Confucius Plaza Apartments is a limited-equity housing cooperative in Chinatown, Manhattan , New York City . The 44-story brown brick tower block complex (433 ft (132 m)) with 762 apartments was constructed in 1975 at a cost of $ 38.387 million. The building was the first major public-funded housing project built for almost exclusively Chinese Americans .
3-536: The Yung Wing Public School, P.S. 124 (K–5), shops, community space, and a daycare center are located beneath the apartments. The complex is located north of Chatham Square at the intersection of Bowery , Doyers Street , and Division Street . One of the most frequently visited landmarks in Chinatown is the 15-foot bronze statue of Confucius , the Chinese philosopher, in front of the complex. Sculpted by Liu Shih,
6-688: The contractor, DeMatteis Organization, for refusing to hire Asian construction workers. On May 16, 1974, a protest of 250 individuals organized by Asian Americans for Equal Employment (now Asian Americans for Equality ) resulted in a work stoppage when protestors entered the construction site. Protestors held signs in English and Chinese which stated "The Asians build the railroad; Why not Confucius Plaza" and "DeMatteis, you are big racist." Over 55 people were arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct. Several weeks later, DeMatteis agreed to hire 27 minority workers. A section of Second Avenue Subway tunnel
9-545: The statue was presented by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association as a token of appreciation, and to commemorate the U.S. bicentennial. At its base, a Confucian proverb is inscribed aside an American Flag, praising a just government with remarkable leaders of wisdom and ability. During the construction of Confucius Plaza, Asian American activists organized several successful protests alleging discriminatory hiring practices by
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