The rust, wear and tear is evident but these two hulking steel structures along the East River still stand tall as relics of New York’s nautical and industrial past.

Mychal Johnson is the co-founder of South Bronx Unite. A community coalition that advocates for environmental, social and economic justice in the South Bronx.

He said the steel structures, which are known as gantries, date to the early 1900’s when the area bustled with ship and railroad traffic. They were used to lift ferries in and out of the river.

South Bronx Unite started a petition urging the city to landmark the gantries and renovate them. The goal is to transform the area into an open green space with the gantries as an architectural focal point.

“The vision is to create an esplanade where folks can get out here and recreate fish, not necessarily get in the water but be closer to the water. Make some art installations where folks in the community can celebrate that in this space,” said Mychal Johnson, Co-Founder of South Bronx Unite.

The Port Morris gantries are in the National Register of Historic Places but the city has not given them the same status as gantries in Long Island City, Queens, Governors Island, and West 69th Street in Manhattan.

This entire area is surrounded by industrial buildings and the waterfront is off-limits behind locked gates. Some say that makes the area inaccessible and unwelcoming to Bronx residents.

“It’s an excellent idea. This area is very solitary. That would bring more movement to the area. The view of the water is beautiful,” said Mauricio Pineda, a worker.

The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission tells NY1 it is reviewing the landmark request but there is no timetable for a decision.

“They have nice gantries, in other communities, that are more economically affluent, but ours is ruined. This should be recognized by landmarks historic district council and it should be renovated to where people can use this space,” said Johnson.

The gantries are located near Locust Avenue and E. 134th Street on city land used to store vehicles. Johnson and other activists hope that in the near future people will be able to enjoy the waterfront here in the shadow of gantries that are a reminder of the Bronx's rich past.