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Out of these 3 cities, which has the most active and vibrant Chinatown?
I have only been to Bos and Philly's. They seemed about the same size and pace to me. Boston's had a slightly more dense feel as it is wedged between Downtown Crossing and Financial District. Philly's seemed a little less claustrophobic and had more of a buffer from the Downtown office districts. Lots of parking lots nearby. This gave it a slightly less dense feel. But over the long term, this could give it more room to grow, whereas Boston's seems pretty hemmed in with redevelopment pressure encroaching.
Haven't been to Chicago's Chinatown. I know its a little more removed. But, looks pretty lively from pictures and seems to be growing.
Philly's Chinatown will grow substantially over the next few years as there are several highrises/midrises proposed for the area and the city's Asian population increases.
Haven't been to Chicago's Chinatown. I know its a little more removed. But, looks pretty lively from pictures and seems to be growing.
It's not really removed. It's just south of the downtown area, but yeah it's actually pretty lively during the day. It is growing - basically it has grown partially into Bridgeport, but not in the same. Just in the form of residential, some business, and whatever.
Dim Sum on the weekends there - very busy in many places and there's actually a bunch of late night food options there. There's a place that has dim sum until 2am.
Yeah, I would think NYC's and SF's Chinatowns are clearly above these 3. I was thinking about also including Seattle's Chinatown. But, my sense was that it wasn't as big as these 3.
Philly's Chinatown will grow substantially over the next few years as there are several highrises/midrises proposed for the area and the city's Asian population increases.
Asians are going to move into those new highrises?
Yeah, I would think NYC's and SF's Chinatowns are clearly above these 3. I was thinking about also including Seattle's Chinatown. But, my sense was that it wasn't as big as these 3.
Haven't been to Philadelphia before, but Boston is more active & dense than Chicago's.
Chicago's is not bad too, but is a little less active.
Seattle's is quite pathetic considering its decent-sized Asian population, but there are clusters of Asian retail districts in other parts of its metro.
Chicago's is not bad too, but is a little less active.
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When's the last time you were there? it's gotten more active in the last year or two very noticeably. It's not terribly dense, but the thing is that Chinese populations have extended into the adjacent neighborhoods, which also have chinese stuff. Mainly Bridgeport, but also areas like McKinley Park, Douglas, Canaryville, and Brighton Park. The tracts of Bridgeport next to Chinatown are all about 60% Asian and you'll see and find Chinese characters on the businesses there and even temples.
Chinatown itself (Armour Square) has 9700 Asians in it. Bridgeport next to it has over 11,000. Douglas and McKinley Park both have 2500 apiece. South Loop area has another 3500. Brighton Park has another 2250. Those areas together have about 33,000 Asians in them and a little less than 1/3 actually live in Chinatown itself. Of course, not counting all the non Chinese people like myself who enjoy eating and spending time down there.
It's not really removed. It's just south of the downtown area, but yeah it's actually pretty lively during the day. It is growing - basically it has grown partially into Bridgeport, but not in the same. Just in the form of residential, some business, and whatever.
Dim Sum on the weekends there - very busy in many places and there's actually a bunch of late night food options there. There's a place that has dim sum until 2am.
Sounds like many cities' Chinatowns are growing districts, as evidenced by your comment and Summers' comment on Philly's Chinatown. Los Angeles' is also growing and improving with a lot of new projects. Perhaps that is because Chinatowns are often located in less desirable but centrally-located parts of town - often around empty lots / demolished buildings and industrial areas. With all that open land to develop and the proximity to improving cores it makes sense that they would all be growing.
I'd say NYC, SF and Boston don't really follow this model though as they are pretty much already built-out.
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