Message from the Director
Dear Friend of Chinatown,
Perhaps PCDC is known best for defending Chinatown from development projects that threatened
its survival. Over the past 48 years, PCDC has led residents and friends of Chinatown in defending
Chinatown’s right to exist. PCDC has fought against and worked with government and private
developers to protect Chinatown and to promote this unique cultural treasure within Philadelphia.
Chinatown has united to protest the negative impacts of a highway project, a federal prison, a
baseball stadium and countless other large and small developments.
But PCDC is not primarily about opposing harmful developments, but about fostering a community
that people will want to live in, visit, work in and care about. Chinatown is a business-friendly
neighborhood where new, innovative and even edgy businesses find encouragement. Chinatown
is also a residential community and a destination for both Asian and non-Asian residents of the
Philadelphia region. Chinatown is a tourist destination serving the many people who come for
Philadelphia’s unique historical and cultural attractions, another interesting piece of the colorful
mosaic that is Philadelphia.
PCDC and Chinatown think big! We do not want to merely survive but to thrive. PCDC is working
on two major developments – a housing development at 810 Arch in collaboration with Project
Home and, our biggest project ever, the Eastern Tower Community Center (ETCC), a mixed-use
center of housing, service, commerce and recreation to be built at 10th and Vine Streets.
For years, the people of Chinatown have dreamed of a place where children can play, where our
elders can gather and where the community can focus. This dream is about to become a reality.
Groundbreaking on ETCC will be soon. We are ready to go!
But we have dreams and plans even beyond this big project. PCDC wants to continue to develop
and encourage the creation of affordable housing in Chinatown, particularly in Chinatown North,
the area north of Vine Street.
Chinatown intends to be a residential and business-friendly neighborhood for a long time. We
intend to be a center for Asians in Philadelphia and a place where all of our residents and visitors
can experience Chinese American culture and life.
Thanks to all of our supporters for believing in Chinatown and PCDC.
Sincerely,
John Chin
Executive Director
Thomas Betz
President
Download PDF: Home Base: 2012-2013 Biennial Report