As Chinatown grows, some long-time residents wonder where they fit
“‘Chinatown’s identity is the people who live there.’ That’s what Chinatown means to Yi Chen, a documentary filmmaker and adjunct professor at George Mason University. But what happens when those people can’t connect with other District residents, or when they can’t live in Chinatown? A lot of senior citizens in Chinatown live in apartment buildings called the Wah Luck House and Museum Square. Most of the seniors are on fixed incomes, use Section 8 vouchers, and most have a limited ability to speak, read, and write English. Also, none has any intention of leaving, even as the owners of their buildings threaten to demolish their homes and replace them with luxury condos and commercial development. Residents are often unaware of things like neighborhood meetings, and language barriers prevent many from participating.”