Chinatown revitalization projects underway
From a crime-riddled homeless encampment to a vibrant community, that’s what Salinas city leaders hope will become of Chinatown. On Friday, KION got a better idea of the revitalization efforts in the area that once housed the city’s largest homeless encampment.
Two weeks ago, tents were lined along Market Way, Bridge Avenue and Soledad and Lake streets. It was home to hundreds of people. On Friday, fewer than two dozen shelters remain in Chinatown after a series of sweeps through the area. The city is trying to keep the area clean and on Friday, more security cameras were installed. They’re supposed to act as a deterrent and even catch crimes as they happen.
The city’s Community Development Department has been working with the Bay Area-based developer MidPen to revitalize the once crime-riddled neighborhood.
Right now the project is being called 21 Soledad. Developers hope to open 90 apartment units, mostly studios on three stories. Commercial and retail space would take up the ground floor with an area dedicated to artists.
“There are a number of shallow spaces along a little pedestrian alley that will hopefully foster a little artist community and we have a space that is proposed to be a shared community room/artist gallery where these artists can hopefully engage with our residents and help foster more community within the residential portion of the building as well,” said Betsy Wilson, director of housing development for MidPen.
The Asian Cultural Experience and CSUMB have both shown interest in the property. MidPen would like to draw in a diverse group of retailers and artists. There would also be onsite case managers to help residents.
“The structure can help revitalize the neighborhood and the housing can help stabilize lives,” Wilson said. “We really do believe that we’re helping to build communities by both stabilizing lives and improving the physical environment.”
MidPen says if everything goes perfectly with permitting and financing, it would break ground next year and be ready for new residents in 2019.
It’s not the only development going on. A 41-unit low-income senior housing facility is being built nearby right now. The city is also looking to expand the Hacienda Place development with another 50 units. And the city is partnering with Dorothy’s Place to open a health service center, that could serve hundreds of people every year.
“Our intention as the primary coordinator of the pilot health service center is to get as many social service providers, health providers and housing providers to provide a part-time presence there, so as we get people through the coordinated entry process, we can hook them up with the services they need individually,” said Jill Allen, executive director of Dorothy’s Place.
Allen says she hopes the pilot health service center will serve as a model in other communities throughout Monterey County. She also hopes it is successful enough that her organization can open a larger health service campus within five years.
The revitalization, reaching farther than the limits of Chinatown.
“Chinatown is a piece to that whole downtown vibrancy and I think there’s a lot of positive things,” said Megan Hunter, community development director of Salinas. “Of course we still have challenges but the community’s really coming together and looking at these catalytic projects to transform the city.”
