A New Lease on Life

Senior Housing in Chinatown Will Remain for 50-Plus Years

An affordable housing development in Chinatown that provides homes for low-income seniors and is widely regarded as a bulwark of the community has been granted an extension that will ensure its survival for another half century. The 13-story Chung Pak complex (above, at 96 Baxter Street) contains 88 apartments, occupied by “very low income” and “extremely low income” elders, most of whom are between 85 and 100 years of age, according to the non-profit group that manages the development. The same project also houses the CPC Day Care Center (which provides childcare for more than 60 local families), the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, and a 15,000-square foot community space, as well as more than a dozen small retail shops, ranging from restaurants and bakeries to a cosmetic store and herbal shop, which are much prized by Chinatown residents.

Chung Pak, which opened in 1992, was initially conceived a decade earlier, when then-Mayor Ed Koch embarked on a plan to demolish the notorious “Tombs” prison, and replace it with a modern jail, which became known as the Manhattan Detention Complex. Chinatown erupted in protest over this issue, and City Hall compromised by carving a sliver from the planned jail site, which became Chung Pak. To this day, however, the land underneath the complex is owned by the City, and leased to the non-profit organizations that run the housing, retail, and community spaces under a long-term contract.

That lease was originally slated to expire in 2039. But a concerted push by Chinatown activists, backed by a dozen-plus local organizations, has resulted in the City agreeing to extend this term through 2078. Chung Pak will also benefit from a waiver of ground rent and “payments in lieu of taxes” for the construction period during which the new borough-based jail complex is being constructed next door (in a reprise of the political controversy that led to the birth of the complex decades ago).

Jan Lee, a Chinatown community leader and co-founder of the neighborhood group, Neighbors United Below Canal, said, “we have worked closely with Chung Pak and have seen firsthand the toll that years of environmental, economic, and infrastructure crises have taken on the organization and its residents. From the SARS outbreak to Hurricane Sandy to COVID-19, Chung Pak has remained resilient. Its commitment to housing seniors and providing culturally relevant services has never wavered. In every instance, Chung Pak has responded swiftly and with sensitivity and expertise. They deserve to continue this work in this place.”

“That resilience is being tested again,” he continued. “The demolition of the Manhattan Detention Complex, carried out by a contractor with a history of violations, directly damaged the Chung Pak building, coming dangerously close to its structural core. This was not just disruptive, it was life-threatening. And now, long-term construction of the new jail, projected to last more than seven years, threatens further harm to residents and small businesses through constant noise, poor air quality, and emotional distress. Chung Pak has already endured more than its fair share.”

“A lease amendment is not a favor,” Mr. Lee concluded. “It is necessary. Chung Pak continues to serve this neighborhood with grace and integrity despite overwhelming challenges. The City of New York owes it the stability and support it needs to survive. This organization must remain in place for generations to come. Anything less leaves our community vulnerable and more susceptible to erasure.”