Construction begins on 70 Mulberry Street rebuild in Chinatown

Overview

Updated 5 hours ago

Five Chinatown organizations have been without a permanent home since a five-alarm fire tore through 70 Mulberry Street in January 2020. Construction began this week on an eight-story, $184 million replacement that will bring them back under one roof.

The city-funded project preserves two stories of the original 1892 facade and adds about 30% more public space. It includes a double-height multipurpose room, a new kitchen for the senior center, and a permanent home for the Museum of Chinese in America's archives.

Why it matters

The rebuild returns a century-old civic anchor to Chinatown and tests whether the city can deliver a major cultural project after years of community pressure.

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Key Indicators

$184M

Project cost

City-funded reconstruction of 70 Mulberry Street.

30%

Increase in public space

Compared with the original five-story building.

Community organizations returning

Tenants displaced by the 2020 fire.

85,700 sq ft

Building size

Eight-story facility with about 51,000 square feet for returning tenants.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

Mayor of New York City

In office

Paul A. Ochoa

Commissioner, NYC Department of Design and Construction

In office

Stephen Pitman

Associate Principal, Grimshaw Architects

Organizations Involved

New York City Department of Design and Construction

City agency

Manages design and construction

The city agency managing the 70 Mulberry reconstruction.

Grimshaw Architects

Architecture firm

Lead architect

The firm designed the restoration and expansion of 70 Mulberry Street.

Hunter Roberts Construction Group

Construction manager

The construction manager for the 70 Mulberry rebuild.

Museum of Chinese in America

Cultural institution

Displaced tenant returning

A Chinatown museum whose archives were stored at 70 Mulberry and damaged by water during the 2020 fire.

Chinese-American Planning Council

Nonprofit

Displaced tenant returning

A social services organization that ran the Chinatown Senior Citizen Center at 70 Mulberry.

Timeline

January 2020 November 2026

3 events Latest: Today

November 2026
Construction breaks ground on $184 million rebuild
Today Construction

City officials begin work on an eight-story replacement that will return five organizations to Chinatown.
Today
October 2021
City commits $170 million to rebuild
Funding

Mayor Bill de Blasio announces a plan to preserve the facade and expand community space.
October 2021
January 2020
Five-alarm fire damages 70 Mulberry
Fire

Fire ruins the top three floors of the 1892 building, displacing five community organizations.
January 23rd, 2020

Scenarios

70 Mulberry Reopens with All Five Original Tenants

Possible Resolves by End of 2029

Discussed by: NYC DDC, Grimshaw, and community groups

Construction proceeds on the city's timeline, and the five displaced organizations move into the completed building. The project's $184 million budget and 30% space increase hold.

Cost Overruns Push 70 Mulberry Past Budget and Schedule

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: construction industry analysts and local press

Unforeseen structural issues or inflation raise costs above $184 million and delay opening. The city must seek additional funding.

City Opens 70 Mulberry to New Tenant Organizations

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Think!Chinatown and community advocates

Community groups have pushed for a fair process for new Chinatown nonprofits to apply for space. The city could issue a solicitation for additional tenants beyond the five original organizations.