CPC Celebrates the Grand Opening of CPC One
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Date: April 12, 2024
Press Contacts:
Alice Du, Director of Communications | (212) 792-4585 | adu@cpc-nyc.org
CPC Celebrates the Grand Opening of CPC One, a New Community Hub on the Lower East Side
CPC One is the first-ever permanent Manhattan home in CPC’s 59-year history of social services and community empowerment.
New York, NY – The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), the nation’s largest Asian American social services organization, today announced the grand opening of CPC One, a new intergenerational mixed-use development nestled in the heart of the Lower East Side. The new building houses CPC’s Manhattan Community Center across three floors, includes over 200 units of affordable housing, and serves as the headquarters for over 50 programs across New York City. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held this morning to commemorate this monumental occasion with elected officials, community leaders, partners, and sponsors.
Located at 45 Suffolk Street, CPC One is a collaboration between CPC and Gotham Organization to design a community centered, mixed-use development project from the ground up. In addition to a community center and affordable housing, the project includes the cultural heritage center of the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue, one of New York City’s oldest synagogues which was destroyed by a fire in 2017.
“CPC One represents a significant milestone for CPC, and we look forward to welcoming more community members to our new building. CPC One means that we are one team, one organization, and one community,” said Wayne Ho, President & CEO of CPC. “This state-of-the-art building not only expands CPC’s social, educational, and civic engagement programming but also addresses the critical need for affordable housing in our community. We believe that affordable housing residents should have a quality place to live, immigrant and low-income community members should have a welcoming place to access services, and nonprofit staff should have a beautiful place to work.”
"CPC One means we are here to stay. It represents how far we have come as a community, and our promise to continue to serve and empower our community for decades to come," said Virginia Kee, Co-founder of CPC.
Despite operating out of temporary spaces over the years, CPC has consistently kept its doors open to serve the community. Founded in 1965 with a daycare center and senior center, CPC has evolved to empower and uplift over 80,000 Asian American, immigrant, and low-income communities annually through 50+ services and programs throughout New York City
“For nearly six decades, CPC has been an indispensable pillar in the community, providing essential services to families across generations,” said Flora Si, Board Chair of CPC. “CPC One is the culmination of our commitment to creating a space where diversity thrives, dreams take flight, and every individual finds the support and opportunity they deserve.”
The new headquarters offers an array of services tailored to meet community needs. From facilitating family connections through Asian Family Services, promoting holistic well-being with Community Health Services, and ensuring quality childcare through Early Childhood and Wellness Services to providing job training through the Summer Youth Employment Program, promoting college readiness through Project Gateway, and increasing English skills through Adult Literacy, CPC One serves as a centralized hub for inclusive, intergenerational support.
"The opening of the new Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) headquarters is a great milestone achieved as a result of a near 8 year partnership between CPC and Gotham. Gotham and CPC together successfully navigated a 3-year rezoning process that paved the way for the construction of nearly 500 new rental apartments including 209 affordable homes, neighborhood retail, a new home for the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol synagogue, and CPC’s beautiful new headquarters, a home for CPC to deliver essential services and ensure the vitality of the Lower East Side for years to come. This project reflects Gotham’s commitment to team with strong not for profit partners to build better communities," said David Picket, CEO of Gotham Organization.
“For nearly 60 years, the Chinese-American Planning Council has remained on the frontlines of nearly every issue facing our city, delivering vital services to the Asian American community,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “From education to housing to health care, and everything in-between, Chinese-American Planning Council has been a lifeline to countless Asian Americans who call New York City their home, ensuring they are welcomed and taken care of. As they celebrate their first-ever permanent home, I applaud them again for their commitment to strengthening our social safety net to catch New Yorkers in need and wish them 60 more years of success.”
"The City of New York is committed to working with local partners to create more homes that address our severe housing crisis and bring enhanced benefits directly to the neighborhoods in which they work,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “I thank the Chinese-American Planning Council, the Gotham Organization, and many partners working on CPC One for sharing our commitment to creating more housing, especially for our older New Yorkers, and bringing critical resources to the Lower East Side community."
“The grand opening of CPC One, the Chinese-American Planning Council’s first-ever permanent home in Manhattan, will greatly enhance the delivery of vital services and also represents the unwavering spirit and determination of the Chinese-American community in New York City,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. “CPC One includes over 200 units of affordable housing and will serve over 15,000 community members each year, expanding access to vital, culturally and linguistically competent services. This new chapter for CPC is a testament to the Chinese-American community’s dedication to unity, social progress, and building a brighter future for all.”
“The Chinese-American Planning Council has been providing vital services for nearly six decades,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “Now, they finally have a permanent home. I congratulate CPC on this milestone and thank the Gotham Organization for their commitment to responsible development, including the over 200 senior affordable units made possible by this project. CPC One will be an anchor of community services in the diverse Lower East Side.”
“The grand opening of CPC One, the new headquarters of the Chinese American Planning Council, is cause for celebration for Chinatown, the Lower East Side and all of New York City. This state-of-the-art building, which will also house the Manhattan Community Center and provide over 200 units of affordable housing, including 115 residences dedicated to senior affordable housing, is a testament to CPC’s commitment to empower Asian American, immigrant, and low-income communities in New York City. With increased capacity for its services and expanded programming, CPC One will serve as a community anchor in the Lower East Side, providing intergenerational affordable housing and supporting the diverse needs of over 60,000 individuals and families. I commend Wayne Ho and the dedicated staff at CPC, the Gotham Organization, and all the partners involved in making this project a reality. Their dedication and hard work will have a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of individuals and families in New York City,” said State Senator Brian Kavanagh, who represents Chinatown and the Lower East Side.
“In a neighborhood that is increasingly gentrifying, it’s incredibly impactful for CPC to build affordable housing and headquarters for ongoing programming that will continue to serve Chinatown and NYC’s Asian communities,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “CPC One will be a beacon of community and opportunity, and I look forward to watching it thrive in the years to come.”
For more information on CPC, please visit: https://www.cpc-nyc.org/
Press Coverage: NY1, News 12, NYN Media, YIMBY, Epoch Times, World Journal, Sing Tao Daily
About the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC):
The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is a social services organization that creates positive social change. Founded in 1965, CPC is the nation’s largest Asian American social services organization and aims to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities of New York City. CPC is the trusted partner to individuals and families striving to achieve goals in their education, family, community, and career.
關於華人策劃協會 (華策會):
華人策劃協會(簡稱“華策會”)是一個致力於創造正向社會變革的社會服務機構。華策會成立於1965年,是美國最大的亞裔美國人社會服務機構,旨在促進紐約市華裔美國人、移民及低收入社區的社會權益和經濟賦權。華策會是為個人和家庭實現其教育、家庭、社區及職業目標而努力的可信賴機構。
ACERCA DE CPC
El Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) es una organización de servicios sociales que crea un cambio social positivo. Fundada en 1965, CPC es la mayor organización de servicios sociales asiático-americanos del país y su objetivo es promover la capacitación social y económica de las comunidades chino-americanas, inmigrantes y de bajos ingresos de la ciudad de Nueva York. CPC es el socio de confianza de personas y familias que se esfuerzan por alcanzar objetivos en su educación, familia, comunidad y carrera.
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