CCDC
"I joined AAA Youth Project about a year ago. It had an astonishing impact on my life. AAA was the best “club” that I had ever worked with, because it was fun and educational," said Nelson Szeto, Former AAA (Adopt-An-Alleyway) Member. (Read more)

Planning: History


1986 Chinatown Rezoning


In the 1970s and 1980s, the rapid growth of San Francisco’s downtown was creating a number of development pressures in Chinatown. After fighting a number of individual battles to preserve affordable housing, Chinatown CDC decided to pursue a zoning strategy.

We began a public process, in partnership with the San Francisco Department of Planning, including individuals meetings and focus groups to discuss: population, housing, commerce and employment, transportation, urban design/preservation/open space, social services.

Out of this process, Chinatown CDC wrote the 1983 Chinatown Community Plan. This community process was challenged by another plan submitted by the Chinese Six Companies and the City of San Francisco’s Planning Department acted as a neutral mediator. The Planning Department found that there was a fair amount of common ground between the two plans and in 1986 adopted the Chinatown Area as part of San Francisco’s Master Plan. It was truly groundbreaking for a neighborhood planning process to lead to zoning that preserved the essence of an ethnic community. The plan stressed the importance of holistic visioning to preserve and enhance Chinatown.


Summary of Objectives and Policies



Preservation and Conservation
Preserve the distinctive urban character, physical environment and cultural heritage of Chinatown
Height and bulk restrictions, retain scale
Commercial ground floor, residential above

Mixed Use
Retain and reinforce Chinatown's mutually supportive functions as neighborhood, capital city and visitor attraction
Community retail - Stockton
Visitor retail - Grant
Residential

Housing and Open Space
Stabilize and where possible increase the supply of housing
One-for-one replacement of housing units

Commerce
Retain Chinatown’s role as a capital city
Incentives for cultural facilities

Tourism
Retain and enhance Chinatown's role as a visitor attraction.

A few years ago Chinatown CDC has managed a visitor information booth on Grant Avenue to assist tourist to navigate and enjoy what this unique community has to offer. This service was interrupted due to lack of continuous funding.

Transportation
Manage transportation impacts to stabilize or reduce the difficulties of walking, driving, delivering goods, parking or using transit in Chinatown.

Through efforts from Chinatown CDC and Chinatown TRIP, scramble signals have been installed in the busy intersections on Stockton Street to enhance pedestrian safety and ease auto traffic.