I love going down to the "ID", which is really comprised of Chinatown, Little Saigon and Japantown. Seattle has one of the best and largest Chinatown's in the US. Most other ones in the US are going downhill quickly.
Our ID celebrates our very diverse Asian culture here in the US. T... more
I love going down to the "ID", which is really comprised of Chinatown, Little Saigon and Japantown. Seattle has one of the best and largest Chinatown's in the US. Most other ones in the US are going downhill quickly.
Our ID celebrates our very diverse Asian culture here in the US. The Asian population is roughly 20% in the city and in the area...this is one of the largest in the county per capita.
Chinatown has been getting a facelift recently with all the old buildings being renevated, however we need to make sure the homeless don't overrun the area and drive everyone out. I can't leave a restaurant without being accosted by a panhandler. It makes you not even want to go down there and no one feels safe at night. We need to concentrate on expanding Hing Hay Park and relocating the post office. Also building the second China gate.
Little Saigon needs much more housing, there is so much land there too...it's aching for a clean-up. Too bad the Dearborn deal fell through, maybe something can be created on a smaller scale. Please do not allow the small shop owners to be driven away.
As far as Japantown (above Jackson), there needs to be more signage detailing the area, as well as encouraging Japanese businesses to local here.
Since the Seattle area is made up of all other Asian cultures, it would be nice if there were more Korean, Filipino, Singaporean, Malay and Indonesian restaurants in the ID (along with the Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese).
Please concentrate on revitalizing this very important area. There will be a lot of mainland Chinese immigrants coming into this area with the opening up of China and the frequent flights. Please make this area safer for all people.
cityboy
I think this has a close relationship with the other idea - "Revitalize Pioneer Square". The ID and Pioneer Square are practically adjacent to each other. You chase the bums away from one area, they'll show up in the other. One cannot "revitalize" one area without improving the other as well.
Tatyana
If the state has allocated money for support of cleaning business (http://seattlescleaning.com/). It could solve problems!
David Blair
I think it is unfortunate that the city dumps its social problems in an area of recent immigrants, from what I have seen in the ID ( I am there several times a week and plan to open an office there this year) it is not the residents of the area that create the problems. Rather the SPD chooses to contain the problems of downtown Seattle in the ID, Pioneer Square, 2nd & Pike/Pine and 2nd & Bell. How about instead of new Harleys and Challengers we use SPD money to fix the problem?
spyscience
So , Anthony Vicari - Are you always openly racist? Maybe you thought it would be funny thing to say perhaps? I don't really know but I think you = DUMB
Anthony Vicari
It's those damn, dirty Asians...their culture is a dirty one...More education on cleaning practices and enforcement of zoning...
Homing Tam
As mentioned earlier, if Chinatown/international district is a clean area, it would attract more business and give out a positive vibe around the area. And along with improved lighting around the area, it would deter the negative events that currently take place and improve the safety factor as well.
It's a win-win no matter how you slice it.
cttornado08
I agree. Over the past two years I've noticed the ID area head downhill from a fun place to hang out at night to an area infested with crime. I would also like to see Seattle finally do something about restaurants in the ID area that do not follow the City's code for proper permits, cleanliness, and sanitation. I miss the safer
area.
mr.kevin
The best way we the people can "clean up" any area is by simply GOING there. The more non-drugged/drunk/people in the ID after dark, the more positive presence and lower likelihood of creating a safehaven for unsavory types. Don't wait for the mayor to do something about it, we have the power to change the neighborhoods in need of a cleanup.
Katy Banahan
I agree that the ID has (sadly) become a bit of a no-go area, especially after dark. I am much more bothered by the open drug dealing (day and night) on Jackson Street than I am by panhandlers. This is a central area in our city with so much potential, yet it seems that it is being left to deteriorate.
Adam Wasankari
My Idea is way better and I could use more votes. Please type : ((( immortality ))) and see what I wrote.... At least to be seen on the 1st page thnks....
cfpayne
Michael and Sherwin are right on target with their good thoughts. We need to bring city council members to Chinatown so they can see the bad effects of allowing those reprobates to stay in Chinatown who are drinking on the streets, selling drugs, using doorways and alleyways as bathrooms, etc. If Chinatown is cleaned up, it will thrive and be vibrant. WE NEED BRIGHT LIGHTING AND CLEAN ALLEYWAYS IN CHINATOWN.
Sherwin Lee
Michael, I agree. I do volunteer work with the Business Improvement Area in Chinatown and sanitation is an ongoing problem. I think the first step would be to get the dumpsters out of the alleys there. This worked out very well for downtown with the Clear Alleys program. I contacted Tom Gannon with Seattle Public Utilities about expanding it to ID, but he said there are no plans to do that anytime soon. It would be an encouraging push to help make that happen. Alleys are such a great way to use urban space.