Presentation
Meeting Begins
Break-out & discussion
6:00
6:45
7:00
7:45
05 Wrap-up
Welcome!
Soledad Street
Redevelopment
Community Meeting
Salinas Chinatown
City of Salinas | April 29 2025
Photo: Larry Hirahara
We Craft Places People Love.
Established in 1997, our San Francisco-based staff
of architects and interior designers provides large
firm experience, delivered through the culture and
care of a small practice.
25+ 50+ MBE
Years serving
the Bay Area
Architects, designers
and support staff
Minority Business
Enterprise, CA State
3 4
Based in San Francisco
Close proximity enables us to provide
hands-on, responsive support at every phase.
50+ Employees
We provide a large firm experience delivered
through the culture of a small practice.
● 16 CA Licensed Architects
● 5 Interior Designers
● 23 Technical Designers
TEF Design at a Glance . . .
01 Salinas Chinatown Redevelopment
Project Name | TEF Design
Cultural District
6 ● Asian Cultural Heritage District
● Period: 1893 - 1957
● Largest active Chinatown between
San Francisco and Los Angeles
● Multicultural gathering place for
immigrant laborers who formed
the backbone of CA’s agricultural
economy (Chinese, Japanese,
Filipinos, Mexican)
● Within City of Salinas “Areas of
Historic and Architectural Merit”
● Architectural style is an emblem of
multicultural heritage and historic
buildings display Asian and
Spanish influence: upturned roof
eaves, tile roofs, and detailed
balcony railings
Photo: Larry Hirahara
Site Context
34 & 36 Soledad: Existing
1-story buildings, formerly
commercial/ restaurant use
38 Soledad: Existing 2-story
building, formerly Arre’s Pool
Hall + apartments, City of
Salinas Historic Resource
40 Soledad: Empty lot
37 Soledad: Republic Cafe,
NRHP listed property
45 Soledad: City-owned lot
Lake Alley
Soledad Street
Bridge Alley
Market Way
Market Way
Union Pacific Railway Tracks
37 45
40 38
36 34
Project Name | TEF Design
Soledad Street Redevelopment
Overall Project Goals
8 ● Engage the community + build on
revitalization work to date
● Celebate history, character + culture of
Salinas Chinatown
● Focus on mixed use + affordable housing
● Emphasize energy efficiency
Photo: Larry Hirahara
02 34-40 Soledad
Project Name | TEF Design
38 Soledad Street
10 ● Existing 2-story building
● Formerly Arre’s Pool Hall with
apartments above
● Recently red-tagged due to
weather damage & safety
concerns
● Proposed development would
aim to salvage existing
architectural elements and
reconstruct the historic facade
Photo: Larry Hirahara
City of Salinas Historic Resource
Project Name | TEF Design
34-40 Development
11 Level 1
Commercial Space +/- 5000 SF
Resident Lobby/Service+/- 2000 SF
Resident Garage 26 spots
Level 2
Resident Green +/- 5600 SF
Levels 2-5
Studios 4 10%
1 Bed 16 40%
2 Bed 16 40%
3 Bed 4 10%
Mixed Use
Commercial + Affordable Housing
12 34-40
13 34-40
14 34-40 Soledad Proposed Development
03 45 Soledad
Project Name | TEF Design
45 Soledad Street
16 ● Constructed c. 1932
● Building lost to fire in 2017
● Not a listed historic resource, but replacing the
building in a future development would support the
historic neighborhood character
● Lost Architectural Features:
○ Two-story masonry building
○ Hipped tiled roof with a subtle flare
○ Prominent awning at Soledad St over a
central commercial entry
○ Inset windows of various sizes with ornate
balconies at both facades
Photo: Larry Hirahara
Lost Building - Former Republic Hotel
Project Name | TEF Design
45 Soledad Development Options
17 3-Story Option
Photo: Larry Hirahara
Mixed Use - Commercial + Affordable Housing
Level 1
Commercial Space +/- 3,630 SF
Resident Lobby/Service+/- 980 SF
Commercial Garage 1 loading zone
Levels 2-3
Studios 1 11%
1 Bed 4 44%
2 Bed 3 33%
3 Bed 1 11%
Roof
Resident Green +/- 2,870 SF
5-Story Option
Level 1
Commercial Space +/- 1,630 SF
Resident Lobby/Service+/- 1,150 SF
Resident Garage 5 spots
Levels 2-5
Studios 2 12.5%
1 Bed 6 37.5%
2 Bed 6 37.5%
3 Bed 2 12.5%
Roof
Resident Green +/- 3, 120 SF
18 3-Story
19 3-Story
20 5-Story
21 5-Story
22 45 Soledad Development Options
3-Story Option 5-Story Option
04 37 Soledad
Project Name | TEF Design
37 Soledad Street
24 ● NRHP listed property & City of
Salinas Historic Resource
● Built in 1941 by Wallace Ahyte and
Bow Chin
● Significant gathering place for
Chinese, Filipino and Japanese
community members
● Planned as future museum &
cultural center to commemorate
Salinas Chinatown
Photo: Larry Hirahara
Republic Cafe
Project Name | TEF Design
37 Soledad
25 Photo: Larry Hirahara
Concept Plans
Courtesy of ACE (Asian Cultural Experience)