Chinatown’s 300 Foot Tall “Megajail” in Construction Despite Community Opposition
Photography by Marcus Morales
The Manhattan Borough Jail will be built on 125 White Street and is planned to be nearly 300 feet tall; for reference, that’s about as tall as the Statue of Liberty. As motions to close the Rikers Island jail complex begin to make some leeway, part of the solution has become to build four replacement facilities. The project has a staggering $16 billion dollar budget and will build a jail in every borough, besides Staten Island.
Closing Rikers Island has been a plan in motion for many years, following decades of concerns over unsafe conditions and violence within the jail. In 2025 alone, there were 15 deaths in the Department of Correction custody—the highest toll since 2022. In March 2017, previous Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to close Rikers, and the City Council approved the plan of building four smaller jails across the boroughs to replace it in October 2019. With the replacement facilities facing construction delays, the Manhattan jail in Chinatown is not expected to be completed until 2032. Despite the years-long wait, the project has already faced years of opposition from Chinatown residents and community organizations.
Welcome to Chinatown is a recognized tax-exempt public charity that focuses on local businesses and connectivity within the Chinatown community. They have opposed this project since 2021, bringing attention to concerns about air pollution and construction related health risks.
In August, members from Welcome to Chinatown brought to attention a report by NYU doctoral students published in April 2026, which found that particulate matter levels near the site were consistently higher in 2025 than levels recorded across Chinatown and NYC. While these findings do not establish that the construction site has caused any long term illnesses, researchers have called for consistent monitoring and greater transparency in air quality data.
Alongside the potential health risks of such a construction project, many residents are concerned about what this prison’s effect could be on property values and what businesses this jail will attract. Chinatown is a heavily dense neighborhood with a thriving community like no other. Imagine what years of noisy construction and dust will have on the residents and businesses who live there. Now, residents are woken up everyday to the sound of heavy machinery and power tools. Sitting directly alongside the site of the construction project is Chung Pak Senior Residence. A report by Tribeca Trib in March 2024, shows the visible damage caused to the building, such as cracks along the wall caused by heavy jackhammering, causing the clinic to temporarily close. This is just one example of the lasting effects to those in the community who are most vulnerable.
Welcome to Chinatown has worked with community partners, including Neighbors United Below Canal, and Ideas of Order, to propose an alternative. Their plan calls for relocating the jail to another site and developing affordable housing at 125 White Street. The organization argues that this approach could address the city’s need to close Rikers Island while helping protect Chinatown from further displacement and investing in the people who already live there. To learn more about their proposed plan, see here.
The debate over Chinatown’s megajail raises the question of not only where new jails are built, but also who has to bear the consequences.
Sara Outar is a sophomore pursuing her bachelor's degree in Childhood Education and English. She has always been passionate about reading and creating literature which led her to join The Paper. In her free time she enjoys fiber arts such as crocheting, knitting, and sewing.
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