Chinatown Renewal Project
The 12-square blocks that form Salinas’ Chinatown are, literally and figuratively, cut off from much of the rest of the greater community. The area is blocked from a main thoroughfare by railroad tracks, and blocked from full participation with the rest of the City because of its reputation as a haven for illicit activity.
But change is happening!
California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and the Salinas Downtown Community Board (SDCB), comprised of stakeholders in the neighborhood, including various houses of worship, nonprofit agencies that serve the homeless, community members, property owners and businesses, are all collaborating to determine the future of Chinatown. The theme for this Project is, “Creating a Thriving Community.”
In 2007, grant-contracted planners used a 19th-Century technique of French origin known as charrette (often used to describe the intense work done by art and architecture students to meet deadlines) to bring openness to the design definition process. Over 300 community members were involved in the experience, which resulted in the creation of the Chinatown Renewal Project Plan.
What has been envisioned includes condominiums over retail, outdoor cafes, a pedestrian bridge to re-connect Chinatown to the main area of Old Town Salinas, community parks, a single location for community/social services, consideration of traffic roundabouts, and transformation of all one-way streets to allow for two-way traffic.
Chinatown conditions have already improved because of the presence of CSUMB students, who are required to participate in service learning as part of their degree program, and community members engaged in urban transformation. Multiple signs proclaiming the area as a “drug free zone” have gone up in the neighborhood, and illicit activity is down, due not only to increased police presence, but also the cooperation between nonprofit agencies, community members, property owners and businesses.
The Center functions as a resource for the residents of Chinatown offering free broadband access to Chinatown community members and provides over a dozen computers for public use. It also functions as a classroom where residents can gain job readiness skills, learn basic to advanced computer literacy skills, nutritional/dietary education, as well as conflict resolution skills.
The center is also utilized as a social service drop-in center with two private counseling rooms. Service Learning students also use the facility as a satellite classroom for CSUMB capstones, service learning projects, as well as student volunteers to interface with the population.
To visit or learn more about the CSUMB Learning Center contact Jeffrey Lehner: jlehner@csumb.edu, 831. 582.5083 or 831.770.1700 or click on the link above to explore the web page.
Artist rendering of the proposed housing project at 21 Soledad Street, the former home of the Chinatown Community GardenSadly, the 11 year history of the Chinatown Community Garden has come to an end. The space will instead be utilized for the MidPen Fully Supportive Housing Project. Construction on the MidPen facility is beginning at the end of 2017. The Garden was many thing to many people in this community, but the move toward providing housing for those who need it is a positive change.
The Chinatown Community Garden provides a free public green space to a low-income neighborhood, increasing food production and community building. “Where vegetables, flowers, and dreams grow”
The Garden is largely maintained by volunteers from CSUMB, Volunteer Center, United Way, and CalWorks.
Short History of the Garden
The Service Learning Institute (SLI) of California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) developed a public green space and community garden on an abandoned lot, replacing urban neglect with beauty, nutritious food and employment. The Garden was established by dedicated local marginalized individuals through a job-training program started in 2006. This 24,000 sq. ft. site, the Chinatown Community Garden is where people come to grow food. Garden beds are adopted by residents of the neighborhood and organizations. Each person or organization who adopts a bed takes care of and receives the bounty of their own harvest.
The Garden is where 55+ community members (including Salinas’ youth, currently homeless individuals, and university volunteers) learn methods of sustainable gardening and natural building. Currently, the organizations involved with the Garden are: Hope Services, Clinica de Salud, Sustainable Salinas, Dorothy’s Place, Buddhist Temple, Confucius Church, United Way, and the Volunteer Center.
Short History of the Garden Site
On June 13, 1893, the Garden site was marked as, “ground zero” and recognized as sacred ground. This is because, it was there, days after a major fire destroyed the majority of Chinatown, that four out of the first eight property lots were finally leased to Chinese merchants from Mr. Sherwood. Soon after, boarding houses, backroom residents, and houses were built redeveloping Chinatown.
Several Groups are in the process of collaborating in hopes to cultivate opportunities for volunteers and community partners. More information to come in the future.
*It is mandatory for all CSUMB Service Learners serving in the Chinatown Neighborhood to read the information below and follow all of the instructions previous to starting your service hours.
- Learn about the History of Chinatown by viewing the Chinatown PowerPoint below.
- Download and read Techniques for Serving in the Chinatown Neighborhood
- Print and complete the Chinatown Safety Quiz and submit it to your site supervisor.
- Be sure to register your site online via MySLP, where you can also print your Learning Agreement, Activity Time Log and obtain directions.
For questions regarding the safety training or partnership opportunities please contact Jeffrey Lehner, by phone at 831.770.1700 or 831. 582.5083, or by email at jlehner@csumb.edu