Bring Chinatown Into the Downtown Renaissance

Reprinted from the February 27, 2007, edition of the Los Angeles Downtown News

In the past few years, not much new development has happened in Chinatown. The community has essentially sat and watched as faded office structures were restored and new projects broke ground and were completed in the Historic Core, South Park, the Arts District, Little Tokyo, etc.

Now, it looks like Chinatown could get its first major project with Blossom Plaza, a mixed-use development that would rise on the site of the old Little Joe's restaurant and create a connection between Broadway and the Gold Line station. Some people are objecting to the effort at 900 N. Broadway because they want the project to include a major cultural center. Officials should not allow this dispute to stop the development.

We're not sure if the objections are really about the cultural center, or about preventing a $144 million effort that includes 169 condominiums. Chinatown is not a high-rent neighborhood, and there are likely concerns about who will move in, and what effect that will have on existing area residents. Several years ago a flurry of art galleries opened around Chung King Road and brought a new wave of young visitors to the area. Now some probably are wary of one project opening the development floodgates and permanently changing the face and nature of the residential community.

Blossom Plaza has merits, and we're encouraged by the city's role in it and by the strong support coming from First District Councilman Ed Reyes. At a recent community meeting, Reyes stood in front of a raucous crowd and touted Blossom Plaza's potential benefits, describing how it would activate and bring new people into the historic district.

Reyes' support of this development that includes 20% of the units as affordable housing, and $35 million in public funds, says a lot: Reyes has fought developers who sought to skirt affordable housing laws in his district. He has spoken about his desire to transform the portion of Downtown in Chinatown and towards the Los Angeles State Historic Park (long known as the Cornfield) and Taylor Yard. This seems an opportunity for the community to experience the growth that other parts of Downtown have enjoyed and to gain workforce housing without sacrificing what makes the neighborhood special.

This is not to suggest that Chinatown become the site of the next wave of cranes. Given the district's makeup, projects need to be considered carefully and on an individual basis. Historic and cultural considerations will play an important role.

But it is time to get Chinatown involved with the Downtown Los Angeles renaissance. Blossom Plaza is an appropriate first step. Bring Chinatown Into the Downtown Renaissance

In the past few years, not much new development has happened in Chinatown. The community has essentially sat and watched as faded office structures were restored and new projects broke ground and were completed in the Historic Core, South Park, the Arts District, Little Tokyo, etc.

Now, it looks like Chinatown could get its first major project with Blossom Plaza, a mixed-use development that would rise on the site of the old Little Joe's restaurant and create a connection between Broadway and the Gold Line station. Some people are objecting to the effort at 900 N. Broadway because they want the project to include a major cultural center. Officials should not allow this dispute to stop the development.

We're not sure if the objections are really about the cultural center, or about preventing a $144 million effort that includes 169 condominiums. Chinatown is not a high-rent neighborhood, and there are likely concerns about who will move in, and what effect that will have on existing area residents. Several years ago a flurry of art galleries opened around Chung King Road and brought a new wave of young visitors to the area. Now some probably are wary of one project opening the development floodgates and permanently changing the face and nature of the residential community.

Blossom Plaza has merits, and we're encouraged by the city's role in it and by the strong support coming from First District Councilman Ed Reyes. At a recent community meeting, Reyes stood in front of a raucous crowd and touted Blossom Plaza's potential benefits, describing how it would activate and bring new people into the historic district.

Reyes' support of this development that includes 20% of the units as affordable housing, and $35 million in public funds, says a lot: Reyes has fought developers who sought to skirt affordable housing laws in his district. He has spoken about his desire to transform the portion of Downtown in Chinatown and towards the Los Angeles State Historic Park (long known as the Cornfield) and Taylor Yard. This seems an opportunity for the community to experience the growth that other parts of Downtown have enjoyed and to gain workforce housing without sacrificing what makes the neighborhood special.

This is not to suggest that Chinatown become the site of the next wave of cranes. Given the district's makeup, projects need to be considered carefully and on an individual basis. Historic and cultural considerations will play an important role.

But it is time to get Chinatown involved with the Downtown Los Angeles renaissance. Blossom Plaza is an appropriate first step.

posted on 2008-01-01 - New Developments


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