# ‘Newly formed cracks’ at Chinatown senior complex spark call to halt high-rise-jail construction: ‘Serious concern’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/newly-formed-cracks-at-chinatown-senior-complex-spark-call-to-halt-high-rise-jail-construction-serious-concern/
- Published: 2026-11-15T20:36:01+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T21:25:39+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/15/us-news/cracks-in-chinatown-senior-home-spark-call-to-halt-high-rise-jail-construction/
- Topics: World

## Key points

- A councilman wants jail construction paused over fresh cracks at a neighbouring senior complex.
- Chung Pak has 88 low-income senior flats, a clinic and a day care.
- Residents are also challenging the jail project’s extended construction hours.

## Summary

A New York councilman has asked the city’s Department of Buildings to halt construction of a high-rise jail in Chinatown after reporting newly formed cracks at the neighbouring Chung Pak senior housing complex. The request has renewed concerns about whether construction is affecting the building, days after a separate collapse beside a construction site in Brooklyn killed eight people and injured 18.

Chung Pak, at 96 Baxter Street, is a 13-storey building with 88 low-income senior flats, as well as a health clinic and day care. Residents have reported cracks and shifted cinder blocks since at least 2024; the city previously said there was no immediate danger but paused some work after finding damage of unclear cause. A residents’ lawsuit also challenges the jail project’s construction hours, which run up to 18 hours on weekdays and eight hours at weekends; officials say the schedule could help complete the 16-storey jail by 2032, as part of the plan to replace Rikers Island.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.