The Leighton G. Knipe House, planned for renovation as a brewery and restaurant. Arsonists destroyed the historic house before it was partially restored in Jan. 2013.
Photo by Troy Farah, circa 2010.
Phoenix, AZ — Among the many problems a major metropolis like Phoenix faces — crime, drought, homelessness, etc. — desert cities like this one must also deal with “sprawl,” the disorganized, ugly and unchecked expansion of an municipal area into the adjoining countryside. Naturally, urban development is of crucial concern, but now the downtown area is faced with another issue: ageism.
The small, centralized oasis known as Roosevelt Row has become the Mecca for arts, tasty grub, independent music and other culture, usurping the role Mill Avenue once held before it mutated into a consumer-driven blemish. Now it seems like it’s déjá vu all over again as Phoenix’s Office of Community and Economic Development plans to erect a housing development strictly for residents 55 or older.
The roughly four-acre dirt lot on Second Street, just north of Roosevelt, is dead center in the arts community, and naturally, there’s been a wave of backlash from neighbors and the general public who nervously fear what this change could mean. And rightfully so.
Youth make up the majority of the creative driving force making the downtown community worthwhile, especially important in a city frequently described as lifeless, vapid and boring. Many worry putting age restrictions within such a flourishing area will undo much of the progress Roosevelt has made including The Arizona Republic, ASU’s State Press and monOrchid Gallery owner Wayne Rainey, whose petition against the proposal drew over 1,500 signatures. But that didn’t stop the ruling, which passed January 29th with an 8-1 vote.
de’Lunula contacted members of the community to see why they feel this proposal is so detrimental to the health of the arts community. Have we missed your voice? Give us your opinion by emailing [email protected] or leaving us a note in the comments.
Jason Shoff — Scottsdale — Head of A&R at 80/20 Records
“The main problem is that this complex is in the heart of First Friday. It’s right across the street from Revolver Records, where they normally have live music playing outside and a bunch of food trucks and merchants set up. So it won’t take long for the tenants living there to complain about all the traffic and noise that First Friday normally generates.
And some of the changes they made sound good on paper: 15-20 percent of the units at market rate, opening a portion for local artists, and most importantly the affidavit “acknowledging they are moving into a vibrant arts district.” But how are we guaranteed that they’ll do any of those things?
I just think there would have been better uses for the property that would have benefited more people, artists and visitors alike, than yet another complex designed for seniors 55 and older.
DQG — South Phoenix — College Arts Teacher
My opinion is that there has been a tremendous miscommunication here. It seems developers want to force a retirement community into an area that has just barely begun to shape its own unique cultural landscape without any regard to input from the people that have contributed to it for over a decade.
Daniel Langlois — East Valley — Weirdo
Keep elderly people out of traffic: I feel that opening it will only more heavily congest that area.
Art from around Roosevelt Row. Photo Troy Farah.
Mandi Kimes — Arcadia — Music blogger and reviewer for Mixtape Mandi
I don’t believe building a 55+ community on Roosevelt Row would be a great idea. Roosevelt Row holds a reputation for its art, music and culture of the “starving artist”. First Friday is a true portrait of that: creative individuals line up the street with their art (whether its visual or aural) and try to share their art with passers-by. If they can earn a buck or two, it’s even better. These people are using whatever talent God gave them to try to survive.
The older generation does not understand this. They believe that hard work and a good income is what you need to survive. These folks have lived through the Great Depression, World War II, JFK and the Vietnam War. Some of them even participated in these events. I can just see it now: artists creating a masterpiece for the people of Roosevelt to enjoy and then some old gentlemen walks out and screams, “Get off my lawn, you dirty hippie!” Where are these artists going to go now if they are no longer welcome in this community?
Build the 55+ community somewhere else. Some of these artists have nowhere else to call it home except for Roosevelt Row. Don’t take that away from them.
Jeff Moses — Downtown Phoenix — Music blogger and photographer
I think that everyone is making to big of a deal about it. First of all, the rule says that at least one person living in the unit must be over 55 so people of all ages can move in, and people over 55 party too. I don’t think it’s going to be some old fogies moving into the arts district telling everyone to turn down their music and stay off their lawns. I think it will be artists and the like moving in looking to live in a vibrant and eventful arts community.
