Phoenix City Council Approves Framework for Growth Along Rio Salado Corridor

Phoenix Mayor and City Council approved the Rio Salado District Policy Plan, marking a significant milestone in the City’s long-term vision to transform the Rio Salado corridor. The approval, which comes after an extensive planning and public engagement process, advances RIO PHX, a City-led planning initiative that seeks to reconnect residents with the Rio Salado while creating new opportunities for housing, employment, recreation, environmental restoration and community investment.

"Rio Reimagined is a regional commitment to honor the river that gave life to our community, and RIO PHX sets the course to uplift this special riparian corridor as it winds through the heart of Phoenix,” Mayor Kate Gallego said. “This plan reflects the enthusiasm and ideas of our community members and translates vision into policy to ensure new development delivers opportunities for residents to enjoy the Rio Salado for generations."

The Rio Salado District is the first planning area within the larger RIO PHX initiative, which envisions the transformation of approximately 20 miles of the Rio Salado corridor through Phoenix. Located just south of Downtown, the area encompasses a diverse mix of established neighborhoods, businesses, industrial properties and natural spaces.

“The Rio Salado District Policy Plan gives us an opportunity to think intentionally about how the area develops, how we connect residents to the Rio, and how we create more vibrant neighborhoods," Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington said. "I appreciate the extensive community engagement and collaboration that helped shape this plan and for the community's emphasis on including residential opportunities as part of the plan. This is an exciting step forward for community-driven investment in the Rio Salado area.”

The newly approved policy plan provides a long-term framework to guide future development and investment in the area. It emphasizes strengthening connections between neighborhoods, supporting economic growth and redevelopment, expanding access to public spaces and recreational opportunities, and protecting the area’s natural resources. The plan also prioritizes preserving neighborhood character and ensuring existing communities benefit from future growth and investment.

“As we move this historic plan forward, we are not only honoring a combination of legacy from my late father lifelong passion and vision, and many others but also recognizing the generations of working-class families whose stories are deeply rooted in this corridor," District 4 Councilwoman Laura Pastor said. "Our responsibility is to ensure that future growth respects that rich history, protects the character of our neighborhoods, and places community voices at the heart of every decision. This is more than a development plan. It is an opportunity to reconnect communities and build a future that honors our past.”

Alongside the policy plan, the City Council approved an associated amendment to the City’s General Plan Land Use Map, aligning future land use guidance with the district’s long-term vision. Together, they provide a framework to guide future planning decisions in the district. The approval does not authorize individual development projects or change existing zoning.

“For generations, the City of Phoenix made choices that harmed the communities along the Rio Salado. It drew lines that kept Black and Latino families out of the north side, withheld basic infrastructure, and routed Interstate 17 through the neighborhoods that were left," said District 7 Councilwoman Anna Hernandez. "Residents here know what it looks like when growth happens to a community instead of with it. With this plan, the City has a chance to do it differently. I'll be holding us to that, from the first development deal to the last.”

This approval builds upon the regional Rio Reimagined initiative, which seeks to restore, connect and activate the Salt and Gila river corridors as community and environmental assets. With the policy plan approved, the City can begin moving from long-term planning toward implementation.

Future efforts will involve continued coordination with residents, property owners, public agencies and community partners to advance the plan’s recommendations and identify opportunities for investment and improvements.

To learn more about RIO PHX, visit Phoenix.gov/pdd/riophx.