The Soundview Economic Hub is an initiative to reimagine and reclaim 30,000 square feet of underutilized space under the Bruckner Expressway at Bronx River Ave. The initiative, led by Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ), aims to transform the area into a community-driven space where South Bronx residents, entrepreneurs, and food growers can manufacture goods and offer services that provide resources, employment, and educational opportunities.
Through the Hub, YMPJ aims to dismantle the legacy of racist urban design and set a precedent for equitable highway redevelopment.
In order to build momentum toward the Soundview Economic Hub, YMPJ and the Bronx Defenders have partnered with Urban Design Forum/the Local Center to activate the site and build a temporary community-led art installation and performance space during the summer of 2024.
Through an RFP process, YMPJ collaborated with Bronx-based artists to activate the space with artwork that honors the histories of resilience, activism, and community in the Bronx.
In addition, YMPJ hopes to have a variety of programming on site, such as community celebrations, performances, food vendors, turf zones for games of pickleball or table-tennis, and more.
