Controversy lies under the bulldozed rubble of the lot across the street from Taylor Place, as downtown Phoenix businesses and residents fight over what should be built next.
The lot, at the corner of Taylor and First streets, was bought by the city of Phoenix and was set to become a parking lot for the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown hotel and 12 News for the short term and then eventually become home to ASU’s college of law, said Sina Matthes, public information officer for the Downtown Phoenix Development Office.
The college of law will require a large amount of funding and development, Matthes said, so the Sheraton was granted a temporary-use permit for the lot in August, allowing the lot to be used as a parking service until the school can be built.
Sean Sweat, treasurer and resident of the St. Croix Villas located near Filmore and First streets, said a parking lot would do more harm to the city than good because the black top would cause more heat during the summer months and it would eliminate foot-traffic around the area.
Sweat proposed a dog park be built on the vacant lot instead and is going before the Board of Adjustment at noon today to appeal the permit.
Sweat, a supply-chain engineer for Intel, said he hopes the city will vote to appeal the permit or at least include a stipulation that if they do build a parking lot some of the land will be allotted for a dog park. The public hearing will take place at the City Council Chambers near Jefferson Street and First Avenue.
“The beauty about a dog park is it’s something people will go to everyday,” Sweat said. “It creates a community of people downtown.”
Sweat, who said he dedicates at least 40 hours a week to this cause, also said the dog park would motivate more developers to build in downtown Phoenix.
“You need to see people on the street,” Sweat said. “Since it’s a focused location, its going to have people walk past local businesses to get to the park.”
ASU Downtown Alive!, an organization devoted to developing relationships between students, residents and businesses of downtown Phoenix, is also on board with the idea of a dog park, said journalism sophomore Vaughn Hillyard, president of the club.
“As for ASU, it would be a nice big green area that is socially welcoming,” Hillyard said. “It would give people a reason to come to this specific block and the ASU campus.”
Dakota Yazzi, a journalism freshman and Taylor Place resident, said she would prefer a dog park over a parking lot because she would not only feel safer but it would also benefit those living right next to it.
“It would bring a lot more entertainment for the students here at Taylor Place,” Yazzi said. “And I just feel safer with dogs around and people on the street.”
Sweat, who does not own a dog, said he would take the case to the Maricopa Superior Court if the permit is not appealed and hopes students show up at the chambers on Nov. 4.
“We need physical support at the hearing,” Sweat said.
Hillyard said this is a great opportunity for downtown students to speak out about an issue that is going to greatly affect them for the next few years.
“It’s our campus, it’s crucial for us to be involved,” Hillyard said. “I think we would be doing a disservice to our school not to use our voice.”
Contact the reporter at mlstewa3@asu.edu
