By Joseph Morales

The MTA is getting set to build a first of its kind electric bus charging facility on the site of the former Bronx Golf Center. Over the years, the site at 1825 E Gun Hill Rd  owned by the MTA  has grown to be abandoned and dilapidated with overgrown shrubs and golf balls from years ago still sitting on the property which once was a golf course. After years of many plans for the space being proposed, the MTA has finally prepared a request for proposal(RFP) to bring an electric bus charging facility to the site which hopefully can turn the site from an abandoned eyesore to a vital piece of  EV Charging infrastructure that will benefit many Bronx communities.

        The plan for the facility is for it to be a 550,000 square foot facility that will include an electric bus charging facility which is critical to ensure that electric buses can be operated on Bronx streets. Currently, the MTA operates 15 all-electric buses and purchased 60 more electric buses for $64 million in November 2021. The MTA is committed to purchasing even more buses as the necessary infrastructure such as bus production, funding and facilities including ones like this one. The MTA believes that given  flexible industrial zoning with up to 1,000,000 square feet of development potential and a level construction site the property will meet increasing demand for modern industrial distribution space. The facility’s access to I-95 might also make it easier for buses to get charged and get to many different routes throughout the borough, allowing these buses to serve riders in more parts of The Bronx. The RFP also includes the placement of a solar panel array on the roof of the facility.  The MTA even says that prospective developers could go even further to construct an even more ambitious urban zero-emission industrial facility. The developer selected to construct the facility will be required to fund the construction of the facility as well as pay substantial ground rent that goes toward MTA Capital needs, supported by the revenue generated by redeveloping underutilized land.  The proposal does not impact the northwestern portion of the site, which includes the baseball fields operated by Astor Little League that provides recreational baseball leagues to youth in the surrounding community.

         The site is part of a larger property that includes the Gun Hill Bus Depot as well as baseball fields operated by Astor Little League that provides recreational baseball leagues to youth in the surrounding community.  The MTA acquired the property in the mid-1980’s via condemnation  with the intent of building a larger bus depot, however the plan was scrapped due to funding at the time.  They wound up leasing part of the property to the little league as well as a golf driving range as an interim use.In June 2010, the New York Post reported that the MTA was looking for a new owner to fulfill the purpose of the golf course area as a recreational and entertainment venue since it was beginning to show signs of abandonment , but MTA spokesperson Aaron Donovan said they may one day use it again for transportation purposes. More recently in 2017, a massive shopping center called Baychester Square was proposed which would have created 45 retail stores as well as a number of restaurants and 180 units of affordable senior housing, though plans for the mall were scrapped due to strong community opposition.

     This project could be of historic magnitude, as this would be the first facility of its kind to exist for the MTA in New York City. Hopefully, this project can not only increase the prevalence of electric buses for a borough with a major need for cleaner vehicles but also set a model for cities around the country to follow when it comes to building infrastructure to sustain an electric bus fleet.

Inside of Abandoned Bronx Golf Center and what will hopefully be first electric bus charging facility in The Bronx.

Overgrown weeds outside of 1825 East Gun Hill Rd

Acknowledgements

“MTA Issues RFP for Bronx Electric Bus Depot Development.” MTA, 22 March 2022, https://new.mta.info/press-release/mta-issues-rfp-bronx-electric-bus-depot-development. Accessed 4 August 2022

Jorgensen, Jillian. “Plans scrapped for Bronx’s Baychester Square mall, housing development.” NY Daily News, 9 August 2017, https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/plans-scrapped-bronx-baychester-square-mall-housing-article-1.3397882. Accessed 4 August 2022.

“About — BAYCHESTER SQUARE.” BAYCHESTER SQUARE, http://www.baychestersquare.com/about-2. Accessed 4 August 2022.

 

Roberts, Daniel. “Abandoned driving range up for bid.” New York Post, 23 July 2010, https://nypost.com/2010/07/23/abandoned-driving-range-up-for-bid/. Accessed 4 August 2022.