The community of The Tombs in New York City was hopeful when the old Manhattan Detention Complex was finally razed from the face of the earth. But their respite is destined to be short-lived, as news of an upcoming high-rise jail was revealed just recently. Reaching 300 feet into the air, this new building is already nicknamed “Jailscraper” by many people around here.
Nicknamed “The Tombs”, the facility has a capacity of 900 beds, and its ill-fame is derived from wretched conditions. This 15-storey tower block, which has stood since the 1980s, is now under demolition as part of a larger scheme to construct four new borough-based jails in the city, with one of them being planned for Manhattan. A new set of facilities is due by 2027 to supplant the notorious Riker’s Island prison, which is the most extensive jail in the city. Riker’s Island has suffered from alleged violence among inmates, detainee deaths, and decaying infrastructure that have convinced the New York City Council to shut it down in favor of better conditions in newer facilities.
When finished, the new Manhattan jail will house 1,040 beds and have contemporary facilities including fitness centers and medical offices. However, many are concerned about its construction because it is located in a densely populated neighborhood with limited space footage.
Chinatown, which was formerly recognized for its noodle restaurants and strong feeling of community, is afraid that the jail would come to represent mass incarceration and become a distinctive architectural feature of the neighborhood. Concerns about how the work would affect their neighborhood are also among the residents.
There are already worries about noise, dust, and potential structural damage to nearby structures as a result of the old jail’s destruction. The history of the region, which includes its use as a previous dump for toxic waste, makes the development process more difficult.
Residents are still dubious despite promises from local authorities on the layout and effects of the new facility. The world’s highest jail may be built in Chinatown, a neighborhood already reeling from past setbacks, adding yet another obstacle to its road to recovery.
