Neighbors in Chinatown suggest alternate site for jail 

LOWER MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- The location of a new jail in Manhattan has been a place for rallies and protests. 

On Monday, some neighbors, advocates, and elected officials spoke near the site in Chinatown along Centre Street. 

They also brought a proposal to relocate the jail to federal property south of the location near the Metropolitan Correctional Center. 

They're calling instead for affordable housing at the site, which formerly was home to a jail facility. 

The Manhattan Detention Complex has been demolished, and construction is set to begin soon. Crews are working inside the lot. 

Jan Lee has organized rallies and community forums. He says their new proposal would be closer to court locations and away from residential areas. 

"It's a win-win solution," he said. 

A court has ordered the city to close Rikers Island, the current jail site, by 2027. 

Neighborhood jails have been proposed and debated for years, including under previous administrations. 

“We have a viable site that is farther away from our residential community, which is a former jail site. We can bring this site there and we can make this current affordable,” said NYC Councilmember Chris Marte, who represents the area. 

Assembly Member Grace Lee is also a representative from Chinatown. She says this effort and idea bring attention to the fight. 

“You have been clear, consistent, and courageous in the fight for environmental justice,” said Assembly Member Lee. 

Liz Garcia, spokesperson for the Adam's administration, says the mayor has made unprecedented investments in Chinatown, including $44 million to create more public space, improve travel, and revitalize areas near the Brooklyn Bridge. 

"We have also awarded thousands of dollars in grants to small businesses in the area. To be clear, the decision to place a jail in Chinatown was made before Mayor Adams took office, through the City Council, and the City Council must first decide to move the jail, as our administration cannot unilaterally select a new site. Still, we continue to engage with community members on the project and implement other public safety improvements within our control," Garcia wrote. 

New jail facilities are being built in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. The city has also been told to expedite the process. 

The neighbors say they have contacted the federal government and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons told PIX11 News that the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan "has been closed, at least temporarily, and long-term plans for MCC New York have not been finalized."