New York City, New York story
A Home for Harlem
In the heart of Chinatown, there's a brown brick tower that stands as a symbol of community resilience. Built in 1975, Confucius Plaza was the first major publicly funded housing…
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In the heart of Chinatown, there's a brown brick tower that stands as a symbol of community resilience. Built in 1975, Confucius Plaza was the first major publicly funded housing project created almost exclusively for Chinese Americans. It wasn't just about bricks and mortar; local organizers fought for years to secure support through the Mitchell-Lama Housing Program to ensure their neighbors had affordable places to live.
The 44-story complex, reaching 433 feet into the sky, is regarded locally as a cornerstone of Chinatown history. If you look toward the intersection of the Bowery and Division Street, you'll see the statue of Confucius, sculpted by Liu Shih, watching over a neighborhood that fought for its right to stay.
Updated June 2026