Historic Fresno Chinatown

Streetlight Improvements at the Center of Fresno Chinatown Revitalization

Fresno’s Chinatown was established in the 1870s as Chinese immigrants settled near the railroad and helped support the region’s growing agricultural economy. It became a vibrant neighborhood of businesses, restaurants, temples, and community organizations, serving as the cultural and commercial center for Fresno’s Chinese-American community. Although the district declined after World War II, it remains one of California’s oldest inland Chinatowns and is recognized for its rich history and ongoing preservation efforts. One such effort is the state’s investment in affordable housing, active transportation, urban greening and streetscape improvements, including new street and pedestrian lighting. According to the city’s description of the mayor’s initiatives, his administration is pursuing “a vibrant, walkable downtown with full-time residents, thriving businesses, cultural venues, and a lively entertainment scene”.

GBL began working with the city on its Chinatown lighting in 2022, soon after the State of California committed funds for downtown Fresno and Chinatown infrastructure investments. The lighting plan featured Cree “Cobrahead” streetlights, including some that incorporated lower mounting height pedestrian lights from Lumecon, streetlight poles engineered by Valmont, and streetlight bases from EXP Industries. GBL coordinated the lighting project along with its distributor and contractor partners.

As stated by one resident, “What a beautiful city this is. What an opportunity to live in such a bustling city with so much change happening everywhere you look, from the Chinatown revitalization, the High-Speed Rail, making downtown special and booming, tons of new bike paths being put in… I could go on and on, but it’s all to say how much I love it here”