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 | |
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General information | |
Typ | residential apartments |
Standort | 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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/16/Statue_of_Confucius_in_front_of_Confucius_Plaza.jpg/110px-Statue_of_Confucius_in_front_of_Confucius_Plaza.jpg)
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
edit- Media related to Confucius Plaza at Wikimedia Commons
- Confucius Plaza Apartments[usurped] at Emporis Buildings