New renderings have been revealed for the redesign of Kimlau Square and the restoration of the landmarked Kimlau Memorial Arch, a granite ceremonial gateway at the center of Chatham Square in Chinatown, Manhattan. Designed by architect Poy Gum Lee and dedicated in 1962, the 18-foot-9-inch granite structure is being restored by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, while a broader street and plaza realignment is advanced by the Department of Transportation under the Chinatown Connections project.
The plan would enlarge the plaza, simplify the five-point intersection where Oliver Street, East Broadway, the Bowery, and Park Row converge, and potentially relocate the arch to a more open position within the expanded square. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is set to review the proposal on Tuesday, July 14.
Rendering of Kimlau square, via LPC proposal.
The restoration is the more immediate effort, with procurement complete and construction set to begin imminently. Slated to run about a year, it now targets completion in summer 2027, a slip from an earlier 2026 estimate. Photographs from June 2023 track cracking at the bases of the memorial’s benches. The arch honors Second Lieutenant Benjamin Ralph Kimlau, a Chinese American bomber pilot who died in the South Pacific in 1944, and has stood largely unaltered since.
Rendering of Kimlau square, via LPC proposal.
Rendering of Kimlau square, via LPC proposal.
The case for moving the arch rests on the roadway: its current position conflicts with the geometry preferred for safe traffic circulation and with the bollards required to protect surrounding gathering spaces, the documents state. Any relocation would weigh three considerations: setting, preserving the arch’s southwest-to-northeast alignment with the Bowery while allowing use on all sides; viewsheds, maintaining pedestrian and vehicular sightlines; and community, creating a safer space for larger gatherings. The exact new location has yet to be determined.
Kimlau square sightlines, via LPC proposal.
The enlarged square would be organized into zones for movement, active programming, and gathering, framed by a green buffer and shaded seating that screen it from traffic and noise. A relocated Lin Ze Xu statue and a flag pole appear in the design, which also carves out space for a future Chinatown welcome arch distinct from the memorial. The work is part of a broader Kimlau Square overhaul the city has pegged at roughly $55.8 million across three phases, with the DOT realignment slated to begin construction in 2027.
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