As part of a massive urban renewal project and in an effort to bring more people back to downtown San Jose, a Chinatown will be created. The Barrio Chino or China Town will be located between avenidas (avenues) 2 and 14 and will be about two acres or 8,300 square meters in size when completed. It will also feature a pedestrian mall in place of the existing city street. The entrance to the area will feature a large oriental style arch.

The area already boasts a couple of oriental restaurants, supermarkets and other businesses.

Barrio Chino plan to cover more than two acres downtown

Most major cities have one, so San José is moving forward with the creation of a Barrio Chino or Chinatown.
Traditionally such areas were ghettos where Chinese laborers were allowed to live with the services typical of their culture. This is where the clothes were washed in the 19th and early 20th century.

For San José, the concept is a form of urban renewal. The area will be 8,300 square meters (about two acres) with a public investment of at least $1 million. The section will be entered via Chinese-style gates, said Casa Presidencial.

The project was inaugurated Saturday by President Óscar Arias Sánchez, San José Mayor Johnny Araya, the visiting mayor of Beijing, Guo Jinlong, and the ambassador of the People’s Republic here, Wang Xiaoyuan.
The area is between avenidas 2 and 14. The ceremony Saturday was in front of La Soledad church on calle 11.

The municipality plans to construct a pedestrian mall in place of the existing city street. That will stretch for more than half a kilometer, officials said. Traffic will be restricted.

The project is to be an example of the profound admiration for the ancient civilization, said a Casa Presidencial release.

Officials envision businesses, restaurants, craft shops and places where traditional medicine is sold, said Arias.

Araya sees the project as another step in the repopulation and renewal of the central region of the city. Arias appears to have a more geopolitical view.