To longtime residents of San Francisco’s Chinatown, it was an eyesore — a structure that resembled an enlarged aluminum garbage can. For tourists, it was either ignored or thought to be a defunct newspaper kiosk or an art exhibit.
Now the mystery is gone.
In a ceremony complete with lion dancers, drums and red firecrackers, the one-time San Francisco Police Department koban situated on Grant Avenue between Washington and Jackson streets was given a second chance at life. Years ago, the koban was used to report crimes and to monitor crime in Chinatown.
The koban has been reincarnated into a visitor information center. Spearheaded by the Chinatown Economic Group and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, organizers decided to refurbish the unused koban to transform it into something many say is much needed in Chinatown.
No major construction was done to the site. A red banner, a large map of Chinatown and a pink orchid plant make up the center’s décor.
“Nowhere in Chinatown do we have a visitor’s information center,” said Tan Chow of Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC). “So this can help visitors who come here, and hopefully this will help Chinatown’s economy and drive tourism up.”
Rev. Norman Fong of CCDC said he’s excited to see the city make use of the koban, which has been hit by several cars in the past.
“But this center isn’t just for tourists, the community can use it to find out about events and meetings, and also get information pertaining to their neighborhood,” Fong said. “It’s about time.”
Visitors to the compact, silver center will be welcomed by friendly staff who offer suggestions on where to eat, answers to questions on how to get to the fortune cookie factory and glossy maps to guide the roving tourist.
No hours have been set yet for the information koban, but organizers say they would like it to be open during peak hours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.