Reimagining Chinatown: Oakland Residents Shape Future Street Designs!
Community Engagement Shapes Future of Chinatown Streets at Flow & Flourish Event
On Saturday, November 16th, the streets of Oakland’s Chinatown were filled with energy as over 150 community members gathered for the Flow & Flourish: Reimagining Chinatown Streets block party. Hosted by EBALDC, the City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT), Sticky Rice Club, and Oakland Bloom, the event invited local residents, businesses, and visitors to engage in the redesign of 9th Street as part of the Chinatown Complete Streets initiative.
The event was a lively celebration and a crucial step in shaping the future of Chinatown’s streets. Participants had the opportunity to experience two proposed street designs: one featuring wider sidewalks to improve pedestrian access, and another introducing a bike lane to encourage cycling. These designs are part of a broader effort to address safety, connectivity, and accessibility issues within the neighborhood. 
Key Highlights and Community Feedback
The feedback collected at the event revealed a mix of support and concern, reflecting the diverse needs and priorities of Chinatown’s residents. Voters expressed a strong interest in improving sidewalk space and widening the sidewalks to accommodate more pedestrians. On the other hand, while the proposal for a bike lane received more votes than the widening of sidewalks, there was also concern about the removal of a travel lane.
“It’s important to understand what people prioritize for 9th Street, and the responses highlight both enthusiasm for change and some reservations.” said Annie Ledbury, EBALDC’s Associate Director of Creative Community Development.
“Having residents interact with the proposed designs allows for much more meaningful and nuanced engagement,” added Ledbury. “It’s about creating a vision that reflects the needs of the community, not just a one-size-fits-all solution.”
A Trusted Community Partner
The event also underscored EBALDC’s role as a trusted community anchor in Oakland. “What makes EBALDC’s community development work stand out,” said EBALDC Board Member Richard Quach, “is we actively and creatively engage with residents on all our construction projects, in addition to projects like this that we have with the City of Oakland. We are a trusted community anchor who can bring residents, business owners, and governments together.”
Looking Toward a Connected, Equitable Future
As Oakland moves forward with the Chinatown Complete Streets project, the community’s input will continue to guide the design process. The ultimate goal is to create streets that are not only safer and more accessible but also reflect the rich cultural fabric of Chinatown. This means improving access to local businesses, enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety, and ensuring that all forms of transportation can coexist harmoniously.
Next Steps: More Opportunities for Feedback
The engagement doesn’t end here. Community members will have another chance to review and comment on updated street designs at an upcoming event scheduled for Wednesday, December 11th, at Pacific Renaissance Plaza, outside the Chinatown branch of the Oakland Public Library. The next set of designs will build upon the feedback from the block party, ensuring that the plan reflects a comprehensive understanding of the community’s needs. There will be a public online survey that opens on Dec 9 and closes on Dec 23. Click this link City of Oakland | Chinatown Complete Streets Plan to access.
The Flow & Flourish event marked an important milestone in this ongoing process, and it’s clear that the community’s involvement will continue to shape the direction of Chinatown’s streets for years to come. Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t miss your chance to get involved at the next public event on December 11.
