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Hi Archi Hacks fam, we wanted to shake things up with a different article than what we usually do. Have you ever heard of the NYC Mega Jail – no? Donât worry, we didnât hear about this recently, and after reading more about it, we felt it was a great topic to share with you all.
Whatâs Happening!
The worldâs tallest building is one thing, ahem, the Burj Khalifa, but the worldâs tallest jail? In 2017, Mayor Deblasio approved an $8.3 billion borough-based jail program that includes building a 40-story jail, the worldâs tallest jail in Chinatown. The proposed project resulted from Deblasioâs bill planning to shut down Rikerâs Island by 2027, which required new detention centers in every borough except for Staten Island.
The construction of the building was supposed to start in February 2022 – thatâs right, just last month, and finish construction by 2027! However, the construction site was met with protestors on February 6, 2022, and it wasnât the first one! Actually, there is another protest happening in a few days on March 12th, 1PM at Columbus Park, Worth Street Side!
What Does it Mean for Chinatown?
Chinatown, a neighborhood already facing challenges with gentrification and the pandemic, canât afford to lose valuable space that would affect the rich culture of Chinatown. The proposed site would affect local businesses, like the Nha Trang Centre, Chung Pak Day Care Center, New York Bo Ky, Jaya 888, and the list continues.
Impact of Architecture on Communities!
Although the discussion about the jail system in the U.S. is worth discussing, itâs not a topic our team is well-versed in. On the other hand, we can discuss how a 40-story monolith architecture with a specific program will adversely affect the culturally rich community such as Chinatown. Architecture is a significant player in shaping the built environment bringing a myriad of unconscious biases. From the design to the program, all elements of a building can create a desirable or undesirable atmosphere making a design more complex than the average individual will understand. There are many qualitative factors in a building that canât be measured, yet designers must deduce and utilize quantified information about the human experience to create a project.
Picture this; a 40-story tall building is already apprehensive to think about, but if we were to take it a step further. A jail requires high-security features that reduce any potential escapees. On paper, anybody would assume that the building would make anyone feel safer being near a high-security government building. In reality, a 40-story tall building with tall fences, no windows, and guards will have most feeling like thereâs a potential danger to bystanders on the streets.
The mega jail in Chinatown is only one out of the four proposed jail centers in Deblasioâs bill. According to a published article on February 28 in The Villager, Christopher Marte, a New York City Council Member, and active community leaders were able to convince Mayor Eric Adams to reverse the course on building a new âmega jailâ in Chinatown! However, all this information is still fresh, and as politics go, it doesnât always go according to plan. Will Mayor Adams heed to the publicâs discontent and stop the proposed plan reallocating the funds to more needed areas, like education, health care, mental health, and more?
Resources
Well, thatâs all we have for you today, and if youâve made it this far, you deserve a cookie. I hope you found this article interesting and took something from it! Sharing is caring! We hope to provide you with valuable insights and share them with someone who might find this helpful. Make sure to follow our Youtube and Instagram for more content!