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Opinion
June 20 - July 3, 2009 31
Publis
Community
Note
her’s
Commentary
Narrowing AZ Ave. ill-timed
Initiative brings people
I like to think I’m a “big picture” person, who can sidewalks really for? Will they not encourage more
together to serve
look beyond my little corner of the world and envision day laborers and fewer shoppers?
what long-term projects need to be done for the Meanwhile, it seems nothing is being done to clean
by Mayor Boyd Dunn
greater good. up those “obsolete buildings” and old businesses. To
One of Chandler’s many strengths lies in its
But the current proposal to narrow Arizona me, this is just one more reason why the project is
diversity. We possess a wonderful mix of cultural,
Avenue – after widening it in 2002 – has me flawed and ill-timed. Wouldn’t it be better to clean up ethnic and faith communities that makes our City a
baffled. I’ve attended public meetings, read this area first, then consider improvements? Other
special one. This unique attribute is why I have started
the 2006 South Arizona Entry Corridor Study cities with similar less-than-attractive surroundings
a new initiative called “For our City – Chandler.”
by RNL Design of Phoenix, poured over the have spent millions for the sake of “improvements,”
The idea comes from Care INC., a group that has
www.ChandlersNewFrontDoor.com website, heard but discovered people still did not patronize the
presentations from Chamber officials to developers to area because it had not been cleaned up. Perhaps a
had success in other Arizona cities by bringing various
city employees and am still unable to see how this is program similar to the Downtown Improvement Fund
groups together to work with government to make
going to positively affect downtown. In fact, I fear it could be used to improve store fronts and signage,
the community a better place. The City of Chandler
is flawed and ill-timed, and will most negatively affect or eventually to purchase the land for different future is partnering with area faith groups, nonprofit
many of the businesses in the downtown area, both retail.
organizations, businesses and service clubs to break
during AND after the extensive construction. Many complain that traffic speeds down Arizona
down the walls that are dividing our community to
Disclosure: I also co-own a business in downtown Avenue, and some believe the narrowing will help
Chandler, Art on Boston Gallery, and construction slow down traffic. The speed limit is already 35 miles
work toward a better Chandler.
will most likely affect that business. But I also wrote an hour through part of downtown, yet it is rarely
We have assembled a strong host committee that is
about the widening of Arizona Avenue back in 2002 enforced. Photo radar and flashing speed signs would
led by local pastor and former Councilmember Kevin
for our newspaper, and remember when the lengthy be far less expensive ways to slow down traffic. Hartke. Two meetings have been held to date and
work adversely affected many businesses downtown. The current economic downtown – with little
we have had some incredible dialogue – particularly
The 2006 RNL consultant study talks about a “new improvement in sight in the short or long-term future
among members of the faith community – on ways
entryway to downtown” is needed from the Santan – is yet another reason why I believe this project is ill-
Loop 202 Freeway. (In our story on June 15, 2002, we timed. Many businesses, including Art on Boston, are
to make this initiative a lasting one. Pastor Hartke
wrote how they City also wanted a new “Welcome to barely holding on as it is. If approved, construction
astutely defined the purpose of the group when he
Chandler” gateway.) RNL discusses how the portion would start sometime in early 2010, and chances are
said:
from Pecos to Boston is “not attractive” to most of good that restricted traffic due to construction and “When we define a city as its people, then we all
the residents in the city, and how the lack of property other customers avoiding the area will have a grave have the same goal.”
maintenance, numerous obsolete buildings, and impact on historic downtown Chandler. This after
At our last event we discussed many things to better
presence of day laborers “will continue to deter any the locally-owned businesses there have just been
define the initiative. They included topics like the
significant retail development in the area.” They talk reaching a synergy, and East Valley residents have
about “spurring quality redevelopment,” “facilitating started discovering that downtown Chandler is a
value of working together to serve the community,
private development” and creating a “better pretty cool place to be.
identifying the greatest current needs of the City
pedestrian experience.” (In the same 2002 article, we I’m sure after spending significant taxpayer dollars
and how we can serve together to address those
wrote “Downtown, sidewalks along Arizona Avenue on the 2006 study, the City feels as if they need to go concerns. It was good to see that the partners are not
between Buffalo and Boston Street will be widened, along with the recommendations of RNL. But it would
just interested in meeting the needs of Chandler, but
so the City can become ‘more pedestrian friendly.’”) be interesting to know how RNL’s suggestions have
going beyond to build an asset-based coalition that
So, City staff is proposing to City Council to spend fared in other cities.
about $9 million to narrow Arizona Avenue to two Probably most disturbing is that I have yet to hear
put the tools of opportunity in place to allow us to
lanes in each direction, remove the dedicated left a good answer about why the City spent $5.9 million
succeed for decades to come.
turn lanes, widen sidewalks, and add more street in 2002 to widen Arizona Avenue in the first place.
A driving force of this plan will be to create
parking and bike lanes. This would reduce the I’ve heard a high-ranking Chamber official claim the volunteer opportunities across the City, enlisting a
number of cars that travel up and down Arizona City said “it was a mistake.” I’ve heard a developer
number of groups working together with common
Avenue in the downtown area from the current say they “fought it tooth and nail” but it still went
goals. This becomes particularly important in these
33,000 cars per day to 29,000 cars per day, and could forward. I’ve seen multiple other City officials shrug
hard economic times. Chandler has a long history
reduce the speed limit from the current 35 miles per their shoulders and say “I don’t know.”
hour to 25 in certain areas. The City Council will dedicate its June 22 study
of successful volunteer events that have involved
The biggest red flag to me is the suggestion to session to this topic, and then will vote on the
church and service groups working through our
remove the dedicated left turn lane. The plans call “concept” on June 25. I think there are too many
Neighborhood Resources division. But many of
for double yellow lines down Arizona Avenue, which unanswered questions to move forward with these have been events with just one sponsoring
the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division says are not to a project of this magnitude and in this current
group. Imagine the possibilities of a dozen different
be crossed. How are people going to turn into all economy. The economic downturn might be helping
organizations working hand in hand to tackle
the businesses south of Boston Street, like NY Deli, the new City Hall construction save money, but this
the Mobil station, Hontech, PepBoys, Cricket and project could easily be put on hold for another two to
significant projects throughout Chandler. That will be
more? You know people will still try to turn left over three years and reconsidered when times are better.
a very powerful tool of For Our City – Chandler. And
the double yellow lines, and will just hold up traffic Thanks for reading the SanTan Sun News.
it will ease the burden of the City’s ongoing budget
behind them for blocks, causing potential accidents issues to some degree.
as well.
Plans are also in the works to develop a community
In addition, there is already street parking along
website to list volunteer opportunities. This will be a
much of Arizona Avenue. Some areas currently
great tool to bring together groups to do even more
have “no stopping” and “no parking” signs mostly to
prohibit picking up of day laborers. What’s the plan
good work here in Chandler.
for the “no stopping” areas? And who are the wider
Laurie Fagen, PublisherLauru ie Fagen, Publisher
I encourage you to become involved in the For
Our City initiative. Our next event will be a breakfast
planned for June 30. If you are interested, or would
like to learn more, please call Chandler’s Diversity
Have a story idea or news tip? Know of an interesting photo opportunity? How
Administrator, Leah Powell, at 480-782-2217.
about positive feedback or constructive comments? We’d like to hear from you.
It is time we stop building walls, and begin to work
Email us at
News@SanTanSun.com.
together toward a better Chandler.
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