West Phoenix Revitalization Area Healthy Homes Partnership

The following is a description of these awards.

Neighborhood Resource Center NAHRO Award of Merit

The Phoenix intersection of 24th Street and East Broadway had a notorious history for crime and urban decay. Residents and civic leaders approached this challenge by creating the South Phoenix Village Neighborhood Initiative Area. The comprehensive revitalization strategy envisioned creation of a vibrant, multi-cultural, commercial "gateway" at this intersection, known as the "Four Corners".

In December 2006 the cornerstone of the Four Corners revitalization was set with the completion of the Neighborhood Resource Center. The 13,000 s.f. center represents a partnership between the community, NSD, and the Police Department. The land was purchased with federal Community Development Block Grant funds. The majority of the $3.5 million construction cost was funded with General Obligation Bonds approved by Phoenix citizens in the 2001 Bond Election.

The project successfully addresses three critical needs identified by the community:

1. Increase availability of community meeting space
2. Improve public safety
3. Improve access to city staff working in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The new facility accommodates these needs with meeting spaces available for community use, a 24/7 neighborhood police substation, and office capacity for 20 Neighborhood Services staff, including Neighborhood Specialists, Preservation Inspectors and Community Workers. The NRC marks the beginning of the development of a 10-acre master planned site to create a "community campus" on the southeast quadrant of 24th Street and Broadway with opportunities for recreation, education and cultural exchange. The campus also creates a catalyst for future commercial development on the remaining three corners.

The development concept of the Four Corners is to design and configure structures to "frame" the intersection as a gateway and create a vibrant, multicultural environment with a unique "sense of place". Landscaping further accentuates the site and creates pedestrian connections within the Four Corners and to the surrounding community. Integrated into the site plan is a multi-use pedestrian trail that links two major destination recreational areas: the 5mile, 580-acre, Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area and the 17,000-acre South Mountain Regional Park.





Village Center Neighborhood Initiative Area NAHRO Award of Merit

The Village Center Neighborhood Initiative Area program exemplifies NSD’s strategy of concentrating resources in target geographical target areas to achieve sustainable revitalization. A three prong approach is used consisting of physical and economic improvements and targeted social services. The results for Village Center were as follows:

Physical - The City and various CBDO’s used HUD funds, the Youthbuild program, bond funds, and private investment for 17 affordable infill homes, over 100 housing rehabilitations, an award-winning 36 unit apartment complex for low income seniors, and 8 housing reconstructions. Proactive property maintenance code enforcement and education brought 1,200 properties back into compliance. Prioritized by the community, the City acquired and demolished blighted, multi-family rental properties used as drug and crime havens. New infill homes and senior housing took their place, raising neighborhood confidence and pride, bringing in stable and responsible families, and adding beauty to the neighborhood. The City provided infrastructure improvements as part of the residential redevelopment.

Economic - Commercial redevelopment was very important to the comprehensive revitalization strategy for the Village Center Neighborhood. The City of Phoenix in coordination with the community planning committee used CDBG funds to leverage partnerships and resources with the private sector and with bond funds. Five new commercial developments, three storefront improvements, and major commercial infrastructure improvements were completed. Businesses received technical assistance on improving their properties. To date 189 jobs for low/moderate income persons have been created as a result of the original commercial reinvestment. In addition the Phoenix Arts Commission worked with the community and project sponsors to develop public artwork which together with the streetscape improvements serve as an entry gateway and unique identity for the area.

Social - The Sunnyslope Village Association and Sunnyslope Village Revitalization used Central Avenue Art CDBG funds to partner with the Sunnyslope Village Weed and Seed program and the Phoenix Police Department to organize residents and businesses. Capacity building was provided to enable the partnership achieve a 25% reduction in property crime, a 15% reduction in overall crime, and provide self-sufficiency services to residents. Various at-risk young males received on the job training in constructing houses and personal and social development through the Youthbuild program. Another non-profit agency, Neighborhood Housing Services, provided financial counseling to enable local families to qualify for the new infill homes. In addition thousands of graffiti sites were painted by the City’s Graffiti Busters program and local residents and businesses.

It is estimated that the rebirth of the Village Center NIA directly benefited most of its 43,000 residents, especially the low income families, elderly and disabled that now enjoy more accessible services in a safer, stable and vibrant community. Perhaps the most unique element of the revitalization program was the way the various partners and resources energized and worked together to heighten the impact of the program on the community.



West Phoenix Revitalization Area Healthy Homes Partnership NAHRO Award of Merit

NSD - In this program, NSD used a State Housing Fund Grant from the Arizona Department of Housing and a Healthy Homes Demonstration Program Grant for comprehensive housing rehab and health and safety interventions for families. The West Phoenix Revitalization Area was selected as the target area because of the demonstrated health and safety needs of children in Head Start programs, and the need for additional housing rehabilitation resources in the area. The effectiveness of the program was based on the integration of the following three elements:

1. - Health related housing rehab and repair which included lead testing and lead hazard control, replacement of carpet with hard flooring, painting, electrical, plumbing, swimming pool fencing, HVAC system repairs and other rehabilitation needs affecting the health and safety of families.

2. - Health related supplies such as mattress and pillow encasements, air filter machines, smoke detectors, locks for cupboards, doors and windows; food and chemical containers; stove knob covers; non-skid mats; vacuum cleaners and other equipment.

3. - Health education which included smoking cessation, cleaning to control dust, HVAC maintenance, proper laundering, prevention/treatment of mold, animals as asthma triggers, cockroach/pest treatment, appropriate food storage, electric shock prevention, fire escape plan, storage of medicines and household chemicals, emergency numbers, and referrals to other health resources.

An innovative partnership with Phoenix Children’s Hospital provided the health expertise and medical credibility needed for a successful program. A total of 15 families and their children benefited from the rehabilitation and other services under this model. In general, 97% of the families surveyed thought their home felt safer as a result of the project, 80% thought their children’s asthma was "much better" and 91% thought the reason for the change was due to improvements to the home.

This home assessment tool and strategies developed in this model program will serve as valuable tools for comprehensive housing rehabilitation and health programs in other communities and citywide.