Finding Balance in Chinatown

The redevelopment of the area around a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station in Oakland’s Chinatown weighed heavily on the staff at East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC). The station itself had disrupted Chinatown, displacing residents when it opened in the 1970s. And as EBALDC began working on redevelopment around the station, including affordable housing and 550,000 square feet of commercial space, staff had to balance the need for practical development while keeping the culture of the community front and center.

It’s a balancing act undertaken by many community development nonprofits based in communities that are also cultural enclaves. “Talking about the preservation of Chinatown in the midst of the need for development is an important discussion,”says Vicki Shu, who works in resource development and communication for EBALDC. “And not just for Chinatown – for cultural centers all across the country.”

Ener Chiu, EBALDC’s executive vice president of community building, offers a brief history of Oakland’s Chinatown, where the nonprofit is based…