Pedestrian Bridge Will Reflect Style of Little Saigon
Plans for a $2.7-million, Asian-style pedestrian bridge spanning Bolsa Avenue moved forward this week with the City Council’s vote to issue bonds.
The 500-foot bridge, which is intended to increase tourism, will link the Asian Garden Mall and Asian Village, Little Saigon’s main shopping areas.
The city will issue 40-year bonds that will not exceed $3 million to finance the bridge. In the meantime, property owners have proposed a tax assessment district to pay the administrative costs of the bonds and for the bridge’s maintenance. The district would be expected to raise about $290,000 a year.
Property owners within the district, which is along Bolsa west of Moran Street and east of Weststate Street, will vote on April 9 on whether to form the district.
“There’s no public money in this at all,” said city Finance Director Brian Mayhew. “It’s interesting that this will be a public facility.”
An artist’s rendering shows a 30-foot-wide bridge with a pagoda-style canopy and the message “Welcome to Little Saigon.”
“This bridge will be a symbol of Little Saigon,” said Frank Jao, one of the property owners who spearheaded the project. “It will better enhance the identity of the district.”
City officials say ground will probably be broken for the bridge this summer.
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