Kimlau Square in New York City’s Chinatown is getting a multi-million dollar renovation.
According to Spectrum News NY 1, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the square would receive more than $55 million for renovations in his State of the City address.
Kimlau Square currently sits in the middle of a six-way intersection in Lower Manhattan, home to the city’s Chinatown. It was built to honor Lt. Benjamin Kimlau, a Chinese-American pilot who died in World War II.
According to amNY, the funding will be put toward three main renovation projects: beautifying the Park Row area near the square, building a new arch and expanding the square into a pedestrian plaza.
“Our joint $55 million investment will allow us to create world-class public space in an area which desperately needs it, bring order to one of the most chaotic intersections in New York City, and give one of New York City’s most historic neighborhoods the entrance it deserves,” Adams said in a statement, per amNY.
Wellington Chen, director of the Chinatown Business Improvement District, told Spectrum News NY 1 that the hope is to improve the dangerous traffic conditions near the square.
“In the future, mark my words, this square will be celebrated for many years to come. This is really for the future. This is what we call the legacy project,” said Chen.
Chinatown leaders also hope the renovated square will attract more tourists.
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