The Chinatown YMCA at 855 Sacramento Street

No other neighborhood in San Francisco is layered with as much history and culture as Chinatown. Sure, you can entertain out of towner's with a visit to Sam Wo's and check out the sights and sounds at The Lunar New Year Parade, but underneath that superficial layer of culture is a neighborhood that has survived and flourished even in the face of such adversaries as xenophobia, war, gang violence and gentrification. Chinatown was the port of entry for many Chinese immigrants as far back as 1850. Chinatown also resiliently overcame the challenges of The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and The Great Earthquake of 1906. Chinatown is also a place called home for many, many families. It is not uncommon for a family in Chinatown to share a space that has been passed down from generation to generation. Chinatown's storefronts, schools and apartments one may easily pass by and not take a second glance are in fact, hidden treasures filled with stories, art and music. One building filled with a historic past and a promising future can be found on the steep corner of Sacramento and Grant.

The Chinatown YMCA opened in 1926 (relocated from its original location opened in 1911) and has been a tremendous resource for its residents throughout the decades. Students have taken advantage of the basketball court and swimming pool during summer camps and senior citizens have used the space as an area to gather and socialize. Recently, the building has been gutted in an effort to  breathe new life into the YMCA (an idea that has been talked about for over 30 years) for future generations to come.  I was fortunate enough to be allowed access to the construction site by Lara Farrell Hitchcock. Lara is the proud Development Director of The Chinatown YMCA and after a few moments at the site, it was easy to see why she is so enthusiastic about the project. The building is going through an extensive retrofitting initiative and the adjacent space which used to be empty is now the foundation for what will ultimately be a brand new natatorium, exercise room and outdoor playground. This new space is the focal point and most eagerly anticipated part of the project for both Hitchcock and Chinatown residents. Probably the best part of my visit to the site was noticing the many layers of wall and floor that have been peeled away to reveal some of its original features still intact. I was glad to know that the features will be restored and integrated into the new space, bridging the gap between the buildings past and future. 

Funding for the project was made possible by generous donations from former "Y boys"; students throughout the decades who made The Chinatown YMCA their home away from home. Thanks to their donations (and even those from donors as far away as Hong Kong),  The Chinatown YMCA will  have even more programs to benefit the neighborhood and its residents. The project looks to be completed by Summer 2010 and it has made significant progress these past few weeks. There's even a blog where you can check out the progress of the renovation. The blog also has a link to the renderings where you can see the concept and vision of the finished product.

Its always nice learning about how San Francisco makes an effort to preserve its historical landmarks. True, some buildings are razed and used as landfill for trendy new condos but, at the end of the day, San Francisco has a way of always staying true to the idea of keeping its past present.  

For more info on The Chinatown YMCA, log onto http://www.ymcasf.org/Chinatown/