Salinas committee hears update on Chinatown redevelopment; city readies 34–40, 37–39 and 45 Soledad Street for affordable housing and museum space

City of Salinas staff on Tuesday updated the Housing and Land Use Committee on predevelopment work for several Chinatown parcels on Soledad Street, outlining plans to rehabilitate the historic Republic Cafe and to build mixed‑use affordable housing at 34–40 and 45 Soledad Street.

“Good afternoon, chair. Pleasure to be here and to give an update on the city's activities for redeveloping 34, 36, 38, 40 and 37–39 and 45 Soledad Street,” said Mr. Leonard, the staff presenter, who described property acquisitions, design work and funding the city has secured for predevelopment. Leonard said the city received “approximately one and a half million dollars” through a regional early action planning grant and selected TEF Design and Architecture to advance design and entitlement work.

The presentation traced the sites’ recent history: multiple buildings on 34–40 had been damaged by fire and demolished; 38 was a historic two‑story building lost to fire in 2025; 37–39 (the Republic Cafe and Lotus Inn) sit on a separate parcel and remain in relatively better condition. Leonard said the Republic Cafe is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and that the city aims to stabilize character‑defining features and install a fire suppression system to prevent further loss.

Leonard described program plans for the redevelopment. For 34–40, the first floor is planned for commercial uses with a mix of studio through three‑bedroom apartments stacked on floors above, a second‑floor community room and limited on‑site parking with an emphasis on transit and bicycle amenities. For 45 Soledad, the project is intended to be 100% affordable for seniors and built to tax credit standards, with roughly 2,000 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space.

On 37–39 Soledad, the city is proposing emergency stabilization of the Republic Cafe and an interior program that could include museum or exhibit space. “For the interior, the city is in partnership with the Asian Cultural Experience of Salinas on this project, as a condition of buying the property,” Leonard said. He added that lease terms, how much of the building would be leased and whether the space would be managed through library and community services are “all to be determined.”

Members questioned next steps and ownership. Chair Barajas asked whether the Lotus Inn’s eligibility for historic designation requires the city to complete permitting first; Leonard said the city, as owner, would decide the timing and the city’s historic structures ordinance allows the owner to pursue designation. Barajas also pressed on whether the ACES (Asian Cultural Experience of Salinas) space would be a tenant paying rent or provided in kind; Leonard said that would be determined in a future lease agreement.

The staff presentation emphasized design precedents that mix Spanish revival elements (clay tile awnings, exposed wood brackets) with traditional Chinese architectural motifs (red hues, moon gate entryways) and called for public art opportunities on façade areas. Leonard said the design aims to avoid a “Chinatown Disneyland” effect and to balance historical character at street level with modern massing on upper floors.

On safety and vacancy, Leonard argued occupation reduces vandalism and fire risk: “All the fires, for instance, have happened in vacant buildings,” he said, adding that outreach, potential relocation of service providers, improved fencing with Union Pacific and activating the sites are part of the strategy to reduce future incidents.

Staff outlined next procedural steps: submitting 45 Soledad for planning review, revising plans for 34–40 after initial department comments, preparing a request for proposals to solicit affordable housing developers once approvals are in place, and moving forward with city‑led stabilization and rehabilitation work for 37–39 as appropriate.

Funding for the projects will likely be a patchwork. Leonard said the developments are being designed to meet tax credit standards and will rely on a mix of state or federal tax credits and other sources such as Community Development Block Grants, HOME funds, permanent local housing allocation, historic tax credits, private foundations and local funds.

A committee member recited an estimate of $5,000,000 for some sites, allocating about $3,000,000 for rehabilitation and $2,000,000 for emergency stabilization; Leonard responded that historic preservation and the severe state of disrepair increase costs and that the estimates reflect current materials and labor.

Because the committee lacked quorum, members took no formal vote on the presentation; staff will return material as planning reviews and RFP processes advance.

What’s next: staff will resubmit 34–40 following planning comments, submit 45 Soledad for review, prepare an RFP for affordable housing developers after approvals, and pursue stabilization work at 37–39 with the stated goal of preserving historic features and creating cultural space on the first floor.