October 23, 2016
@GovernorTomWolf/Twitter
This file photo shows Gov. Tom Wolf speaking about the planned Eastern Tower Community Center in Chinatown.
Pennsylvania has invested a $1.3 million grant to fund a project aimed at developing the Chinatown neighborhood of Philadelphia, state officials announced last week.
Governor Tom Wolf and State Representative Mike O’Brien said Thursday that the money from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) will help construct the Chinatown Eastern Tower Community Center. The building will be located on the northwest corner of 10th and Vine Streets.
The community center is part of a $76 million overall project designed to reconnect segments of the neighborhood that were adversely affected by the construction of the Vine Street Expressway.
“The creation of a community center serves to unite a community that was cut in half by the Vine Street Expressway,” Rep. O’Brien said. ”Affordable housing is much needed in this historic cultural community.”
The effort is being organized by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), which was created in 1966 to promote the area.
Overall plans include a 20-story tower with 150 residential units, as well as 21,000 square feet of office space and 8,700 square feet retail space.
The project is expected to create 500 construction jobs and 159 full-time permanent jobs, state officials said.
“This non-profit and public partnership will create Chinatown’s first community center with a Keystone Star 4 early childhood learning center,” said John Chin, executive director of PCDC.
Construction is slated to begin later this year.
For more information about the project, click here.
