2 months ago
10
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The City of Fresno began demolition connected the historical Bow connected Tong gathering connected Monday.
The metropolis acquired the spot successful January 2025 from the state's "GO-Biz" assistance and volition alteration the tract into affordable housing. Mayor Jerry Dyer said this is besides a mode to further revitalize the city's historical Chinatown District.
"This is not the end. This is the beginning," said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. "Today marks a pivotal infinitesimal successful the revitalization of some Chinatown and Downtown Fresno."
City leaders held a property league anterior to the demolition to speech astir the past and value of the Bow connected Tong gathering and what volition beryllium built successful its place.
"The urgent lodging situation wrong our city's core," said Dyer. "This task is portion of the committedness to infill infrastructure grants."
Dyer said the metropolis applied for and was awarded a $43 cardinal dollar assistance to enactment connected failing infrastructure and affordable lodging developments.
"For h2o and sewer arsenic good arsenic parking," helium said. "But besides to get this gathering down us, the Bow connected Tong gathering that we volition beryllium demolishing and past yet rebuilding with housing."
The Bow connected Tong gathering was 1 of the city's oldest buildings successful Fresno's Chinatown. It served arsenic a spiritual sanctuary for Chinese immigrants backmost successful the 1920s.
"The tract that we are lasting connected contiguous holds heavy humanities significance," said Dyer. "But besides 1 that has faced immoderate agelong lasting challenges present successful Chinatown."
The gathering had been abandoned for 30 years, nevertheless successful 2022 a ample occurrence wholly destroyed the interior, and it became condemned.
The metropolis besides plans to bargain the Peacock Building crossed the thoroughfare and crook that into affordable lodging arsenic well.
