Draft EIR for Chinese Hospital replacement raises unavoidable historic and air-quality impacts; public urges careful review

The Planning Department on May 10 opened public comment on the draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the Chinese Hospital replacement project at 835–845 Jackson Street. The sponsor proposes demolition of the 1924 medical administrative building and a 41‑space parking garage, construction of a 48‑bed replacement hospital and a new 22‑bed skilled nursing facility, and renovation of the existing 1979 hospital building.

Devyani Jain, project environmental coordinator, summarized the draft EIR’s findings: demolition of the 1924 building and construction of the replacement hospital would cause significant and unavoidable impacts to historic architectural resources (including potential impacts to the Chinatown Historic District), and construction-related activity could generate significant PM2.5 and other toxic air contaminants affecting sensitive receptors.

The Historic Preservation Commission submitted a comment letter raising concerns about historic‑resource impacts and recommending additional design alternatives and mitigation measures. Public commenters, including Chinatown cultural advocates, urged the planning department and commission to consider the project’s holistic impacts on Chinatown’s fabric and explore alternatives that preserve historic elements where feasible.

Staff noted this hearing is for EIR adequacy and that comments will be transcribed and addressed in a comments-and-responses document. The public comment period for the draft EIR remains open through 5 p.m. on May 31, 2012.