NYC allocates $80 mln to rebuild fire-ravaged historic Chinatown building

NEW YORK -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday announced $80 million in funding to rebuild 70 Mulberry Street, a historic landmark in Manhattan's Chinatown that was ravaged by a huge fire in January.

"In January, Chinatown lost the beating heart of its community: 70 Mulberry Street. We're working hand-in-hand with the community to preserve this building's rich history and bring it back to life again," said the mayor at his briefing.

The city also established an advisory committee to support community engagement, and a three-month visioning process to gather public ideas and feedback about the future of the site.

"This historic building is important to the entire neighborhood and we want local voices to help drive its redevelopment," said Lisette Camilo, commissioner of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

The five-story building with a history of over a century housed various training centers, social organizations and community groups, which stored the memories of generations of Chinese Americans and their efforts to integrate into US society.

The city will follow a rebuilding plan that acknowledges the history and significance of the site, and all tenants who were displaced after the fire will be welcomed back when construction is completed, according to the mayor.

"COVID-19 stressed our shared urgency to bring this building back, restore the historical elements that the community has grown to cherish, and welcome these displaced nonprofits home as soon as possible. This is a good step to making that a reality, and I thank the mayor for taking this action," said City Council Member Margaret Chin.

The building's second floor housed the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)'s over 85,000 artifacts collected in over 40 years, which fortunately remained intact after the fire.

Nancy Yao Maasbach, president of the MOCA, said the museum is "emboldened and encouraged" by the announcement, adding that she believed the funding would "contribute to a stronger New York City overall and will provide dividends for generations."