THE REGION : Chinatown Light-Rail Called Effective Link

A light-rail station linking key sites in Chinatown near downtown Los Angeles could be the most workable method to revive the deteriorating landmark community that over the years has lost residents and clientele to the San Gabriel Valley, according to a study.

The 57-page report, commissioned last summer by a group of business professionals, considers a proposed Pasadena Blue Line station at Alameda and College streets as a steppingstone toward an improved Chinatown.

“The idea is to use the station as a focal point,” said William Tan, president of the Chinatown Economic Development Council. “We can look at it sort of as half of a sun that radiates out to other locations.”

Because it’s only a preliminary assessment, the report--based on interviews with 15 Chinatown civic and business leaders and residents--does not cover specific costs or details of how a cultural and dining district would look.

Chinatown officials have been searching for ways to negate a perception of the area as crowded and unsafe, with high land prices, dirty streets and few parking spaces.

“Increased language skills, availability of land at affordable prices, good schools and changing values acted as ‘pull factors,’ attracting Chinese families out of the urban core and into communities in the San Gabriel Valley,” the report said.