Community input has been critical to the development of this program. To ensure community perspectives were incorporated in the Gateways to Chinatown Request for Proposals (RFP) solicitation, New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), Van Alen Institute, and the Chinatown Partnership held a roundtable with local stakeholders, hosted a bi-lingual community workshop and conducted neighborhood surveys through NYC DOT’s Street Ambassador team. Workshop information helped frame the RFP, and key community requests were shared in the RFP to provide applicants with further guidance.

Stakeholder Advisory Meeting

In June 2016, NYC DOT, Van Alen Institute, and Chinatown Partnership hosted a stakeholder advisory committee meeting for the Gateways to Chinatown project.  At this meeting, the project team presented the project vision and next steps, including plans for the public engagement forum, and sought input from the advisory committee, composed of Chinatown civic leaders, representatives from elected officials offices and community boards, and City agencies. Staff from the Chinatown Partnership provided translation services.

Community Workshop

In August 2016, NYC DOT, Van Alen Institute, and Chinatown Partnership hosted a public engagement forum for the Gateways to Chinatown project. Community members and stakeholders were invited to voice their opinions and perspectives to determine the goals and themes to guide the transformation of the Canal Street Triangle into a neighborhood landmark and community resource. The community workshop was open to the public and posters and flyers were distributed to encourage community members to participate. Roughly fifty people attended, and staff from the Chinatown Partnership provided translation services. Information from this session as well as the NYC DOT Street Ambassadors’ interactions with residents and visitors formed the basis of Section II (E): Community Outreach and Priorities in the Gateways to Chinatown RFP. The perspectives and priorities identified may also be used to steer future neighborhood projects and support community objectives.

Street Ambassador Survey

In August 2016, NYC DOT Street Ambassadors surveyed Chinatown residents and visitors alike to discuss the Gateways to Chinatown project, and gather feedback via an in-person survey administered in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish. The Street Ambassadors set up tables at the Canal Street Triangle project site and nearby Columbus Park. The Ambassadors collected over 150 surveys, which asked people about how they interact with the triangle and information kiosk, what types of design interventions they would like to see and use, and how they navigate the neighborhood. The findings from these surveys and the preceding public engagement forum are described in greater detail in Section II (E): Community Outreach and Priorities in the Gateways to Chinatown Request for Proposals.