A complex of live/work rental lofts in Chinatown for artists is expanding five years after an initial opening.

The Chinatown Artists Lofts project is seeking applicants to fill nine new lofts in the historic brick Mendonca Building in an effort that organizers say will help expand the downtown Honolulu art scene.

An initial 10 lofts in the building on Hotel Street between Smith and Maunakea streets opened in 2011 following a renovation of what had been offices on the building’s second floor overlooking an interior courtyard. But the renovation effort ran short of money, which delayed completion of nine units.

The nine new lofts, which range in size from 400 square feet to 700 square feet, rent from $1,000 to $1,600 a month excluding utilities. One-year leases are being offered.

Residents are to participate in Discover Art events on the second Saturday of each month and open their lofts to public tours during First Friday events from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Rich Richardson, executive director of The ARTS at Marks Garage, said in a statement that public interaction with the artists and their lofts will promote economic prosperity for the artists and assist with critical mass needed to create an arts destination in Chinatown.

“Together we are building an arts scene,” he said. “We believe the arts transform people and places. The lofts cultivate an ecosystem of local cultural production and bring a substantial number of new residents and visitors into Chinatown, making it safer, livelier and more appealing.”

The nonprofit Academy of Performing Arts that operates The ARTS at Marks Garage selects residents largely based on creative merit or potential.

The definition of “artist” is broad, and includes creative professionals in the performing, visual, literary, cultural and culinary arts.

Among existing loft tenants are a musician, a publisher, a photographer, a bartender, illustrators and muralists.