Laura Lin
Features
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto at Spadina and Dundas, Chinatown is a bustling neighbourhood, rich in the culture and history of Chinese-Canadians. It dates back to the 1950s when First Chinatown was demolished to make room for the new Toronto City Hall. Most of the displaced businesses relocated to form the present-day Chinatown. This neighbourhood continued to grow as immigrants moved to the area and second-generation Chinese-Canadians inherited their family businesses.
Activists are concerned about the pressures of gentrification displacing inhabitants, shutting down family-run businesses, and erasing Chinatown. Over the last few years, the area became prime real estate and housing prices have shot up. In 2019, a dilapidated bungalow in Chinatown was listed for 2.5 million dollars for its location in the downtown core. With the lack of affordable housing, the community is concerned that local businesses won’t have the funds to continue operating.
Immigrants of lower socioeconomic status may also struggle to access the support they need from the Chinatown community. The immigration process can be made easier by having neighbours who share a language and culture, but living in the area is becoming too expensive for Chinatown habitants, and many are forced to move away.
There is also the concern about demolition of historically and culturally significant buildings. The former Bright Pearl restaurant, at 346 Spadina Avenue, was demolished and replaced with an office building. The restaurant had been considered a local landmark, designed to look like an exaggerated version of traditional Chinese architecture.
Bright Pearl Restaurant, closed in 2008 (346 Spadina Ave.)
In addition to gentrification, many Chinatown businesses fight changing demographics and an aging population. Older businesses are threatened by their shrinking customer base. Chinese businesses and immigrants are finding community and settling in other locations throughout the GTA. However, younger generations are starting businesses that can attract new consumers to Chinatown.
Even though the Spadina-Dundas Chinatown has an extensive history, its fundamental structures are continuously shifting to adapt. Before the area became an enclave for Chinese people, it was the home of a Jewish community. The Bright Pearl restaurant used to be headquarters for the Labor Lyceum Association, a Jewish support group for immigrants. Naturally, the area turned into a Chinese community when Chinese immigrants began to settle for its affordable housing. Heritage is important, but it can coexist with modern buildings and businesses. The unaffordable real estate trend in Chinatown points to the larger issue of gentrification. There has always been a place in the downtown core for the working class to thrive, and preserving Chinatown’s affordability and culture ensures this legacy can continue.