A Hard Look At The Future Of Chinatowns

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

People who stroll through Chinatown on Saturday nights bathe in the lights of intriguing new restaurants, hip tea shops, and stylish lounges.

But moving beneath that shiny exterior, as strong and powerful as an underground river, is a torrent of forces that threaten the neighborhood’s very existence.

An influx of luxury housing, rising rents and land values, a soaring white population, and slipping Asian population could mean the end of Chinatown’s 140-year role as a gateway for immigrants and a regional hub for culture and family.

That’s the conclusion of a new study by a civil rights and education group that examined two decades of property and demographic records in the three big eastern Chinatowns – New York’s, Boston’s, and Philadelphia’s.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131111_A_hard_look_at_the_future_of_Chinatowns.html#ra7F8e0Rev0gffuc.99

Philadelphia Looks To Turn Reading Viaduct Into Urban Park

Much like the High Line was in Manhattan, the Reading Viaduct in Philadelphia is an abandoned elevated railroad line that runs through parts of Philadelphia.  The idea of taking in urban views from an elevated garden style park is catching on in Philly.

This concept was a huge success in Manhattan and even got celebrities like Diane von Fürstenberg and Edward Norton involved in the project.

After eight years, two Philadelphians succeeded in lobbying city council to take control of the viaduct from the Reading International Company.  The city is presently in contact with Reading International to take control of the larger section of the viaduct.  The Center City District is working with SEPTA to create a park on the shorter section of the viaduct, which is owned by SEPTA.

The Reading Viaduct is much wider than the High Line in Manhattan and will make the space more versatile.  People are envisioning a renaissance in the area that will bring in food, entertainment, outdoor activities of all sorts, artists and housing.  The park would stimulate growth for Chinatown, eliminate blight and attract new residents.  The High Line has had a tremendous economic impact on the area of Manhattan it is located in.  Philadelphia could expect similar results.

We applaud Philadelphia’s leadership for getting on the “rails to trails” bandwagon and doing something innovative that will enhance the quality of life for city residents!

Philadelphia’s Chinatown Cleans Up Blight – Neighborhood Expands North Past Vine Street Expressway

Image via Wikipedia

Philadelphia’s Chinatown is one of the largest in the United States and a must see for visitors to Philadelphia, residents of the city and suburbanites alike.  For that matter, anyone who loves Asian cuisine and culture should explore Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

In recent years Chinatown was threatened and some area was lost due to the construction of the Vine Street Expressway, the Gallery mall, Market Street East train station and the Convention Center.  It was also the proposed location for a prison and a new ball park for the Phillies.  45 years ago, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation was formed to keep Chinatown alive and well in Philadelphia.

Chinatown’s borders are Arch Street on the south, Vine Street on the north, 11th Street on the west and 8th Street on the east.  Recently Chinatown has expanded across Vine Street into what has become known as Chinatown North.

The area where 10th Street crosses the Vine Street Expressway had become a garbage dump and a sleeping area for the homeless.  10th Street is a vital link from Chinatown to Chinatown North.  The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Hahnemann University Hospital cosponsored a new gateway area for Chinatown. The $300,000 project was recently completed and has transformed an undesirable area into a beautiful public space called 10th Street Plaza.

A seven ton foo dog, hand carved from granite in the Fujian Province, stands guard at each end of the newly formed plaza.  One is male, the other female.  An Asian-style pergola was constructed, which during the warmer months will provide shade from climbing vines.  Tables, benches and lighting were also added transforming the area into an outdoor gathering place.  An eight-foot-tall statue of Lin Zexu will also join the foo dogs in the plaza.

The area north of Vine Street was formerly a warehouse/industrial district but has now become a haven for businesses who want to be near Chinatown.  Restaurant suppliers, travel agencies and construction firms for starters.  This northerly migration has created much needed room for Chinatown to expand, thus making the 10th Street crossing a pivotal component for neighborhood revitalization and stabilization.  Many people who live and work in Chinatown must use the 10th Street overpass every day.

A formal dedication of 10th Street Plaza is scheduled for spring.