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Q&A
Discussion on cold storage capacity and potential solutions
1:39:16
·
162 sec
Council member Alexa Avilés inquires about cold storage capacity issues at the Hunts Point Market and potential solutions, including using off-site locations like Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Matthew D'Arrigo responds, discussing the market redevelopment plans, challenges of expensive real estate in New York, and the potential benefits of adequate refrigeration systems.
- D'Arrigo suggests that the market redevelopment will significantly address capacity issues
- He recommends keeping any additional cold storage facilities privatized for efficiency
- D'Arrigo emphasizes the potential benefits of adequate refrigeration, including improved product shelf life and freshness
Alexa Avilés
1:39:16
Hi there.
1:39:17
Thank you so much for your testimony.
1:39:19
I was curious about the capacity issue that you were talking about and, you know, obviously using the TRU's to try to address it.
1:39:29
So I represent the area that includes Brooklyn Marine Terminal, and we talk a lot about coal storage.
1:39:39
Is do you need this coal storage on-site or would a southern location that that could be used to barge service help to alleviate some of that, challenge that you're facing with cup with, storage capacity?
Matthew D'Arrigo
1:39:59
Look.
1:39:59
Speaking personally from the Bronx perspective, the market redevelopment will go a long way to solving our capacity issues.
1:40:08
New York is expensive.
1:40:10
I I always have thought that the oversupply that comes into our market would might be better off being handled in New Jersey at a cold storage for 17¢ a square foot rather than 32 or whatever it is.
1:40:25
Although we don't pay it, but that's what the market would dictate normally.
1:40:28
But if you had cold storage in other boroughs, like in Brooklyn, I would urge that the city tries to keep it privatized, because I do think that the one size fits all and the kind of rigid structure that would develop from a public project.
1:40:54
I think it would be overbuilt, very frankly.
1:40:57
So the Brooklyn produce market, there's merchants there.
1:41:01
I think that's a good place to start about whether they need a redevelopment because that market might even be older than our market.
1:41:09
There's, I think, almost no hope at the individual green grocer level, except for maybe small business loans to get get some infrastructure there.
1:41:21
But if you've got the 25 merchants in the Hunts Point market, a adequate refrigeration system, which the new market would do, I think a whole lot would would develop that would be very positive.
1:41:37
I think it would add shelf life to the product, add freshness to the product, and, you know, in generally be very, very beneficial to the industry.
1:41:51
I'm not really sure I answered your question
Alexa Avilés
1:41:52
very well.
1:41:53
It's a it's a helpful no.
1:41:54
Thank you.
1:41:55
I your your response is helpful.
1:41:57
I appreciate it.
1:41:57
Thank you so much.