Ravaged by Fire, Chinatown Cultural Hub to Get $170 Million, and New Life

Fire ravages the fourth and fifth floors of 70 Mulberry Street in January, 2020. Firefighters hosed the buiding for more than 24 hours as cascading water through the structure left little unscathed. Photo: FDNY

Mayor de Blasio announced a $170 million plan to reconstruct 70 Mulberry Street, the historic city-owned building, gutted by fire in January 2020, that had housed five Chinatown non-profit institutions. The funding, de Blasio said, “will preserve the historic façade and add two floors of additional space, ensuring the community and nonprofit tenants have an incredible building to return to.”

The restoration, slated for completion in 2027, will include more than 50,000 square feet of space returned to tenants and 6,500 square feet of added office and community spaces, including, a new multi-purpose room that could serve as a gym or auditorium.

Housed on the second floor of the 128-year-old, city-owned former school building were the archives of the Museum of Chinese in America [1], which contained more than 65,000 artifacts, memorabilia, documents, oral histories and art work, according to its web site. Other tenants included the 40-year-old  Chen Dance Center [2], and the Chinese Planning Council’s senior center, where up to 300 people met daily to socialize and be served lunch. 

The plan was guided by an advisory committee of building tenants, local elected officials and representatives of Community Board 3 during a series of public forums and events.

“I look forward to seeing my former elementary school become a vibrant community center for generations to come," Councilwoman Margaret Chin said in a statement.