By Brian Kohaya

By all metrics, Little Tokyo should not exist today.

Its 141-year history is mired in racist federal and local government policies, community destruction, and external encroachment, a history so tumultuous that the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed it as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2024.

Today, the most imminent threat Little Tokyo faces is the development of the 4th & Central Cold Storage Project. For the past few years, Little Tokyo has engaged in good faith negotiations with Continuum Partners regarding the project details. While the developer has committed to developing affordable housing units, they have yet to provide specific details about what percentage of units will be affordable and at what Area Median Income (AMI) level they will be set. Without concrete commitments, the community faces yet another battle to preserve its identity and affordability.

Proponents of the development claim that the project will ultimately reduce housing costs in the area due to shifts in supply and demand.

However, Little Tokyo’s housing market is unlikely to respond as predicted. Simply, the development does not contain enough affordable units to house Little Tokyo residents effectively. Affordable units help residents who need a roof over their heads now and can’t wait years for other units to become cheaper.

The preservation of Little Tokyo is rooted in its strong community institutions such as the Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC). LTCC provides a unique forum that welcomes businesses, community organizations, residents, and stakeholders to learn about the current issues facing Little Tokyo and provide input. Thus, the position of opposition against the current iteration of the 4th & Central Cold Storage project was not a decision made lightly. It was a collective decision that represented the frustration of the community.

Moreover, developments that impact the Little Tokyo community must align with the goals of the Sustainable Little Tokyo Community Vision. Through a series of workshops, LTCC and other organizations invited stakeholders to imagine a vision that reflects Little Tokyo’s current and long-term needs. The plans highlight the demand for affordable housing and commercial spaces, public open space, and traffic mitigation improvements.

The current version of the Cold Storage Project does not reflect the community’s needs and drastically changes the neighborhood’s character.

Little Tokyo is not Tokyo; it is not a neighborhood of high-rises and bright lights. This vision exists only in an orientalist fantasy that conflates the divergent histories of Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals. Little Tokyo is a neighborhood of primarily low-income seniors and families who cannot afford to be priced out of their current units. We need to prioritize more units for existing residents, not hypothetical newcomers, before they are priced out of Little Tokyo.

The stark contrast between the Cold Storage project and the Go For Broke Plaza and First Street North Residences demonstrates the former’s unmet potential. The Cold Storage Project is a luxury development that will serve as a high-priced island for those who can afford to live and shop there. In contrast, Go For Broke Plaza and First Street North Residences will offer affordable commercial spaces for legacy businesses, in addition to 248 units of affordable housing. Continuum Partners has the potential to partner with Little Tokyo and be part of its legacy of community-centered development, yet they have again and again refused to come to the table.

The Little Tokyo community has long been at the forefront of turning its needs into realities.

Through their determination and organizing, the community contributed to developing community-serving institutions such as the Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo Towers, and the Terasaki Budokan.

Ultimately, Little Tokyo’s fate needs to be decided by Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo must say “Never Again” to being told how to direct its future and allow itself to determine what it believes is the best path forward.

Brian Kohaya is a Yonsei community planner. He has a masters of urban and regional planning from UCLA. The views expressed in the preceding commentary are not necessarily those of the Nichi Bei News.