The Central City Village Planning Committee discussed active projects in City Council District Seven, including the Hance Park master plan, street improvement projects and other development proposals at their meeting Monday.
Layla Ressler, chief of staff for District Seven, addressed 16 committee members while discussing councilman Michael Nowakowski’s current plans for Phoenix. District Seven covers parts of downtown and south Phoenix, including ASU’s Downtown campus.
Ressler said that during her time as the vice chair of the South Mountain Village Planning Committee, she wanted more representation from the council district’s staff. As a result, Ressler has made a point to work with the village planning committees in District Seven.
“One of my goals is to get around to all of his villages so that people know what I look like,” Ressler said.
The Margaret T. Hance Park master plan was part of the discussion. Ressler said District Seven is “thrilled about this idea and obviously the next big step is to raise money.”
She said they are planning to pursue the project aggressively and that it is something downtown needs.
Eva Olivas, vice chair of the committee, said the community needs to focus on “reinvesting in current neighborhoods.”
The committee pointed out that parks are closing due to budget cuts. Committee member Shannon Dubasik said new parks should not be opened until the other parks are fixed.
Phoenix’s proposed trial budget includes cuts to the parks and recreation department, including closing three city pools and more than 10 community centers and seven neighborhood recreation centers, including Verde Park Recreation Center at Ninth and Van Buren streets. Phoenix residents are invited to attend community budget hearings through April 22 to give input during the budget process.
Another project in progress is the Roosevelt Row Pedestrian Project, which includes creating bike lanes on both sides of the road, expanding sidewalks and improving lighting. Ressler said that this will calm the area down and will be good for pedestrians and businesses. The project is expected to begin in June and be completed sometime in spring 2015.
A pedestrian mall on First Street proposed by Nowakowski in late 2012 did not work out, Ressler said, but another pedestrian mall on First Street is being proposed.
Committee member Sean Sweat said that “a pedestrian mall would destroy the street.”
Nowakowski’s idea is to enhance the area and provide a means for transportation for everyone, not just cars.
Sweat said such a plan would hurt businesses on the street. The light rail might also converge at First Street in the future, resulting in limited room for anything else, committee chairman Bob Graham said.
According to Ressler, Nowakowski “hopes everyone is enjoying the changes that are happening in that area.” There are also proposed ideas to transform the Adams Street area into retail shops along the Phoenix Convention Center. This project will hopefully be completed by the time the Superbowl comes to town in February, Ressler said.
Nowakowski also wants to build a new shopping center that would include retail, a grocery store and a home improvement store, Ressler said.
