May is AAPI Heritage Month, and concerns for upkeeping Chinatown remain in the Las Vegas community. The cultural hub started with a single mall in the mid-1990s. Today, its 3 miles contain more than 150 restaurants and countless other stores and shops.
Minjia Yan initiated the Chinatown Redevelopment Plan in May 2024. She has been working closely with Clark County, specifically Commissioner Justin Jones, on the project.
Here are some of the concerns expressed by the community regarding the Chinatown area, according to Minjia:
- Pedestrian safety and walkability
- Infrastructure upgrades
- Road potholes
- Traffic congestion
- Affordability
- Crime
As far as affordability goes, Jones mentioned their strategy for keeping the area affordable for both businesses and customers.
“Starting on July 1, dollars that are collected within the Spring Mountain corridor will be invested directly back into the corridor,” he said.
The county is ready to take on these issues, as Phase 1 is already in effect with plans for adding more crosswalks with pedestrian lights. Future plans include expanding sidewalks and more Metro patrols.
One officer, Officer Julia, patrols the Chinatown area and even speaks Chinese – which is a plus for some business owners because of the large language barrier, Minjia says.
But, once construction starts, how will it affect the businesses? ShareTea owner Lori Chung shares.
“I'm sure there will be some challenges, you know, during the construction in the areas,” she says. “We just need to inform our customers of the things that are happening and the ideal benefits that will happen down the road.”
Lori says that Chinatown is very dear to her heart, especially as someone who was born and raised in Vegas. She’s excited to see the improvements happen.
Minjia foresees these plans affecting Chinatown for the next 20 to 30 years. It’s important to upkeep the area not only because it’s such a hot tourist spot, but especially given its cultural and historical significance.
UNLV Asian American Professor Mark Padoongpatt agrees. Chinatowns were originally born out of a history of racial segregation, political, and cultural exclusion, according to Mark.
Today, the Las Vegas Chinatown has invited a plethora of Asian cultures that aren’t just Chinese including Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Thai, and so much more.
“Chinese immigrants turned segregation into congregation,” says Mark. “And so these places became hubs, cultural hubs, social hubs, businesses, ethnic services, schools. And I think we see that with Las Vegas is Chinatown today.”
Guests: Minjia Yan, Consultant for the Chinatown Redevelopment Plan and TedX Speaker; Justin Jones, Clark County Commissioner; Mark Padoongpatt, UNLV Director of Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies; Lori Chung, owner of ShareTea
