MISSION 

The Chinatown Working Group (CWG) is a community-based planning initiative on the future of Chinatown in New York City. Our goal is to support the community’s residents, workers, businesses and visitors. Chinatown Working Group members include Chinatown’s stakeholders – representatives of community groups, Community Boards #1, 2 & 3 and interested parties.

Our focus is on issues of shared concern throughout Chinatown including but not limited to affordability, preservation, revitalization and the social and economic well being of families, seniors and youths.

The Chinatown Working Group's objective is to articulate common goals for Chinatown’s future with consideration for its impact on adjacent New York City communities, and to formulate and work with New York City agencies to implement a precise, comprehensive, meaningful, timely and broadly supported community-based plan.

OBJECTIVES
                 
The Chinatown Working Group's plan is to create an inventory of existing conditions and identify realistic implementation of strategies that address, among many issues: truly affordable housing, multi-cultural and historic preservation, economic revitalization and sustainability, commercial stability, residential and business displacement, small/light manufacturing use, open space, public infrastructure, transportation, congestion, tenant rights, the environment including air quality, education, the arts, human rights, immigrant needs, social conflicts and crime, the well being of families, seniors and youths, and zoning.  Although zoning is a powerful planning tool that can be used to mitigate the potential negative impacts of development in a neighborhood, it is not the only strategy that should be applied in Chinatown.  A broader community-based planning strategy that goes beyond zoning may be pursued.

STRATEGY

The Chinatown Working Group's community-based plan for Chinatown will engage in a democratic, comprehensive and transparent process in building consensus among diverse groups.  CWG will conduct extensive public outreach to involve as many of Chinatown’s stakeholders as possible.  CWG meetings will be held regularly and open to everyone.  CWG hopes to have the full cooperation and support of the City for this community-based initiative including access to staff from various agencies, such as City Planning, HPD, Small Business Services, Department of Transportation and Economic Development Corporation.