Chinatown

Chinatown is located just southwest of downtown Chicago. It has a population of 7,673 people and covers an area of 0.4 square miles. The population density of the neighborhood is 17,383 people per square mile, which is relatively dense compared to other Chicago neighborhoods. This density can be attributed to the prevalence of apartment-style housing in Chinatown. Chinatown is racially homogeneous, but diverse in terms of other factors, such as educational attainment. The neighborhood has a strong sense of identity fostered by the strong physical character of the area and the appropriate services provided to residents. In many senses, the neighborhood appears rather ideal. In fact, Chinatown's layout very nearly matches Clarence Perry’s model for the Neighborhood Unit.

Despite this near perfection when compared to some models, Chinatown has room for improvement, particularly with respect to its public space. For its small size, Chinatown has an adequate amount of public space, but it is not utilized to its greatest potential. The two most prominent public spaces in Chinatown are Ping Tom Memorial Park located on the northwest border of the neighborhood and Chinatown Square located on the northern side of the neighborhood. Ping Tom Memorial Park is well-used and maintained. It accommodates the Chicago River and engages both residents of the neighborhood as well as visitors. On the other hand, Chinatown Square is underutilized. It is not well-used or maintained, and it creates a barrier between the newer, northern tip of Chinatown and the southern remainder of the neighborhood. In Chinatown, the underutilization of Chinatown Square has a detrimental effect on the neighborhood. To remediate this issue, I propose an intervention project called “The North-South Connection”. The purpose of this project is to increase the connection between the northern tip of Chinatown and rest of the neighborhood to the south by improving the public space that separates the two, Chinatown Square. This project contains three specific interventions.

The first invention is the widening of the northern gate of Chinatown Square with the purpose of increasing thoroughfare through the Chinatown Square Plaza. The widening of the gate would allow residents to flow freely from the southern part of the neighborhood into the north, as well as increased access to Ping Tom Memorial Park, which is located just northwest of Chinatown Square. This intervention was inspired the Charles Montgomery’s Happy City, which states, “Sometimes designers used gates and fences to achieve the desired antisocial effect (164).” In this case, the “antisocial” effect is the isolation of the northern tip of the neighborhood. However, I propose that this antisocial effect be removed by widening the northern entrance to Chinatown Plaza.

The second intervention I propose is the creation of storefronts and business entrances on the northern edge of Chinatown Square. Currently, the part of Chinatown Square that faces the northern tip of Chinatown looks like an alley. The strip of business is lined with dumpsters and green metal doors shut tightly, and it lacks store signage. Although the southern side of Chinatown Square does not contain the main commercial entrances to Chinatown Square, it does have clear signage for the business as well as many back entrances so that residents coming from the south can directly enter the businesses. I propose that the backs of the northern business are renovated to match those of the southern side, complete with clear signage and back entrances. As discussed in class, the residential blocks of the north terminate with their short sides facing the commercial street, S China Place, as they should. However, further commercial development through the implementation of business signs and back entrances could help to integrate the northern tip of Chinatown with the rest of the neighborhood.

The third and final intervention of this project is the beautification of Wentworth Ave between Archer Ave and Cermak Rd. As Daniel Baldwin Hess said in Pathways and Artifacts: Neighborhood Designs for Physical Activity, “The pathways offers ways to get from one meaningful place to another (64).” In this case, the meaningful places are the commercial drag of Wentworth Ave and Chinatown Square. I propose that this street be beautified to encourage thoroughfare between the northern and the southern regions of Chinatown. Currently, this stretch of Wentworth is desolate and grey, completely devoid of any character or neighborhood identity. This beautification could take a variety of forms. Trees could be planted along the western side of the street to match those on the eastern side. The gate around the parking lot on the eastern side could be replaced with the green metalwork characteristic of Chinatown to give the street a stronger architectural identity and continuity. Chinese flags are prevalent in Chinatown. Therefore, the erection of a Chinese flag to complement the American and Chicago flags at the corner of Wentworth Ave and Archer Ave would be reasonable. Beautification of this street will hopefully encourage greater pedestrian thoroughfare between the northern and southern region of the neighborhood.

This aerial image shows the current constraint the small gate on the northern side of Chinatown Square causes to pedestrian traffic (shown in yellow). I propose widening the entrance to the size of the southern entrance (shown in orange) so that pedestrian can flow more freely between the north and south.

The northern entrance into Chinatown Square is very small. It constricts pedestrian flow into and out of Chinatown Square.

The southern entrance into Chinatown Square is much wider than the entrance on the northern side. This entrance allows for a free flow of pedestrians into Chinatown Square Plaza. I propose that the northern entrance be widened to the size of the southern entrance.

The yellow line indicates the area in which businesses should put up signs and create back entrances to increase the accessibility of their businesses to residents of the northern tip of Chinatown.

Currently, the portion of Chinatown Square facing the northern tip of Chinatown resembles an alley, complete with dumpsters and closed doors.

I propose that the northern edge of Chinatown Square be renovated to better resemble the southern edge, as pictured above. The southern edge of Chinatown appears to be more lively and accessible. It has ample store signage and back door entrances to businesses.

Currently, this stretch of Wentworth Ave is desolate, completely devoid of any character or identity. There is no indication that this street is part of Chinatown, and it is not an inviting place to walk.

Although this is a dramatic example of a street with a strong neighborhood identity, the beautification intervention of Wentworth Ave could draw inspiration from places like Humbolt Park. The stretch of Wentworth Ave could incorporate the use of the Chinese flag as Humbolt Park has done with the Puerto Rican flag. A Chinese flag could be erected on the corner of Archer and Wentworth to complement the already-standing American and Chicago flags. Another method of beautification drawing inspiration from Humbolt Park could be the creation of murals painted along the sidewalk or sides of buildings. However, the erection of a Chinese flag, the replacement of the gates of the parking lot with the green metalwork characteristic of Chinatown, and the planting of trees and flowers on the western side of the street are the most viable methods of beautification for Wentworth Ave.

Bibliography for images:

Google Maps
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