Two Roads Through Two Chinatowns
The article explores the contrasting histories of Philadelphia's Chinatown, which has survived decades of urban development threats, and Pittsburgh's Chinatown, which largely disappeared due to displacement and highway construction, examining how different city dynamics shaped each community's fate.
Background
- The article compares how Philadelphia's Chinatown survived threats like the proposed Phillies stadium and highway expansion through strong community organizing, while Pittsburgh's historic Chinatown was systematically demolished by urban renewal, highway construction (Penn-Lincoln Parkway/I-579), and stadium development in the mid-20th century — leaving only a few physical remnants today.
- "urban renewal" in the US was a federal policy (1949-1970s) that gave cities funds to clear "blighted" areas, often disproportionately destroying ethnic neighborhoods, especially those of Black, Chinese, and other immigrant communities.
- Neighborhoods like Chinatowns are not just ethnic enclaves but cultural, economic, and political anchors — their destruction or preservation reflects broader power dynamics about who gets to shape a city.
- Understanding this contrast sheds light on ongoing debates about development, displacement, and the legacy of racist urban planning in American cities.