warehouse usage sits squarely within the ongoing trend of community-led opposition to last-mile fulfillment infrastructure in legacy industrial zones.
Residents should monitor public hearing notices from local community boards regarding the zoning and purchase status of the Harlem River Yards site. Families concerned about local air quality may want to review resources from the New York City Department of Health on managing pediatric asthma triggers.
The takeaway
South Bronx residents are prioritizing clean energy and green space over additional industrial warehouse capacity to address regional health concerns. Homeowners and families can track the progress of the site development by attending upcoming community board meetings.
Further reading
Learn more about local land use and development trends in the Commercial section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bronx Times.
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