Here are some of the stories that caught our eye this week:
–The Gotham Organization has secured another $50 million for its project on the former site of the fire-ravaged Beth Hamedrash Hagadol synagogue. Having already locked in construction financing for its 75% market rate/25% affordable residential tower, the developer now has funding for a smaller affordable senior apartment building on the site. [The Real Deal]
–Bianca Romero paints a large mural at Eldridge and Delancey streets that she hopes will make a strong statement against AAPI hate: “During this rise in hate crimes, people don’t have representation and feel like they’re not seen and heard and there’s silence. I’m hoping that a mural this size can help combat that.” [Channel 2]
–Mapping a year of hate crimes against Asian Americans, using data from the NYC Human Rights Commission. As you might expect, many of the incidents occurred in Chinatown and on the Lower East Side. [Curbed]
–The Landmarks Preservation Commission calendars the Kimlau War Memorial in Chinatown, meaning it will be considered for landmark designation. [Cityland]
–A legacy long overlooked: The Tenement Museum launches a new neighborhood walking tour focused on the Lower East Side’s Black history. [Curbed]
–Friends and family finally got the opportunity for an in-person memorial for the legendary Lower East Side housing activist Francis Goldin. [The Village Sun]
–The Gen Z fashionistas continue to be enthralled with lower Orchard Street. As Clark Chung of the newly opened shop, November 19 explains, “This corner of the Lower East Side also feels special to us because of the mix of people who live and work in the area. It’s a unique crossroads of different generations, cultures, long-time residents, and new transplants who make the neighborhood feel unlike anywhere else in New York.” [Vogue]
–Birria LES, a Halal Mexican spot opened by two Muslim Bangladeshis, has become an early sensation thanks to TikTok. [Grub Street]
