North Austin popular for Asian commerce

North Austin popular for Asian commerce

Written by Rachel Youens Thursday, 07 February 2008

When the Tan International Group built Chinatown Center along Lamar Boulevard in 2006, it was no accident that it was large, traditional and iconic with an entrance featuring an arch with traditional red-tiled roofs and a set of three statues welcoming shoppers.

The goal, according to Austin Asian American Chamber of Commerce Chair Ali Khataw, was that Chinatown Center would become a recognized district in Austin; a person could get into a cab and say only “take me to Chinatown Center” and the driver would know where to go.

The Asian population in Austin, and particularly north Austin, has been steadily growing over the past 20 years, leaping most dramatically from 3.3 percent in 1990 to about 6.5 percent in 2007. But it is only in the past five years that Asian-owned businesses have taken a stand to make their presence known, and other businesses, schools and the community are responding in turn.

Growth and diversification

“There’s amazing growth in the Asian community here. The best way to look at it is to go to a mall and look at the amount of Asian faces you see,” Khataw said. “When I say Asian faces, I don’t just mean oriental. We’re talking Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Koreans and Chinese.”

While the general population of Austin doubles every 20 to 25 years, the number of Asians in Austin is doubling every ten years, according to City of Austin Demographer Ryan Robinson. By the middle of the next decade, the number of Asians in Austin will more than likely exceed the number of African Americans.

“The incoming Asians to Austin during the past 15 years are a much more diverse sub-population than what existed in Austin in the past,” Robinson said. “For example, thirty years ago, if you were Asian and in Austin, chances were you were Chinese and somehow associated with the University of Texas. Today, Austin hosts an Asian population that spans the socioeconomic spectrum and is sourced by several countries of origin.”

In most north Austin ZIP codes, nearly 7.7 percent of the population is Asian, higher than both the city and national percentages. It’s a chicken or the egg question as to which came first: The population, or the schools, stores and churches that support it. Khataw can identify several factors that are bringing those members into the chamber.

“Austin is high tech, the Silicon Valley of Texas, and most Asians are in the computer industry or tech engineering fields, so they like to come here. The standard of living is wonderfully reasonable, and it works out for them,” Khataw said. “Most of the Asians that come to Austin are also upper or middle class. They’re professionals and entrepreneurs, so generally income-wise they can afford a decent living, and Northwest Austin provides that. It’s also not as costly for them to run their business here as compared to downtown.”

In a 2005 report from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 50.2 percent of Asians in the Austin-San Antonio area are employed in professional jobs and only 6.7 percent in labor or service jobs. The element of the EEOC’s statistics that concerns Khataw is the low number of Asians in official or management positions, only 7.2 percent.

“The biggest challenge Asians face is directly proportional to their representation. We’re not represented properly in key government decision-making positions. That’s something that again can only come when awareness of the Asian community is there and more Asians are installed in higher positions in the government sector,” Khataw said. “I think Asians are making it to positions where their voice will count. It’s an uphill battle, but it’s getting there.”

Austin has one Asian city council member, Place Three’s Jennifer Kim. Members from the Austin Asian American Chamber of Commerce were also invited to be on last year’s interview panel for the hiring of police chief Art Acevedo.

Education

Beyond employment, education has been another major draw to the Northwest Austin area for Asians. The Pflugerville and Austin school districts both have their Vietnamese bilingual schools in Northwest Austin, with PISD’s located at River Oaks Elementary and AISD’s at Walnut Creek Elementary.

 

Walnut Creek’s magnet program began in 1983 serving seven refugee students and has since expanded to 200 students, approximately 20 percent of the school’s student population. Students from across the district apply for transfers into the program, which focuses on teaching the students English, but also maintaining cultural and linguistic heritage. Students celebrated Vietnamese New Year Feb. 1 with their annual Tet Show offering traditional dance and food.

AISD is considering moving the Vietnamese program further west to Summit Elementary due to overcrowding at Walnut Creek.

Being noticed

This year, Chinatown Center flew a giant Hello Kitty Balloon down Congress Boulevard at the Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade, but beyond balloons and decorative shopping center entrances, Khataw says he wants the Asian community and Asian businesses to receive some mainstream recognition.

“When we talk about the Austin Asian American Chamber of Commerce, not everyone knows us,” Khataw said. “Whereas if you talk about Austin Chamber of Commerce, everyone knows about it. So we want to get the profile up there, and for that we’re showing our face wherever we can.”

Developers broke ground in north Austin Feb. 5 on Vina Plaza, a new shopping center covering more than 230,000 sq. ft., a quarter of the size larger than Chinatown. Hong Kong Supermaket, currently located near US 183 and Ohlen Road, will move farther north and closer to its clientele as one of the major tenants in the development. Vina Plaza, a name playing on the word “Vietnamese,” will cater to Austin’s Asian community. What sets Vina apart from Chinatown is developer Ly & Nguyen LLC’s vision for a shopping center that will combine Asian stores with other fare to draw shoppers from all demographics.

“Vina is different from Chinatown. We’re not just focused on Vietnamese or Asian. The shopping center will feature Italian and American restaurants, doctors and dentists, and family businesses like arcades. We want everyone to feel welcome.”

Beyond its tenants, Vina Plaza will also break the trend set by Chinatown in its architecture. Rather than the iconic Asian design of Chinatown, Vina Plaza will feature two stories, mixing office space and retail, with a large decorative rotunda in the center. In its original zoning review, the city council had been concerned with the proximity of Vina to the already established Chinatown, but Ngyuen points out that his location decision was based on more than just competition.

“We chose this piece of land because most Asians in Austin live in this area. In some areas of north Austin, its almost 20 percent Asian.”

Diversity

Near Chinatown Center many mainstream, American businesses are putting up Asian language signage. At the center’s Feb. 9 New Year’s celebration, there were a sea of colors on the faces of the crowd. Both are indicators that Northwest Austin is embracing the culture and commerce of its Asian population.

“A lot of our members are not really Asians and that’s very interesting,” Khataw said. “These are people and businesses who would like to be involved with Indian, Chinese or oriental culture.”

Important Asian developments in North Austin

1 - Summit Elementary - Possible future home to AISD’s Vietnamese bilingual program.

2 - Walnut Creek Elementary - Current home to AISD’s Vietnamese bilingual program.

3 - River Oaks Elementary - Home to PISD’s Vietnamese bilingual program.

4 - Thien Hau Temple - In 2001 this Taoist temple was dedicated to a goddess of the sea and sailors by a refugee who credited the goddess with helping him.

5 - Vina Plaza - This mixed-use shopping center is one of the first to go through Austin’s new urban design standards and will feature offices over stores. The name Vina comes from the word Vietnamese and will feature a Hong Kong Supermarket.

6 - Chinatown Center - This large shopping center hosts serveral restaurants, clothing and video stores as well as the MT Supermarket and the Austin Asian