Be Grant Avenue
We wanted to place lanterns on Grant Avenue from Bush to Broadway, as Grant Avenue is the heart of Chinatown. In talking with the City, the current City Owned Lamp Posts aren’t structurally sound to hang lanterns. We’ve send in inquiry to PGE to see if their lamp posts are better per the suggestion of SFWater.
The community came up with an alternative plan. String the lights from building to building. We’ll do the leg work of talking with the building owners to allow for the this project to take place as it will enliven the community as a whole. But need help from the City or PGE to connect the power - so we are looking into this project as well to help be an alternative light source that is both beautiful and resourceful.
The plan is to string lanterns from building to building using either existing metal wiring or installing new metal wiring as a guide to string LED rope lights as one focal point. The Lanterns will be made out of a Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material (often used for cellphone and tablet cases – faux leather). We plan on using screw in outdoor LED bulbs attached to a weatherproof rubber lampholder. We’re estimating between 28 to 36 lanterns per block possibly.
Update: PGE along with SFDPW installed new lanterns along the Grant Ave Corridor just in time for Chinese New Year 2017, painted the lamp posts, and cleaned up the Dragon Gate. Our community partners from the Chinatown Merchants Association are working to get them lit, and working on a long term strategic plan to keep them lit and maintained for all to enjoy for years to come.
Update 2019: the Chinatown Merchant Association is coordinating with family associations to replace and relight the lanterns as the weather has taken a toll on them.
The community came up with an alternative plan. String the lights from building to building. We’ll do the leg work of talking with the building owners to allow for the this project to take place as it will enliven the community as a whole. But need help from the City or PGE to connect the power - so we are looking into this project as well to help be an alternative light source that is both beautiful and resourceful.
The plan is to string lanterns from building to building using either existing metal wiring or installing new metal wiring as a guide to string LED rope lights as one focal point. The Lanterns will be made out of a Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material (often used for cellphone and tablet cases – faux leather). We plan on using screw in outdoor LED bulbs attached to a weatherproof rubber lampholder. We’re estimating between 28 to 36 lanterns per block possibly.
Update: PGE along with SFDPW installed new lanterns along the Grant Ave Corridor just in time for Chinese New Year 2017, painted the lamp posts, and cleaned up the Dragon Gate. Our community partners from the Chinatown Merchants Association are working to get them lit, and working on a long term strategic plan to keep them lit and maintained for all to enjoy for years to come.
Update 2019: the Chinatown Merchant Association is coordinating with family associations to replace and relight the lanterns as the weather has taken a toll on them.
