Commercial Corridor Revitalization
Healthy
retail activity is a sign of a healthy neighborhood. A bustling commercial district connects
residents to their community by bringing people out of their houses, onto
sidewalks, and into local businesses.
Building
on active community planning efforts, LISC Phoenix is partnering with State Farm
to jumpstart property improvements along two busy commercial corridors: Hatcher Road in
Sunnyslope and Main
Street in Mesa.
Sunnyslope’s Hatcher Road Improvement Committee is working to create a pedestrian-oriented streetscape with enhanced street lighting, street improvements, widened sidewalks and new landscape while encouraging economic development and design standards for businesses along the corridor.
“We now have more than $2 million committed to the revitalization of Hatcher Road” said Joel McCabe, Director of Desert Mission Neighborhood Renewal and chair of the Hatcher Road Improvement Committee. “It will take time but the end result will be a cohesive, attractive, and lively four-mile commercial corridor for Sunnyslope.”
The West Mesa CDC is working overtime to develop economic opportunities around the future light rail station on Main Street. Strategies include developing mixed-use commercial and housing projects, improving business facades, developing design standards, making loans to businesses, and planning for the potential light rail extensions farther east into downtown Mesa.
State Farm funding of $50,000 is leveraging millions of dollars for these two multi-year revitalization projects. LISC Phoenix continues to take part in planning efforts, providing technical assistance with development and financial feasibility analyses, strategic planning for implementation and identification of needed funding sources.
Revitalized commercial corridors impact the greater community by encouraging local business and employment opportunities, helping to spur new homeownership, and contributing to crime reduction. Stimulating local economic activity is one important LISC strategy that is helping to transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy sustainable communities of choice and opportunity.
Commercial Corridor Partners:
- Desert Mission Neighborhood Renewal
- West Mesa Community Development Corporation