Confucius Plaza Apartments is a limited-equity housing cooperative in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City. The 44-story brown brick tower block complex (433 ft (132 m)) with 762 apartments was constructed in 1975 at a cost of $38.387 million.[1] The building was the first major public-funded housing project built for almost exclusively Chinese Americans.
| Confucius Plaza | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | residential apartments |
| Location | Chinatown, Manhattan, New York |
| Coordinates | 40°42′53″N 73°59′46″W / 40.71472°N 73.99611°W |
| Completed | 1975 |
| Opening | December 1975 |
| Cost | US$38.387 million |
| Management | Mitchell-Lama Housing Program |
| Height | |
| Roof | 433 feet (132 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 44 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Horowitz & Chun |
| Structural engineer | Rosenwasser / Grossman |
| Main contractor | DeMatteis Organizations |
The Yung Wing Public School, P.S. 124 (K–5), shops, community space, and a daycare center are located beneath the apartments. The complex is located north of Chatham Square at the intersection of Bowery, Doyers Street, and Division Street.
by Liu Shih
One of the most frequently visited landmarks in Chinatown is the 15-foot bronze statue of Confucius, the Chinese philosopher, in front of the complex. Sculpted by Liu Shih, the statue was presented by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association as a token of appreciation, and to commemorate the U.S. bicentennial. At its base, a Confucian proverb is inscribed aside an American Flag, praising a just government with remarkable leaders of wisdom and ability.[2][3]
During the construction of Confucius Plaza, Asian American activists organized several successful protests alleging discriminatory hiring practices by the contractor, DeMatteis Organization, for refusing to hire Asian construction workers.[4] On May 16, 1974, a protest of 250 individuals organized by Asian Americans for Equal Employment (now Asian Americans for Equality) resulted in a work stoppage when protestors entered the construction site.[5] Protestors held signs in English and Chinese which stated "The Asians build the railroad; Why not Confucius Plaza" and "DeMatteis, you are big racist."[6] Over 55 people were arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct. Several weeks later, DeMatteis agreed to hire 27 minority workers.[5]
A section of Second Avenue Subway tunnel was built in the 1970s, constructed concurrently with the plaza underneath it, and is lightly graffitied.[7][8]
References
editNotes
- ^ Ostrowk, David (2008). Manhattan's Chinatown. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 9780738555171.
- ^ Damast, Lindsay Damast. "Landmarks: Confucius Plaza". New York. Archived from the original on 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ^ Park, Adela; Zhang, Eric (2009-12-09). "A People's Guide to New York City: Confucius Plaza". Peoplesguidetonyc.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
- ^ Kwong, Peter (2001). Chinatown, New York : labor and politics, 1930-1950 (Rev. ed.). New York: New Press. p. 176. ISBN 1-56584-640-0. OCLC 46440931.
- ^ a b "44 Years Ago Today, We Made a Stand". Asian Americans for Equality. 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ Montgomery, Paul L. (1974-06-01). "Asians Picket Building Site, Charging Bias". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ ntwrkguy; Control (June 19, 2005). "The Forgotten Section". The LTV Squad. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "Second Avenue Subway Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS): Appendix B: Development of Alternatives" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
External links
editMedia related to Confucius Plaza at Wikimedia Commons
- Confucius Plaza Apartments[usurped] at Emporis Buildings