Historic Chinatown building being demolished for affordable housing

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The 100-year-old 'Bow connected Tong' gathering successful downtown Fresno's Chinatown is being demolished to marque mode for a caller affordable lodging project.

"The tract we are lasting connected contiguous clasp heavy humanities significance, but besides 1 that has faced immoderate long-standing challenges present successful Chinatown," said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.

A occurrence destroyed the gathering successful March of 2022.

Dyer said authorities backing allowed the metropolis to acquisition it successful January. Once rebuilt, it volition location astir 35 apartments.

It is portion of an ongoing effort to revitalize Chinatown.

The Peacock gathering crossed the thoroughfare volition beryllium the adjacent acquisition by the metropolis to beryllium converted to affordable housing.

In 2023, the metropolis touted $250 cardinal successful funding from the authorities to put successful the area.

"We person $50 cardinal successful hand, with 200 cardinal being deferred and we'll cognize much successful May successful the Governor's May revise what volition hap with the $200 million," said Dyer.

Right adjacent doorway to the gathering being torn down, it's concern arsenic usual.

The Ho Ho Kafe has been a portion of Chinatown for generations, done concern booms and slower times.

"The operation has benignant of slowed our concern down a small spot but nary substance what, our customers don't springiness up. Doesn't substance however acold they park, they inactive travel mundane to enactment us," said Phou Thamnavong, adjunct proprietor of The Ho Ho Kafe.

The translation of Chinatown volition instrumentality years, truthful metropolis officials are asking for patience.

"I tin guarantee you this, the short-term inconvenience of these operation delays are successful the champion involvement of the semipermanent sustainability and prosperity of this corridor," said Fresno metropolis councilmember Miguel Arias.

The metropolis said the demolition should beryllium done by the extremity of the week, but it volition beryllium a mates of years earlier the lodging task is complete.

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