Building Upgrade Fund & Light Up Chinatown
Catalytic investments to strengthen Chinatown’s storefronts, public spaces, small businesses, and cultural identity. Learn about the Building Upgrade Fund, Light Up Chinatown, upcoming office hours, and application support.
Manhattan’s Chinatown is a cultural home and economic engine for generations of residents, workers, and visitors from across the region and the world. Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), the Chinatown Partnership LDC is proud to administer two new programs designed to respond directly to community-identified needs: the Building Upgrade Fund and Light Up Chinatown. These catalytic projects will build on our neighborhood’s rich heritage, enhance public safety, and support the small businesses that define our community’s unique character.
This page will keep updating office hour dates, language assistance information, outreach materials, and resources for applicants. Please stay tuned!
Our Goals
Preserve & Enhance Building Stock
Provide resources for property owners and small businesses to improve facades and storefronts, and make their properties safer, more attractive and energy-efficient.
Improve Public Safety & Walkability
Expand creative street lighting to illuminate corridors, deter crime, and create a safer, more welcoming environment for pedestrians, especially in the evening.
Support Local Economic Vitality
Drive increased foot traffic to commercial corridors, helping small businesses recover and thrive.
Celebrate Cultural Heritage
Ensure improvements respect and highlight Chinatown’s authentic, multigenerational, and multicultural identity, strengthening its role as a cultural beacon in solidarity.
Get Involved
Help Shape These Investments
Your voice has shaped these investments from the beginning. Join the conversation as we move from planning to implementation. Explore upcoming engagement opportunities and help us ensure these projects deliver the greatest possible benefit for our community.
Community partners, advisory members, and local organizations are encouraged to help share program information with eligible businesses through newsletters, social media, WeChat groups, short videos, and direct referrals.
Our Approach
Community-Led Planning
- These projects were shaped through a seven-month engagement process led by a 17-member Local Planning Committee, with input from hundreds of residents, business owners, and stakeholders.
- Top priorities included public safety, small business support, cultural preservation, and accessible community spaces.
- Sign up for our email list to receive the Building Upgrade Fund application link, office hour announcements, language assistance updates, Light Up Chinatown engagement opportunities, and future DRI program updates. Sign up here.
- Outreach materials will include plain-language summaries, multilingual materials, and partner-friendly content that can be shared through community networks.
Public Outreach Events
Public Information Sessions & Application Support Office Hours
CPLDC will host public information sessions and office hours to help property owners, commercial tenants, and small businesses understand program guidelines, eligibility, required documents, and the application process. Language assistance will be available.
Dates, times, and locations will be posted here when confirmed.
Property owners or commercial tenants (with owner permission) within the DRI area. A 20% cost share is required.
Building exterior improvements, ADA accessibility, and small projects. Read more on the Building Upgrade Fund Page.
Initial phases will focus on key corridors identified through community input and feasibility studies.
Apply Today: Building Upgrade Fund
Application materials must be submitted in English for review purposes. However, language assistance will be available through office hours to help Chinese-speaking applicants understand the guidelines, prepare materials, and complete the application.
Some exterior signage, illuminated signage, lighting, awning, and storefront projects may require professional design support, permits, or review by the NYC Department of Buildings or other agencies. CPLDC may provide a resource list of signage designers and consultants for applicants’ reference. Applicants are not required to use any specific vendor.
It depends on the project. Some smaller improvements may not require a professional consultant, while more complex exterior, signage, lighting, ADA, or other improvement projects may require professional drawings, filings, permits, or technical documentation.
Community partners can help share program information, refer eligible businesses, repost outreach materials, distribute flyers, and help connect small businesses to office hours and application support.
Apply for the Building Upgrade Fund
Ready to apply? Learn more and apply at the link.
Building Upgrade Advisory Committee
Members
The following individuals and organizations, representing a diverse cross-section of our community, provide ongoing guidance and expertise to ensure these DRI projects are implemented effectively and remain responsive to Chinatown’s needs. This committee builds on the foundation laid by the original DRI Local Planning Committee.
- Matt Axel — Art Beyond Sight; ADA compliance expert
- Brian Chin — Vice Chair to 5th Precinct Community Council; Property Owner
- Metthew Chua — Architect
- Steve Dadurian / Alexandra Dadurian — Property Manager
- Jeff Kwan — Store owner; Real Estate Manager; Former NYC Small Business Advisory Member
- Tina Lee — CPLDC Board Member
- Ammy Lim Cuccia — Edward J. Cuccia Law Firm; Property Owner; Little Italy and Malaysian Chinese community liaison
- Harry Trinh — Head of Creative & Cultural Programs of Welcome to Chinatown
- Shing Wah Yeung — Principal of Yeung Real Estate Development
Applicant Resources
Support for Your Application
CPLDC will provide resources to help applicants better understand eligible improvements, required documents, application steps, and available support.
For projects involving exterior signage, illuminated signage, awnings, lighting, or other storefront improvements, applicants may need professional design, permitting, or technical assistance. A list of signage designers and consultants may be provided for informational purposes only. Applicants may choose any qualified professional and are not required to use a listed vendor.
Get in Touch
Still have questions?
Have a question that wasn’t answered here? Our team is ready to help. Visit our Contact page or use the form below to send us a message.