Asian American Advocates Mourn Loss of Historic Chinatown Building in Detroit
Asian American advocates and families with ties to Detroit’s historic Chinatown gathered on Monday morning at the site of a 140-year-old building that was demolished over the weekend. The demolition of the building, located at 3143 Cass Ave., has left the community mourning the loss of a once vibrant center for their community.
The advocates called upon the Ilitch family, owners of Olympia Development of Michigan, to work with them to develop the site. Despite a last-ditch effort by activists to stop the demolition, the dilapidated property was torn down, preventing any further discussion about its future.
Last week, the Detroit City Council voted unanimously to halt the demolition, but their decision was overruled by city lawyers who claimed they had no jurisdiction. At a news conference near the demolished building, advocates expressed their disappointment and grief over the loss.
Roland Hwang, a longtime civil rights advocate and Northville attorney, spoke about the memories associated with the building. Hwang had worked on the case of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American who was killed in Highland Park in 1982, inside the building. He called for a meaningful development of the property that would benefit the community, rather than just more parking for the District Detroit.
Speakers at the news conference held up old photos of family members who worked in Chinatown and of protests in the 1980s against the killing of Vincent Chin. They compared the demolition of the building and the loss of Chinatown to the destruction of the Black Bottom area of Detroit, which was displaced for highway construction. They emphasized the need for Asian and Black communities to work together to develop Detroit.
James Yee, whose grandparents ran a Chinese restaurant near the demolished building, highlighted the importance of preserving the history of the Chinese American community in the area. He compared Detroit to other cities like Chicago that have a respect for their history and expressed the need for a connection to the past in the metro Detroit area.
Arthur Park, who leads a peace and justice committee at Central United Methodist Church, called for the inclusion of the Asian American community in the discussion of the future of the property. Detroit has one of the lowest percentages of Asian Americans and immigrants among large cities in the U.S., according to census data.
State Sen. Stephanie Chang urged the city and Olympia to listen to the descendants of Detroit’s Chinatown and find ways to preserve the history before it is too late. Hayg Oshagan, with the city council’s immigration task force, criticized the demolition and questioned why it was torn down before any discussion took place.
Detroit City Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero, who introduced the resolution to halt the demolition, expressed her dedication to designating Chinatown as historic.
The Ilitch family’s real estate firm, Olympia Development of Michigan, did not respond to the concerns raised by Asian American activists at the news conference. City officials have claimed that the building was a safety hazard and needed to be demolished.
The demolition of the historic Chinatown building has left the Asian American community in Detroit mourning the loss of a significant part of their history. Advocates are calling for a meaningful development of the site that respects the community’s past and includes their voices in the decision-making process.
What measures can be taken to ensure meaningful community engagement and collaboration between developers and advocates in the preservation and honoring of minority communities’ history and culture in Detroit
For preserving and honoring the history and culture of minority communities in Detroit.
The advocates urged the Ilitch family, who are the owners of Olympia Development of Michigan, to collaborate with them in developing the site. Despite efforts by activists to stop the demolition, the building was torn down, cutting short any further discussions about its future.
While the Detroit City Council had voted in favor of halting the demolition, their decision was overruled by city lawyers who cited lack of jurisdiction. Advocates expressed their disappointment and sorrow over the loss of the building during a press conference held near the demolished site.
Roland Hwang, a prominent civil rights advocate and attorney, reminisced about the memories associated with the building. Hwang had worked on the case of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American who was tragically killed in Highland Park in 1982, inside the building. He called for a meaningful development of the property that would benefit the community, rather than simply adding more parking spaces for the District Detroit.
During the press conference, speakers presented old photographs showcasing family members who had worked in Chinatown and images of protests in the 1980s against Vincent Chin’s killing. They drew parallels between the demolition of the building and the loss of Chinatown, comparing it to the destruction of the Black Bottom area of Detroit, which was displaced during highway construction. The speakers emphasized the importance of preserving the history and culture of these minority communities and the need to honor them.
The demolition of Detroit’s historic Chinatown building is heartbreaking. It’s a loss not just for the Asian American community, but for the city’s cultural heritage. We must rally together and take action to preserve and honor these significant landmarks that hold our shared history.