The Chinatown Stitch: Reconnecting Philadelphia to Vine Street is a study to cap the Vine Street Expressway between Broad Street and 8th Street to reconnect Chinatown and Chinatown North. A “cap” is a bridge, platform or structure built over a limited access highway. The study is a partnership between the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation Infrastructure and Sustainability (OTIS) and the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC).

Last March 2023, the City and PCDC released a survey to gather input on the community’s vision and goals for the proposed cap. The online survey was available in English, Simplified Chinese and Spanish. PCDC also distributed a paper version during three pop-up events in Chinatown at local housing developments and at businesses.

The survey received 2,335 responses which helped the project team inform the goals and vision for the project. According to the survey, 23% of respondents live in the Chinatown community and 44% of respondents self-identify as Asian. 87% of respondents support the vision statement for the project:

“Reimagine the Vine Street corridor to improve neighborhood connections, create equitable mixed-use development opportunities, and inclusive mobility options.”

This statement was consistently supported regardless of the stated racial identity or home location. The first round of engagement also asked residents about which aspects of projects were important to them. Their feedback can be summarized in the following four goals for the Chinatown Stitch project:

  • Create an inviting park space with landscapes and public plazas;
  • Create a safe street design that extends the Chinatown neighborhood feel;
  • Prioritize the elderly, young, and those with disabilities; and
  • Include public civic buildings, facilities, and businesses that serve community needs.

Like the vision statement, these goals were consistent regardless of the stated racial identity or home location. Based on this feedback from the public, the team has been hard at work over the summer developing alternatives and concepts that meet the project vision and goals. The City will share these alternatives after Labor Day. Stay tuned!

Learn more about the Chinatown Stitch: Reconnecting Philadelphia to Vine Street.