The intersection of 12th and Buttonwood Streets is nearly the western extreme of the walking tour, and can be considered where Chinatown North blends in with the Callowhill District. Yet, among the towering former industrial lofts that are being converted progressively into apartments, there stands yet another example of the diversity and multiplicity of the area. On the Sunday morning when this photograph was taken, a church service was taking place inside this building that, as identified by the stencil-painted wording next to the main entrance, was owned by Iglesia Cristiana Elim. Subsequent investigation confirmed that this organization catered to the Spanish-speaking community, as evidenced by its
Facebook page. A cursory glance through the glass door after the photo was taken seemed to indicate that the room was quite full. Indeed, I walked past a number of people of Hispanic descent during the course of the Criss-Cross walking tour. It was surprising to find this nucleus of Hispanic community within Chinatown North, and even more so that it was nestled in a nondescript building across from a row of newly-renovated shophouses that primarily had Chinese-operated businesses on their ground floor.
