The Vine Street Expressway, completed in 1991, was actually the catalyst for the formation of the PCDC [5]. In order to get their voice heard, disparate community groups came together to lobby against detrimental aspects of the Expressway's proposal, including the demolition of the Holy Redeemer Church that has been an important community canopy for the residents of Chinatown for decades. They succeeded in retaining the church, and since then have also lobbied against a proposed stadium [4, pg 28] and casino. It is remarkable how a fairly diverse immigrant population (comprising various generations of immigrants, as well as numerous dialect groups, including non-Chinese groups) discovered the strength of a common voice and have used that to positive ends.
Speaking to Andy Toy [5], who is the PCDC's project manager of the Eastern Tower mixed-use community center, the proposed development on a site which is currently a surface parking lot is envisioned to help bring back the connection between the main Chinatown that lies south of the Vine Street Expressway, and the Chinatown North area that hitherto has been relatively isolated from the growth of its more prolific southern neighbor.
The 10th Street Plaza, completed in 2011, is the first step towards bridging the artificial border created between Chinatown and Chinatown North by the Vine Street Expressway. Careful landscaping has rejuvenated this small strip of public space, whereas it was previously a hangout spot for shady characters [6]. Once Eastern Tower is constructed right across the road, the Plaza will serve as an integral part of a 10th Street corridor that will bridge Chinatown and Chinatown North both physically and psychologically. Andy Toy told me that he wishes the entire Vine Street Expressway can be fully covered over to create a park between the two directions of grade-level Vine Street [5], but he recognizes the inherent obstacles towards achieving that dream. Nonetheless, the 10th Street Plaza is the first step in re-permeating the border that was created when the Vine Street Expressway was built.
