EDIT: I fixed some of these photos, some funky things have been happening to my pics when I try to re-size sometimes

 

I took most of these pics back in early October.

I wasn't going to post them...then I decided I was going to post them around the Chinese New Year (usually in February). But I took a wrong turn today while looking for a building in the Superior Warehouse area and stumbled upon something that is hopefully good news for Cleveland's AsiaTown. That's further down in the post.

 

 

Cleveland's AsiaTown lies roughly between E. 30th & E.40th , and roughly between Payne & St. Clair just east of downtown. For the most part it is within the bigger St. Clair-Superior Neighborhood, which is a working class nabe with Slovenian/Eastern European roots that is now one of the most diverse places in Cleveland. This is the Payne Ave. area.

 

 

 

Much of the Asian community lives in the suburbs, but the grocery stores and retail places are located here in the city. So most of the newer places are set back with plenty of parking to accomodate all those who come from all over Northeast Ohio and elsewhere. This is just off Payne at E.30th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The residential streets are narrow and usually one-way. The houses are modest and close together and almost are like small separate neighborhoods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleveland Chinese Christian Church

 

 

 

 

Superior Ave. area.

 

 

 

 

There is a sizable Hispanic community in the area.

 

I'm gonna take a guess and say this is the only place in Ohio that you'll see this.

 

A great Vietnamese restaurant, #1 Pho.

 

I took this pic in early October...I don't know if this has opened yet or not.

 

 

I don't know what's going on with this place.

 

Ladies who work at the Korea House restaurant on Superior.

 

So over to the ORIGINAL Chinatown on Rockwell Ave. (in the East 20s) built in 1929-30.

This was the scene back in October...boarded up (as it has been for decades) with the old restaurant facades as reminders of the past.

 

 

The following pictures are the way it looked today. There are development banners up and down the original Merchants Building and ,more importantly, in the empty barb-wired parking lot across the street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did anyone know about this?? Has this been in the news  at all??

 

 

 

Maybe there are no concrete plans and this is just a way to gauge support for a rebirth of the Rockwell Ave. historic area?

 

 

Lets hope it happens!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oy vey! 

Oy vey!

Oy vey?

L'Chaim!

oy gevalt.

Ich verstehe nicht alle diese verrueckte Nachrichten!

谢谢!

I believe there are a few establishments left on the Rockwell stretch, but as mentioned, it is pretty much deserted.  Great pics!

A new restaurant in On Leong has been discussed in another thread, but not a redevelopment of the whole building.  Here's the article.

 

Taiwanese immigrants opening vegetarian restaurant, temple at former Shanghai Restaurant

Posted by Trevor Hunnicutt / Plain Dealer Reporter June 03, 2009 18:06PM

 

Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer

Jennifer Liu of Taiwan arranges an altar for a ceremony Wednesday to mark the opening of the Tianrin Temple on Rockwell Avenue near East 24th Street. The Happy Buddha Precious Temple Inc. is behind the creation of the temple and wants to open a vegetarian restaurant in the building as well.

 

CLEVELAND -- A group of Taiwanese immigrants hope healthful vegetarian cuisine mixed with a dose of spirituality helps revive a scruffy street on the eastern edge of downtown.

 

They are transforming the former Shanghai Restaurant on Rockwell Avenue into a vegetarian restaurant and are using a space above as a temple.

 

More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

A queston.  Why does Cleveland's Little Italy thrive and Cleveland's Chinatown struggle.  What are the fundamental differences that drive development.  I always perceived both neighborhood as safe so it is not crime. 

I don't think Chinatown is nearly as established (it's fairly new) or as focused (it's fairly spread out) as Little Italy.  Also, I would guess that for most non-Chinese descent NE Ohioans that Chinese food is Sweet and Sour Pork at the local strip mall while Italian is fine dining and something one travels for.  That impacts the number of people that are going to seek it out and go spend $ there.

A queston. Why does Cleveland's Little Italy thrive and Cleveland's Chinatown struggle. What are the fundamental differences that drive development. I always perceived both neighborhood as safe so it is not crime.

 

It seems to me that ChinaTown receives a lot less focus than Little Italy; the city has not done a lot to market the neighborhood and redevelop it.  ChinaTown also has the perception of being a lot less safe to Little Italy.  That's my two cents..

OHH MY LORD!!

 

I had no idea that this Chinese onclave on Rockwell even existed and that these redevelopment efforts were underway.  This building on Rockwell reminds me of China Town in Chicago.  As I have believed for years... Cleveland needs to take advantage of their China-town asset with marketing it, making street improvements and facilitating redevelopment.  This area could become the first great inner-city east side community and help revitilize the east side and make Cleveland State more attractive.

 

Where is the city of Cleveland in all of this??

A queston. Why does Cleveland's Little Italy thrive and Cleveland's Chinatown struggle. What are the fundamental differences that drive development. I always perceived both neighborhood as safe so it is not crime.

 

It seems to me that ChinaTown receives a lot less focus than Little Italy; the city has not done a lot to market the neighborhood and redevelop it. ChinaTown also has the perception of being a lot less safe to Little Italy. That's my two cents..

 

Does the city do much to redevelop and market Little Italy?

How far East does Rockwell go? According to Google Maps it does not make it far enough east to Asiantown...

 

It doesn't. It ends at E. 24th.  Old Chinatown is along Rockwell, however.  The new Chinatown sprung up along Payne and Superior east of the Innerbelt much later, though I don't remember when, offhand.

A queston. Why does Cleveland's Little Italy thrive and Cleveland's Chinatown struggle. What are the fundamental differences that drive development. I always perceived both neighborhood as safe so it is not crime.

 

I am thinking about the street scape improvements which are currently underway and the recent condos which have and will pop up in the neighborhood...

 

It seems to me that ChinaTown receives a lot less focus than Little Italy; the city has not done a lot to market the neighborhood and redevelop it. ChinaTown also has the perception of being a lot less safe to Little Italy. That's my two cents..

 

Does the city do much to redevelop and market Little Italy?

Well, Little Italy is in University Cricle and there's plenty to do around there within half a mile or so.  Asiatown is in a worse part of town and other than eat, I'm not sure if there is anything much to do in that area.  If it weren't for those pictures, I would have never even guessed there was retail out there.

 

 

A queston. Why does Cleveland's Little Italy thrive and Cleveland's Chinatown struggle. What are the fundamental differences that drive development. I always perceived both neighborhood as safe so it is not crime.

 

I am thinking about the street scape improvements which are currently underway and the recent condos which have and will pop up in the neighborhood...

 

It seems to me that ChinaTown receives a lot less focus than Little Italy; the city has not done a lot to market the neighborhood and redevelop it. ChinaTown also has the perception of being a lot less safe to Little Italy. That's my two cents..

 

Does the city do much to redevelop and market Little Italy?

 

I don't think the City did anything to create those condos, and I hadn't seen anything about the streetscape.  I'd say Little Italy has been successful for quite some time before either of those things happened, anyway. 

 

I think that if Chinatown had the history and the focus that Little Italy has, it would be doing a lot better in terms of retail development.  But it is new, and spread out without any sort of strong center.

Is Asiatown in fact struggling?  Considering its location and physical attributes, I've been kind of amazed it's grown as much as it has over the last 10 years or so.

 

Unless tedolph meant the old Chinatown.  Which seems to be more of a failed retail building than neighborhood.

 

Great photos, by the way, and thanks for highlighting those new billboard/banners- very interesting.

I don't think Chinatown is nearly as established (it's fairly new) or as focused (it's fairly spread out) as Little Italy.  Also, I would guess that for most non-Chinese descent NE Ohioans that Chinese food is Sweet and Sour Pork at the local strip mall while Italian is fine dining and something one travels for.  That impacts the number of people that are going to seek it out and go spend $ there.

 

That was my comment when I visited AsiaTown for the first time over the summer. It was pretty spread out and not centralized on one business district. We did eat at the Korea House (I am half-Korean and was with my Korean mum), and the food was delicious. It was a packed house too. I don't want to say it is "Chinatown," given that the area represents many various Asian ethnicity (sans Japanese, it seems, but that is probably obvious given the history between Japan and everyone else).

 

I think the odds are with this area getting better in the coming years.

 

One thing that is unfortunate about the Old Chinatown on Rockwell is how the Plain Dealer Hdqtrs (on Superior) has usurped the entire block of Rockwell Ave. behind their building (for their Parking Lot). This has cut off Old Chinatown's direct link to downtown, especially the emerging Avenue District area of eastern downtown.

It's an example of the Plain Dealer physically standing in the way of something. It's really unfortunate.

 

I don't know when this happened but hopefully it can be reversed.

Very cool.  I wish Cincinnati had a concentrated cluster of Asian businesses.  Most of the Asian business and markets (including a huge only Asian supermarket) are in the North East suburbs, with very little presence in the city.

Very cool and I hope the Asian community succeeds big time in Cleveland. I would love and support a thriving Asian community/neighborhood. I have to say that if there is a group of people, outside of the Gay/Lesbian community, that can come into a blighted area and turn it around, it's the Asian community. Good for them. Also it would really be cool if eventually there could be something built in different parts of the neighborhood to let you know you're in Asia Town. Something like the huge gate like structures that are over certain streets in San Francisco. I can't imagine it would be wildly expensive and something an organization like Cleveland Pulic Art would love to be involved with. I think all neighborhoods should do something like this. Even neighborhoods like Little Italy are not easily identifiable until you're right up in the hood. Just something I would do if I was in charge.

There's been talk of a gate for some time now.  I don't think it works well for this neighborhood, though, because there is no logical main entrance place to put it.  What they have done is fiberglass statues of the Chinese zodiac, which are decorated by artists and placed around the neighborhood.

What about build it and they will come?   

Does anyone know if anything has happened with the "Asian Town Center"? It looks like it could be promising

Nice pictures. This certainly seems to be Cleveland's most active ethnic neighborhood in terms of new development and investment.

What about build it and they will come?

 

Huh?

Are there any construction-permit people out there who could answer this question:

When the tops of ALL the parking meters are removed from a street, does that mean a street is being torn up? the sidewalk is being torn up? both? Or does it mean that the street space is needed to park dumpsters and other construction equipment?

That's what I've noticed on Rockwell...all the meters are removed...on BOTH sides of the street

 

 

I meant if they built some entrance type of gates around Asia Town perhaps more Asian companies etc. would locate around them so there would be more of a specific location called Asia Town versus having them spread out.

I like the fact that this neighborhood isn't "labeled".  The truth is there are as many eastern Europeans and probably more African-Americans in this neighborhood as anything else.  Not to mention the Hispanic presence.  The neighborhood has has a very "roll with the punches" kind of feel to it.  I think a big gate that said "This is Where Chinese People Shop" would be a detriment and maybe even an insult to the neighborhood.

 

There should be some sort of traffic-calming measures taken. If that means some sort of signage, etc. (any signage)... then it would be a good thing.

Traffic on Payne, St. Clair, and Superior flies by...sometimes almost dangerously so.

 

 

An insult? A detriment? And who in the world said there should be a sign that says "This is where Chinese people shop"?? Man have you missed the point completely and what you said is completely false. Someone is always going to bring up the worst possible reaction to a suggestion like this which I guess is part of being on this site, but having landmark types of structures (like the gates I used as an example) are used in many many many cities without any detriment or insults to any other people who happen to live there too. Here in California we have many, new and old, that could be used to counter your point as well. These are simply more like permanent art installations representing a cultural influence on an area and not to deter others from living there too. In fact they are used to draw people in not out.

 

There should be some sort of traffic-calming measures taken. If that means some sort of signage, etc. (any signage)... then it would be a good thing.

Traffic on Payne, St. Clair, and Superior flies by...sometimes almost dangerously so.

 

I totally agree the traffic calming measures should be taken especially with Payne Avenue.  This is a spot which currently is 6 lanes and could but cut to one lane for traffic each way in the heart of Chinatown and Payne does not even need to be used a through trafffic since there are some many other parellel west to east streets nearby.  I envision this as becoming something like gorden square with sidewalk and lighting improvements, signage which identifies that you are in Asiatown, and Asian art.  Also bike lanes could be put in and the sidewalks could be widened.  If the city really wanted to go crazy they could place a small park in the center of the road.  I mean the street is wide enough...

I just like the neighborhood the way it is is all.

I like the fact that this neighborhood isn't "labeled".  The truth is there are as many eastern Europeans and probably more African-Americans in this neighborhood as anything else.  Not to mention the Hispanic presence.  The neighborhood has has a very "roll with the punches" kind of feel to it.  I think a big gate that said "This is Where Chinese People Shop" would be a detriment and maybe even an insult to the neighborhood.

I disagree.  some neighborhoods change.  Yes the neighborhood is diverse but the area is "asia town" so having some sort of historical and asian inspired signage and markers would be a good things.

I like the fact that this neighborhood isn't "labeled".  The truth is there are as many eastern Europeans and probably more African-Americans in this neighborhood as anything else.  Not to mention the Hispanic presence.  The neighborhood has has a very "roll with the punches" kind of feel to it.  I think a big gate that said "This is Where Chinese People Shop" would be a detriment and maybe even an insult to the neighborhood.

 

 

Is there a hotel/motel planned for this block on Rockwell (based on the photo)?

 

My answer would be "yes".

Maybe phased in later, if it is not done initially.

I don't have anything to back that up, except that the developers seem, at this point in time, committed to making this work.

Nice photo spread. Welcome to my neighborhood!

 

Asiatown is an interesting place, for sure. There are a ton of assets in the neighborhood; the sheer density of Asian immigrants and artists seem to indicate to me good things will be coming to the nabe in years to come. And actually, although maybe not with as blatant cache as a Tremont or an Ohio City, I think it's already fairly successful. It's the second largest Asian district in the Midwest (after Chicago) and those 10 blocks contain Ohio's largest density of Asian residents. Much of the housing is owned by Asian families who use the properties to acclimate family members who immigrate here, so you will very, very rarely see a "For Sale" sign in this neighborhood; as a result, it has one of the most stable housing values in the city. And unlike popular perceptions, it's pretty safe ... my census tract has among the lowest crime rates in the city, and we definitely benefit from just how packed in the housing is ... lots and lots and lots of eyes on the street.

 

As for why it's not doing better (or not perceived to be doing better), a couple of thoughts:

 

- The structure of the neighborhood makes its vibrancy a little less obvious than it could be. A lot of activity is tucked into these monolithic warehouses; literally hundreds of artists and small start-ups (as well as traditional manufacturing and distribution centers) are occupying these buildings, but the average Joe has no idea it's going on. I honestly think the rehab in this neighborhood is probably the most jaw-dropping in the city ... but it's all interior work. You'll walk into these insane 2,000 sq. ft. lofts that people are paying $900/mo. to be in (and in some cases, as low as $300 or $400 ... True and craaaaazy), but the outside of the buildings aren't well-lit, are spread out, have barbed wire around them, etc.).

 

- Terribly low word-of-mouth. While I think people are waking up and realizing the neighborhood is here, it's a long time coming! It might not have the long history of a singular ethnic neighborhood that Little Italy does, but it's not like this is a new hood. Even the Asian population is not exactly a recent development ... there were more than 400 Asian residents as of 1980; as of 2000, that number had ballooned to more than 1,000 (the Census projected in that year that Goodrich-Kirtland was 46.5% Caucasian, 25.9% Asian, 17.4% African American and 12.6% Latino ... this has GOT to be Cleveland's most diverse neighborhood, maybe the most diverse in the state). I cannot tell you how many people ask me where I live and then say "Where's that?" and then say "I didn't even know Cleveland had a Chinatown!"

 

- Bigotry. Let's be honest ... there is a sizable portion of the local population who think that everything between E. 12th and the Clinic is uninterrupted ghetto. I would argue that Little Italy owes at least part of its success to its brand image of being uber-white, and therefore in some minds, inherently safe. And I would argue that Asiatown owes at least some of its low frequency as a visitor destination to the brand image of being largely non-white and therefore "not a place to be after dark". I could be wrong here, but I just think people, particularly suburbanites and particularly the Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers, are still threatened by neighborhoods that are minority-majority. Why, for instance, does Larchmere seemingly attract more visitors, despite the fact that Buckeye is equally proximate to Shaker Square and has a more intact commercial corridor? Hopefully, I'm off, but I really think that people's perceptions of place are being shaped by their outspoken feelings about race (particularly given the fact that, statistically, my neighborhood is pretty damn safe).

 

That being said, I see nothing but good things for my hood. Look at the great work weepinwillow is doing over at Tyler Village, the fact that the neighborhood can support not one but five or six Asian markets, the drawing power of quirky establishments like Josaphat Arts Hall and Zygote Press ... it's pretty effing amazing :)

I'm realizing that this was the longest post ever. My posts are like super-block hospitals ... they're long and rambling and discourage pedestrian activity ;)

It looks like someones playing catch-up today...

 

I would go with most of your points, but less so on the bigotry part...  As you said about the non-obviousness of the neighborhood I think plays into it most.  I know when I drive around there Im always surprised how many Asian establishments there are, but they are very scattered, and you would never realize it unless you drove around.    And the artists......  Why last weekends openings were important... it gives people a chance to see all the creative things that happen there, that they likely would have no other way of knowing...  Otherwise it is a pretty quite and in some ways almost desolate seeming area (mainly because the activity is hidden). 

Yeah most people are "uncertain" of areas like that....

 

"Why, for instance, does Larchmere seemingly attract more visitors, despite the fact that Buckeye is equally proximate to Shaker Square and has a more intact commercial corridor?"

 

Hmmm, I know I visited Larchmere the last couple of times I was back, and it was because of the collection of shops that they have and events that were advertised.  It is a draw because it is a known district for certain things...  Also there are a few good restaurants there.  Im pretty sure thats why others go there...

Is there a collection of the same kind of things on Buckeye that Im unaware of? (If so Im guessing poor marketing is the curprit).  I know I try to visit Lucy's Struedele Shop on Buckeye, and they are trying to determine if they are even going to stay open, since Marika was robbed and then shot (call that bigotry if you want)...  I have driven around there but havent found anything else that I would do there.

"It's the second largest Asian district in the Midwest (after Chicago)..."

 

Wow, really? I found Columbus' asian markets and restaurants (esp. Korean) to be much larger than Cleveland's.

It's the second largest Asian district in the Midwest (after Chicago) and those 10 blocks contain Ohio's largest density of Asian residents.

 

Are you sure it's not the University District in Columbus?

Another post about "Latin vs. Hispanic" in this thread gets the perp a week off.

Not positive on that, I suppose. I'm not sure where I first heard that; perhaps from the CDC? Certainly debatable. I think Goodrich-Kirtland's density of Asians may be higher: 17.4% as of 2000, compared to what looks like 7% in the University District. But University is bigger, so it might beat out Asiatown in number of Asian residents. And then in terms of size, I'm sure distinctions can be made between geographic size, number of Asian-owned businesses, gross sales of businesses, number and density of Asian-Americans v. Asian-born residents, etc. Which is why I probably shouldn't use vague terms like 2nd largest :) Point taken.

I guess in terms of density -- in relation to one specific neighborhood, Cleveland would have Columbus beat. There are more Asian restaurants in Columbus, but they are spread out -- some by OSU, by Morse Road, and on the west side. Cleveland is more concentrated, but there is less.

 

And then there is Cincinnati, which has almost next to nothing :(

I would think the University District in Columbus has the highest concentration of Asians in Ohio, even there's not a special "district" for the group.  I'm sure Goodrich-Kirtland population isn't near the size of the UD but because of it's de-population, it can boost the Asian density numbers moreso than a more diverse UD.

 

That being said, the AsiaTown area certainly has more Asian influence than the UD.

And then there is Cincinnati, which has almost next to nothing :(

 

Hey, we'll win in the Indian category though! ;)