Good Old Lower East Side

James Chin Becomes the Snake

Mar 23, 2001

James Chin, the chair of the New York City Board of Standards Appeals (BSA), has approved of nine (9) zoning variances for the construction of a 23-story luxury tower at 215 Houston Street. This approval by Chin directly opposes the reversed decision by Community Board 3, who changed their original position with regards to the project after months of vigorous efforts by elected officials, community activists and residents persuaded the Board to rescind their prior acceptance of the plan. Without regards to the opposition of this plan by 350 residents and the newly-formed Lower Manhattan Anti-Displacement Coalition, Chin and his colleague board members voted 4-0 to impose the project.
There is intense community opposition against the plan because this project will cause the displacement of low and moderate-income tenants in Lower Manhattan since luxury developments have the impact of rising property values in adjacent buildings and blocks, thus raising rents. This would cause more homelessness and overcrowding.
Ironically, with such a threat of mass displacement, it was learned that Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) was to host a banquet to honor Mr. Chin for his contributions to the Asian community. Numerous request to AAFE by coalition members to demand that they rescind the invitation to Chin were not accepted. Pressure was also put on the dinner committee representatives to reconsider their agenda. Many invited guest and political allies did cancel their reservations, but none responded by joining the protest outside of the Chinatown restaurant where the banquet was held.
On the night of February 24, about 200 loud and angry protesters stood outside of the Jing Fong restaurant as Jim Haughton of Harlem Fights Back!, Susan Howard of Met Council, Hyun Lee of The Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence, Nellie Bailey of The City-Wide Tenants Coalition and Iris Quinones representing 181 Houston and Debbie Gonzalez of 10 Stanton Street spoke out. As the invited guests were ushered past the police barricades, the crowd chanted ?“James the Snake.?”
Regardless of Mr. James ?“The Snake?” Chin?’s heralded welcome at the Jing Fong that night, the LMADC is working with MFY Legal Services on an Article 78 as a direct response to the Board of Standard and Appeals decision. Another demonstration to fight the plan is scheduled for Friday, March 23. The demo parade will start at Charas/El Bohio at 6:00 p.m. and will end at the site of the proposed project on Houston at Ludlow Street. BRING YOUR HORN AND ANY OTHER KIND OF NOISE MAKER! ! !

Lower Manhattan Anti-Displacement Coalition
Sixth Street Community Center*Metropolitan Council on Housing* Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES)* Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence(CAAAV)*National Mobilization Against Sweatshops (NMASS)*Lower East Side Anti-Displacement Project*Chinese Staff and Workers Association (CSWA)*10 Stanton Street Tenant Association* 181-185 Houston Street Tenant Association