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City unveils Chinatown predevelopment plans aimed at affordable housing and cultural preservation
Summary
City staff and TEF Design presented predevelopment concepts for SelenusChinatown that mix affordable housing, restored historic storefronts and a proposed Asian cultural experience; residents urged concurrent plans for housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.
City planning staff and design consultants presented a multi-site predevelopment package for SelenusChinatown on Feb. 24 that aims to revive a historically mixed-use corridor while preserving cultural assets and adding affordable housing.
"We're trying to make sure it looks right and it feels right," said TF Design founding principal Doug Tom, describing design precedents that blend Spanish-revival and Asian architectural influences and calling for a moon gate and lantern elements at key entries. The concepts include a five- to six-story mixed-use building at 3440 Solidad (about 55 units proposed), a two-story-plus senior housing option at 45 Solidad (about 30 units) and a stabilization-and-restoration plan for the 3739 Republic Cafe that would host the proposed Asian Cultural Experience of Selenus (ACES).
Why it matters: The properties are central to the Chinatown Revitalization Plan and the city has acquired several parcels to reduce development risk. The proposal pairs public investment (stabilization and predevelopment work) with a planned developer RFP to attract affordable-housing and mixed-use bidders.
Community concerns and sequencing: Several residents and community leaders praised the design but asked how the city would address unsheltered people near the railroad tracks and whether services and housing would be developed in parallel with commercial improvements. City staff said stabilization, infrastructure improvements and property acquisition are intended to reduce private-developer risk and that housing and supportive services are being pursued concurrently with partners including the county and nonprofit providers.
Next steps: Staff said it will prepare an RFP for developers and advance entitlements and stabilization work; council received the report (no action required) and residents asked for continued community involvement in design and programming decisions.
Speakers quoted: Grant Leonard (city staff), Doug Tom (TEF Design), Mary Rami (TEF Design).
