Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Judge temporarily halts overnight construction at NYC’s Chinatown jail
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 7:08 p.m. ET
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 7:08 p.m. ET
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A Manhattan Supreme Court judge has temporarily halted the city’s after-hours construction on a new neighborhood jail in Chinatown.
The ruling on Monday marks another setback for the city’s plan to build several new borough-based jails as it struggles to replace Rikers Island, which is legally required to close by next year.
The lawsuit was filed after permits allowed construction on the new jail from 6 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, starting this month.
Chinatown residents and advocacy groups sued the city last week, citing sleep disruption and health concerns resulting from the extended construction hours.
While the temporary restraining order blocks after-hours construction, crews can still work on the new jail during regularly permitted construction hours.
Local community groups applauded the judge’s order on Monday, expressing relief that after-hours construction would be halted.
“We are over the moon over this judgment, and we look forward to seeing what happens next, and we're able to sleep at night — that’s the most important thing," said Jan Lee, who co-founded Neighbors United Below Canal, one of the petitioners in the case.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling.
However, a City Hall spokesperson previously said the city was taking steps to mitigate the noise and environmental impacts of construction. City officials have also said that without extended construction hours, the project could face further delays and hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs.
The temporary restraining order remains in place while the court considers the residents’ request for a preliminary injunction. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1.
Tagged
Politics
housing
manhattan
public safety
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Pressure grows on Mamdani to reform admissions to NYC specialized high schools
A former top-school official will join councilmembers and other prominent educators at an event focused on specialized high schools.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 4:03 p.m. ET
Police search for man in Central Park sexual assault
A 39-year-old woman was attacked near East 66th Street and Fifth Avenue on Saturday night, police said. No arrests had been made as of Monday.
By
Charles Lane
News
Police search for man in Central Park sexual assault
A 39-year-old woman was attacked near East 66th Street and Fifth Avenue on Saturday night, police said. No arrests had been made as of Monday.
By
Charles Lane
Rockefeller Center's 2026 Christmas tree is a 76-foot spruce from Upstate New York
By
Giulia Heyward
‘A killer cop lives here’: Brooklyn arrests raise questions about limits of free speech
By
Ben Feuerherd
What to expect and avoid in NYC’s Halloween, voting, marathon and daylight saving weekend
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .