11 Most Endangered
Little Manila
Year Listed: 2003
Location: California
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Development, Poor Public Policy, Road Construction
Pushed by poverty and pulled by the lure of agricultural jobs, tens of thousands of Filipinos had migrated to the United States and settled in California’s San Joaquin Valley. By 1946, Stockton became home to the largest Filipino community outside of the Philippines, and a compact area of downtown known as Little Manila was alive with restaurants, stores, labor unions, and social organizations that provided services and a sense of community to immigrants isolated by segregation. Today, as in so many other ethnic neighborhoods across the nation, widespread demolition and freeway construction have ravaged Little Manila. Only three original buildings, modest in scale and design, remain -- but even these are threatened by an outdated urban renewal strategy. In 2003, a development proposal included plans to construct a strip mall on the site and replace the three buildings with asphalt. Local and national supporters have plans to turn the buildings into a museum and cultural center with affordable housing that celebrates the achievements of the nation’s second-largest Asian-American group while providing a home to low-income residents. Without funding and a strong commitment to preservation on the part of local government, Filipino Americans will see an important part of their heritage smashed to rubble and hauled off to the landfill.
Update
Shortly after the 11-Most announcement, Stockton City Council approved the boundaries of an eight block redevelopment area, which includes Little Manila, and issued a Request for Proposals for master developers. The Little Manila Foundation, a group advocating for preservation of Little Manila and the history of Filipino-American culture in Stockton, received help from some of nation’s best urban planning, ethnic community preservationists, and community development specialists following the 11 Most listing. With pro-bono professional services and a grant from the National Trust’s Thorne Intervention Fund, the foundation crafted a development proposal for the Little Manila site. With two development partners, the Little Manila Foundation purchased one of one of the three remaining buildings comprising the historic site, but struggled to obtain financial backing. The group received a much needed boost in 2006 when the Black Eyed Peas filmed the video for their song “Bebot” at the Rizal Social Club. The foundation and the Black Eyed Peas received a 2007 California Preservation Foundation President’s Award for their work in raising awareness about Little Manila and Filipino-American culture in Stockton. Sadly, the foundation is still struggling to obtain financial backing to rehabilitate and adaptively reuse the Little Manila buildings, and is now in foreclosure.
