Gothamist: Chinatown Residents Object to Rezoning Exclusion

fgh

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:00:52 -0500

nivek: im sure that all those irish, italian and east european immigrants from the turn of the century were the very epitome of class and culture. sure, noone stunk like potatoes, garlic or cabbage back then.

Gwinny

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:03:54 -0500

KinoSport: I'm not sure you are using the word "best" correctly.

nivek

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:12:43 -0500

I agree with Ph...but only when it comes to fucking rude ass Chinese people. Note: no one likes it when you yap on your cell phone at 105dB, smell like you just came from the sewers, or leave crumbs all over the subway floor when you eat that custard bread. Don't forget your incredible lack of manners in crowded areas...let's play a game of football on the train for subway seats!

Spiritof76

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:25:55 -0500

Chinatown has already had its share of new construction over the last couple of decades, although not many high-rises after Confucius Tower other than the buildings in the Civic Center. Mott, Mulberry and Canal are still recognizable, but other streets have gotten shiny new buildings. As for the people whining about expensive, tiny apartments in Chinatown, they've probably never been in more than one down there. There are some gorgeously renovated ones if you know where to look. Go ahead. Stay away. That's exactly what the Chinese want you to do. I'm sure they won't miss the hipsters and Wall Streeters who jack up rent any more than the Gothamist commenters do.

KinoSport

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:29:49 -0500

Shithole? Spit and snot aside, Chinatown is one of the best & most unique neighborhoods in the country. It deserves the same considerations as the LES and the East Village.

Gwinny

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:08:40 -0500

JacqueMehoff: as a resident of lower Allen Street, let me just say that your predictions are correct (and therefore I'm getting the hell out of here when my lease expires). babyhitler: there are only a few chinese residents left in my building, but the super told me they are only paying $150/month for their rent. However, you can bet that the landlord is dying to get them out so that she can renovate their apartments and jack the rent up to $1800 or more. scottperezfox: yep, the whole snot-blowing thing. Not to mention the loogie-hocking, and the shoving on/off the subway. Just a couple of reasons I'll be glad to move out of the area. In any case, Chinatown is a shithole. Personally, I think that any new construction could only be an improvement.

scottperezfox1

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:16:41 -0500

If it weren't for LES gentrification, Chinatown would have conquered the whole of lower Manhattan. Every time I go down there, Chinatown seems to be growing. Little Italy is almost wiped out, so I don't mind other neighborhoods being "protected" by zoning laws. And when it comes to gentrification, I'll take Starbucks over blowing-snot-on-the-street any day of the week. And it's inevitable that eventually the whole of Manhattan will be posh and us working class and ethnic folks will flee to the outer boroughs.

babyhitler

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:12:33 -0500

NYC municipality to the chinese "Me so sowwy Chinaman, gentrification for you". What these guys realize is that those chinese people is crazy! They will pay those exorbitant rates for tiny apartments cause more than 2 people live in an apartment. I bet if you looked inside a chinatown apartment you'd find 3 families with ten people cramped in a 800 square feet apartment. Each one paying rent just so they could live near chinese speaking people. talk about insular.

S.D.

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:12:43 -0500

... Ph: Um, Okkkkk...

JacqueMehoff

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:12:35 -0500

chinatown proper won't get gentrified, they'll always find people to live there. there's always been banks there, only recently did it get a duane reade. no whitey would live there at those expensive rents. the priced out and displaced area are Ludlow, Orchard, Little Chitaly. Soon it may be the Lower Allen street/Pike Slip area.

Ph

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:07:09 -0500

I can't wait for the economy to hit the shitter so all this whining dies down. Oh and half you fucking people will go back to wherever you came from and I can be there to witness the next great American cultural contributions New York has lurking under the surface in real time...while dodging bullets, of course..and getting stabbed occasionally.

zodak

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:58:01 -0500

they'll get priced-out & displaced just like harlem residents. it's only a matter of time.

Pharmer

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:14:07 -0500

I don't think think Chinatown needs rezoning plan. Sure, it'll give them a sense of security but Chinatown is a different neighborhoood. I don't think it'll ever be "gentrified" in the normal sense. Chinatown is already owned by rich asian businessmen. Technically, it's already gentrified. It's just that the Chinese have a culture that doesn't involve Starbucks. The area isn't exactly cheap. Rent can easily go for $3000/month.