Rallying Against Demolition of Century-Old School Building at 70 Mulberry Street

Photo: Karlin Chan
Saturday afternoon, dozens of preservationists gathered outside 70 Mulberry Street to protest the demolition of a Chinatown relic. The former public school building that has served as a beacon of neighborhood nonprofits for decades.
More than one hundred people congregated outside the fire-stricken structure. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams also showed his support for the cause, and called for funding to save the building so as not to erase its rich history.
Bowery Boogie contributor, and neighborhood activist, Karlin Chan, helped organize the protest action. He argued that the city needs to reopen Mulberry and Bayard Streets once demolition reaches the iconic stonework base. This is the crucial point at which the city either rebuilds atop the structure, or completes demolition in order to redevelop. In either case, to continue a street closure after the “imminent danger” order was removed seems ridiculous.

Photo: Karlin Chan