The Planning and Future of Chinatown - Assignment Example

due: Chinatown: planning and urban environmental related concerns The movie Chinatown was situated in Los Angeles city, California. This paper is based on the preservation and improvement of existing housing in the middle of the period of growth and urbanization in Los Angeles city. Chinatown movie written by Roman Polanski depicts the planning which sets strict conditions before housing can be demolished. A good urban planning plan can help to promote the development in an area; as well as solve some of the problems that face urban areas such as high population density and sanitation problems. This report will be based on two major aspects of planning in Chinatown namely politics in planning and urban growth and suburbanization. In regard to the aspect of environmental issues, the role of water in the city will be analyzed. The planning and future of Chinatown is based upon how these many Chinatown roles on politics in planning are weighed. These roles make the area a community since a community is defined as a group of people habitation in the same place or having characteristics in common. Therefore, any planning should be done to benefit the existing and future residents of the area, which is not as the case in Chinatown. Planning politics commenced with the issue of water, then general welfare. Since the Chinese architecture has not changed over the centuries, the same architectural uniqueness is seen in the movie’s buildings. Most buildings are erected on raised platforms as their foundations making them higher than normal buildings. Pillars are also common in most buildings as they give support to vertical structural beams. The roofs are the most interesting part of the buildings where they have roof apexes; that are usually topped with a crest of tiles and statues for both decorative purposes and to weigh down the layer of roofing tiles for stability. The ridges are often well decorated especially for religious buildings or sometimes extended or incorporated from the walls of the buildings to form matouqiung (horse-head walls), which serve as a fire deterrent from drifting embers. These building’s designs are what gives the area it’s name because of the famous Chinese architecture that has been displayed on not only the buildings but also the gates, business premises, sculptures among other things (Chinese chamber of Commerce, 1). According to a proposed plan by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to preserve and improve existing housing, there are certain prohibitions like conversion of upper-story housing to other uses. It also ensures that new buildings enhance Chinatown’s special characteristic. Parts of the area have also been designated a historic district while also setting up strict conditions before housing can be demolished. This ensures that the area maintains its identity of ‘china town’. Water in Chinatown signifies the impact on urbanization and expansion of Los Angeles. Water is a natural resource necessary for daily consumption by man; associated with political issues. In regard to The influence of the Regional Planning Association, the role of water is essential in city planning. (Southworth & Eran 72). According to Southworth (1995) an argument ensued among the officials on the costs of a through-street pavement and mainline utilities; which were not clearly understood (p. 72). According to Chinatown, water symbolizes a substantial and figurative longing which must be relieved. The longing of Los Angeles city is very self-motivated; based on water planning. This is because; locating the water to the city would be very beneficial to the populace, and finances. The role of water in the movie is seen when an isolated part of Los Angeles is all dried up, and a child on a horseback who seems very thirsty is searching for water. Officials are seen in the movie using the allocated water spots as a cover for political actions; disregarding the physical state of the region. Mr. Cross decided to bring water to Los Angeles; with an intention of expanding the border of the city, so as to incorporate the water development plan. He tricked the residents of Los Angeles that the action would be beneficial to them. The actions in this part show the personal gains many city officials expect from tricking commoners. The politics associated with water in Chinatown depict how politics issues are related to planning in cities. Chinatown is an urban area that is rapidly developing in the fringes of Los Angeles City contributing to the increase of urban sprawl. Most of the businesses are run by the elderly as a source of income (Hopkins, 25).Most of the residents of Chinatown are Chinese people who came to America as Immigrants looking for better opportunities. They find the area to be accommodating due to its culture and people who share common traditions and language. The first Chinese people came as laborers working in laundry, gardening, ranching and road building in the year 1852. (Mai and Chen, 8), although there are other nationalities in Chinatown like Latinos who make 25% of the population in Chinatown, the concentration of Asians in Chinatown is 62% much higher than that of Los Angeles County 14%, signifying that Chinatown is an Asian enclave. In terms of Chinatown’s age distribution’s age distribution less than a fourth of its populace is under the age of 17 while the majority of the population is below the age of 18 - 64 making 59% of the population. Population growth is one of the major reasons as to why urban areas keep expanding. This means that there is a need for social amenities like hospitals, schools for the school going population, recreational parks, and good transportation among others to handle this growing population a factor that contributes to urbanization and suburbanization. To accommodate new structures proper planning will have to be done to allow for any new developments. In conclusion, Chinatown plan seeks to maintain equilibrium of economic services; focusing on the preservation and enhancement of existing small neighborhood businesses, while permitting business expansion in new development. Chinatown clearly shows the politics associated with the construction of cities, how city officials are malicious and greedy; doing things for their own political gains, without considering the plight of the residents. Works cited Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Chinatown Community Plan: A Proposal. Los Angeles: Chinatown Neighborhood Improvement Resource Center, 1985. Print. Hopkins, Alex. Business comes at the cost of heritage. The Washington Times. Retrieved from http://washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/27/chinatowns-cultural-paradox-business-comes-at-the-/?page=all Randy, Mai & Bonnie, Chan. The State of Chinatown Los Angeles. California. 20013. University of California Press Southworth, Michael, and Eran Ben-Joseph. "Street Standards and the Shaping of Suburbia." American Planning Association.Journal of the American Planning Association 61.1 (1995): 65-81. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. Read More