A view down historic Pell Street looking onto Confucius Plaza
Chinatown has a rich history as an immigrant sanctuary, which it continues through to the present. Currently, the asian population in New York has increased significantly, becoming one of the fastest growing populations in New York City. Since the 80’s the major source of Chinese immigration comes from the Fujian province; in 1994 it was estimated that 100,000 Fujianese reside in New York City and that an additional 10,000 immigrate each year. From 1990 to 2000, New York City’s Chinese American population rose from 232,908 to 374,321, a 61 percent increase among Asian American groups in the city. 2000 census data, from the Asian American Federation, reported that 81% of the population in Chinatown is foreign born, which is substantially higher than that of New York City (36%). Most Fujianese immigrants pay hefty prices to come to the U.S., have little human capital(job skills, education), and limited English skills. As an immigrant hub, the community of Chinatown has increased needs for English teaching, job placement, and affordable housing. [1, 2]
From the AAFE Factbook
Manhattan’s Chinatown is considered by the 2000 census data a low-income neighborhood with 45% of its occupants earning $20,000 and less, a year. These figures do not even take into account the horrible economic consequences of September eleventh, which deprived Chinatown of much of its needed income in the garment, restaurant, and tourist industries. A third of residents live in poverty as of 2000. Even with these depressing economic conditions rent and housing costs remain extremely high. For the majority Manhattan high rent does not seem out of the ordinary and paying 35-40% of you income is expected; in Chinatown, from 1999 data nearly a quarter of renters paid more than 50% of their annual income for rent. Even with many working members this requires a lot of struggle from newly adjusting immigrants, as well as other residents. And as income has gone down in Chinatown, rent has risen across New York City. [3]
Canal Street
The cost of maintenance and operating of rent-stabilized buildings has risen in New York City, the 2008 Price Index of Operating Costs (PIOC) shows the core PIOC rising 3.4% due to increases in fuel prices, utility price, labor costs, insurance and parts costs. The predicted PIOC for 2009 is expected to be 7.7% higher, exacting an even higher rent on the tenants. Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE), as an organization has developed many affordable housing units in addition to the federally funded Confucius Plaza, a set of 760 limited-equity coops (affordable housing. With their eleven housing complexes (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects) the AAFE adds an additional 432 units for residents earning in that low-income bracket. Even with these wonderful efforts the needed housing in Chinatown is still very high. Many immigrants rent spaces that are severely overcrowded and live well below the standard of living. [4,5]
But still many in Chinatown don't believe that SoHo and TriBeCa are converging on the ethnic giant. Chinatown is an institution to so many and the fact that change is happening is unthinkable. Chinatown's "associations are one reason Chinatown's been resistant to gentrification." Family associations own about twenty five percent of buildings in the historic core of Chinatown around Pell and Doyers streets. It's on the outskirts and in the newer areas of Chinatown that the change is most immanent. New immigrants coming in were the first to expand to Chrystie Street and beyond into the Lower East Side. It is here on the unmarked edges that new constructions is happening the most and immigrants need the most help.[6]
Family Association Flags
Beyond having a place to live, as Kendra Lee of the Greater Chinatown Community Association put it, “…a lot of people are just trying to find affordable housing within the area that does resemble home, and is still America.” Many immigrants are starting new lives in the United States and need the comfort and support of places like Chinatown to help ease them through the transition. Chinese Americans are the largest growing population in New York City and have a lower standard of living than the rest of city residents.While immigrants keep pouring in from China this need for affordable housing in Chinatown is going to keep increasing. [7]
WNYC Chinatown Resists Gentrification by Lisa Chow
NEW YORK, NY May 29, 2007
Interview with Kendra Lee from the Greater Chinatown Community Association by Lauren Witter
NEW YORK, NY April 29, 2008
