The participants in the July 7, 1998 workshop explored issues that are central to the long term viability of Chinatown as a business address and cultural focal point for Sacramento's Asian communities. They discussed the scope and role of Chinatown, what sites they felt were opportunities, and what type of partnerships are required for successfully realizing their vision. They worked as three planning teams to model a site development concept that reflected their objectives and vision of the future. All of the teams felt the existing Chinatown was underutilized. All teams suggested mixed use solutions. Two teams felt the area could be redeveloped to include more community activities to enhance its role as a cultural center. The third team felt the site was really no longer Chinatown--it is too small and a new Chinatown and Asian center should be built elsewhere. The following pages summarize workshop participants' efforts.
Workshop Objectives
· Review the changing context and opportunities for Chinatown.
· Discuss the future social, cultural and economic role of Chinatown.
· Discuss the potential scope of the next generation of investments and partnerships.
Development Futures
The future of Sacramento's Chinatown will depend the desired social and economic role in plays within the community; which sites are considered available for redevelopment; and the creation of partnerships that bring the financial and professional capacity for implementation. The participants considered the following questions:
1. Scope and Role of Chinatown
What is the future social, cultural and economic role of Chinatown?
What activities are important to include in a plan for Chinatown's future?
How big is Chinatown? Will it grow, shrink, or stay the same size?
2. Opportunity Sites
What sites and buildings should be considered opportunities for redevelopment?
How would these sites be developed? What uses would go there?
3. Partnerships
What types of partnerships are required for each of the development site? (Consider development skills, marketing, operations, financing and other issues necessary to make the development successful.)
Team 1
Theme: Mixed Use with Improve Linkages to Railyards, Downtown
Plaza and Old Sacramento
1. Scope And Role Of Chinatown
(1) Office Building
(2) Hotel
(3) Community Meeting Space
Residential/Condos
Elderly
Family Services
Retail/Food
Cultural/Museum
Open Space
2. Opportunity Sites
1. Connections
2. Linkages
3. Character
3. Partnerships
Private Developers
Government (State, Local, Federal)
Community
Exiting Property Owners
Retail Tenants
Business Association/Entities
Team 2
Theme: Mixed Use Ping Yuen Site, Chinatown Developed Elsewhere
1. Scope and Role of Chinatown
Hotel (2)
Office (2)
Retail (2)
Cultural Museum
Performing Arts
Community Meeting
Residential
Apartments (1)
Condo (2)
Elderly
Role Chinatown Plays
Need Vision For The Whole Block
Office
Housing
Retail
Vision
Embarcadero
Garage
Office
Cultural
Residential
Open Space
2. Opportunity Sites
Ping Yuen-Near Term
Vagabond-Mid Term
China Moon
Church Sys, I Street
Connections/Linkages
Downtown Plaza
Courthouse
Old Sacramento
Future Sp
Skywalk
3. Partnerships
Current Owners
Financiers
Institutional
Investors
Retail
City
Local Government
State Credit
Federal Credits
Team 3
Theme: Large-scaled Redevelopment of Chinatown
1. Scope And Role Of Chinatown
Office/Retail (4)
Community Center (4)
Family/Elderly Services (4)
Apartments (4)
Condos (1)
Elderly Housing (3)
Museum (2)
Parking (2)
2. Opportunity Sites
Ping Yuen/Confucius Hall-Near Term
Vagabond/Dennys-Mid Term