AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 27, 2026
Judge Temporarily Suspends Late-Night Manhattan Jail Construction
A court has issued an order temporarily suspending late-night construction at the site of a new Manhattan jail in Chinatown. The decision follows complaints from neighbors and a local nonprofit over increased construction noise and extended work hours approved by city authorities.
Community Concerns About Noise and Disruption
Residents living near the construction site reported that disruptive drilling and pounding continued after dark, making it difficult to sleep and affecting the area's daily life. Danielle Edberg, a local resident, said, "They're drilling starting at 10 p.m. on a Sunday, which is kind of crazy. And it's supposed to end at 10 p.m., so it's really loud and impossible to sleep." The impacts were not limited to residents, as businesses also felt the effects.
Business Owners and Nonprofit Join the Challenge
Dennis Chung, the manager of Pasteur Grill & Noodles on Baxter Street, highlighted a decline in customers, stating, "A lot of people don't want to come. Too much noise." The local nonprofit Welcome to Chinatown, co-founded by Vic Lee, joined a lawsuit challenging the city's decision to extend work hours. Lee noted, "The thing that we want to consider is close Rikers, but at what cost to the community." The plaintiffs allege that the expanded work hours have brought "unbearable noise, dust, overnight glaring lighting, and other construction effects." They further argue that the city did not conduct a proper environmental impact review for the extended schedule.
City Extends Work Hours to Expedite Project Timeline
On October 8, city officials notified neighbors that the construction schedule would be extended to 10 p.m. on weekdays, with new daytime work scheduled for Saturdays. According to the city, this adjustment was estimated to conclude construction by 2032, two years ahead of the original timeline. The jail is one of four new facilities intended to replace Rikers Island as part of the city’s correctional system overhaul.
Legal Action and City’s Response
Critics of the late night work cited both ongoing disruption and concerns over insufficient oversight. The court’s temporary order to halt late-night construction took effect immediately, pending a hearing set for December 1. "We were really grateful that the judge is agreeing with our take that this has just been inhumane of what our community and particularly our senior community has been subjected to," said Vic Lee.
In response, a city spokesperson emphasized that the city remains committed to closing jails on Rikers Island and shifting to a borough-based system, while also deploying mitigation measures such as sound blankets, vibration and dust monitors around the site. Despite these efforts, 311 data showed five noise complaints submitted in October in the vicinity between 6 p.m. and midnight.
Next Steps for the Manhattan Jail Construction
The construction pause affects only the late-night work for the time being. The court will revisit the matter during a scheduled December hearing to determine whether limits on extended work hours—cited by both Chinatown residents and advocacy groups—will remain in effect.
Source: ny1.com.
