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ABOUT CHINATOWN
New York Chinatown is a 150-year-old neighborhood and the largest
Chinatown in North America. Until the 1960’s, Chinatown was an ethnic
enclave, politically and socially isolated by racial discrimination.
Changes in immigration policies and the social upheaval of the civil
rights movement, however, began to transform Chinatown’s insularity.
While the influx of immigrants from mainland China and Hong Kong
expanded Chinatown northward and eastward, the creation of advocacy,
social service, and other community-based organizations to increase
immigrant access to decent housing, health care, employment, and
other services established links with elected officials and public
agencies. Chinatown’s economy also underwent significant changes,
diversifying from its traditional base of garment, restaurant, and
retail industries to include professional and personal services,
communications, arts, education, wholesale, and more. As a result,
Chinatown serves multiple economic, social and cultural roles in
New York City and the metropolitan region: it is a residential neighborhood,
manufacturing hub, regional shopping center, and an international
tourist destination.
Chinatown’s
Boundaries
For
the land use survey, RCI used the study area defined by the Asian
American Federation of New York in its economic impact study of
Chinatown (Spring 2002). The Study Area is comprised of 15 Census
Tracts, 13 of which are residential and 2 are comprised primarily
of garment factories, Chinatown’s largest industry. The 13 Residential
Census Tracts are: 2.01, 6, 8, 14.02, 16, 18, 25, 27, 29, 30.01,
36.01, 41 and 43. The 2 Commercial Census Tracts are: 31 and 45.
The residential census tracts were selected according to the following
criteria: (1) an Asian population greater than 500 people; and (2)
the Asian population is more than 25% of the total population.
The geographic boundaries of the Study Area are: Frankfort Street
(east of Centre Street) and Chambers Street (east of Broadway) on
the south; Broadway on the west; Houston on the north; and Montgomery
Street (south of E. Broadway), Clinton Street (south of Houston
Street), Ridge Street (south of Rivington Street), and Essex Street
(south of Grand Street) on the east.
Chinatown Maps
Chinatown Land Use Map
Chinatown Building Density Map
Chinatown Building Condition Map
Chinatown Census Information (Courtesy of Downtown Manhattan Community Development Corporation (DMCDC)).
Existing Zoning Framework
Possible Zoning Framework
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