The Fight for Affordable Housing

Gone are many of the old historic buildings in Chinatown, replaced by modern high rise condos. These sleek new apartment buildings stand out sharply against the streets. The condos are seemingly out of place with their glass doors, studio lighting, and security cameras. It is a sharp contrast to the old buildings surrounding them. The paint is chipping off the exterior, the window fixtures are old, doors squeak on their hinges, and hallways are dim and dark. These old buildings were once a fixture in Chinatown. However, high rise condos are beginning to be a permanent picture in the neighborhood. This is a sight not welcomed by many local residents.

Before the recent economic downturn, condos sprouted up in many New York City neighborhoods as building owners found development to be a profitable business. The result was that many New Yorkers turned towards Chinatown for their new homes because Chinatown, in terms of rent and and purchase price, is considered to be cheaper than places in SoHo and uptown.

Many of the old garment factories in the area are now being renovated and converted into new apartment buildings or offices. There seems to be a new apartment building on almost every block. The sale of a new condo apartment can reach up to a million dollars. Many local residents believe that this is a ridiculous amount of money. They say that the average New Yorker on an average salary cannot ever be able to buy a condo with that price tag.

Local residents have voiced their displeasure on the building of new condos for several reasons. Some tenants are being asked to leave after their lease is up. The reason is because the building owner wants to renovate and rent out space at a higher price. Landlords are increasing rent prices which make it impossible for low income families to stay. This has led to many protests and demonstrations among local residents. These people are being forced out of their homes, without a roof to over their heads. This is why many local residents are fighting for there to be more affordable homes. They don’t want Chinatown to be turned into a neighborhood where only the rich can live. Many Chinese residents are being forced to move to Brooklyn and Queens where living and houses are cheaper. This is a increasing trend because Flushing, Queens and 8^th Avenue in Brooklyn are being dubbed “The New Chinatown.”

Chinatown is a neighborhood hit hard by the economy. Rents on the rise are leading many residents to look for alternative places to live. During these hard times many New Yorkers look towards affordable housing. Affordable housing is a hot commodity these days. Residents send in their applications hoping for a chance to pay cheaper rent. A long list of applicants wait to be picked from a lottery and be given a chance to rent an affordable apartment. However, the availability of affordable housing is limited and applicants have to meet a number of income requirements.

Sim Wu is a long time resident of Chinatown who currently lives in a condo. She is a woman in her mid 70’s with short gray curly hair. She speaks in a soft yet sharp voice. On the issue of new condos, she believes the condos are a waste of money. “I don’t know why they are building so many new condos. No one can afford them. Pretty soon there will be no more Chinese people living in Chinatown,” she said. She is very old fashioned and living in Chinatown for most of her adult life, she is not used to seeing so many non-Asians in her building. “These past years more and more white people have been moving in. So many people I use to talk to in the building have all moved away. It seems as if only white people can afford to live here,” she said. When asked about the issue of affordable housing, Sim Wu was very supportive. “Of course there should be more affordable housing. So many people need help especially now with the bad economy. I would rather live in affordable housing because you save a lot of money. The reason I haven’t moved is because I have lived here for over 20 years. This is my home,” she said.

The main difference between condos and affordable housing centers on the issues of owning vs. renting. Residents in affordable housing are subjected to income checks every year. If their income passes the income limit, they are ineligible to continue living there. People who own their condos have control over what goes on in their building. Sim Wu agrees and says, “This is the reason why I like living in a condo. I like knowing that I own the apartment and no one can kick me out.” It gives her a sense of security knowing she holds the right to her apartment. She has played with the thought of moving out to save money but does not want the change at her age.

Cynthia Chen who lives in an affordable housing building is also against the new rise of condo buildings in Chinatown. She supports the fight for there to be more affordable housing available for low income families. “Chinatown is not uptown. We do not need new upscale condos in the area. It does not seem like people are running to buy these new apartments either. There is always a “For Rent” sign in the front of the building,” she said. Cynthia goes on to say that people should apply for affordable housing if they do met the income requirements. “If people are finding it difficult to pay their rent and they qualify for affordable housing, they should definitely go apply. You save a lot of money on rent and it is not a bad place to live,” she said. Her apartment has two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a decent sized living room. It resembles a condo apartment. The only thing missing is the modern sleek interior design and luxury services offered by the upscale condos.