About N.32
What’s going on in the community?
Wondering about the latest updates in the 32nd St Revitalization project?
Check here for the latest updates.
What’s the story of the area known as “Dreamy Draw”?
Answer: I still find myself in awe when I drive through the Dreamy Draw — a mountain passage between Piestewa Peak and North Mountain. To me, It’s one of the finest mountain settings in the Valley because you drive right through it — and it’s smack-dab in the heart of Phoenix.
Was it the “dreamy” views that inspired such a label for the area?
I asked City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation spokesman Gregg Bach that very question. He explained that the name “Dreamy Draw” can be traced back to the mining operations that were active until the 1940s.
“Cinnabar, or mercury sulfide, was found in this area in the mid-1900s,” Bach said.
What were they doing with this stuff? At that time, mercury had many valuable uses, one of which was “curing of animal pelts in the manufacture of felt hats,” he explained.
However there was a drawback.
“Mercury is highly toxic and can cause neurological issues,” Bach said. “That is where the phrase ‘mad as a hatter’ comes from. That also is why it was named Dreamy Draw — as those who were working in the mines and coming in contact with that element were in a ‘dreamy’ state afterward.”
Travel through area
Traveling through this area was no cupcake at that time. So a freeway was proposed.
The planning of SR 51 dates back to 1955, with actual construction starting in 1986.
“State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) was first opened to Shea Boulevard in summer 1994,” Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Doug Nintzel said. “The Shea Boulevard bridge over the freeway was opened two years later, in summer 1996.”
It was a big deal. With each new exit added, the community celebrated. It quickly became a driving staple when needing to get to and from the north or south parts of the Valley.
Of course the main feature of this freeway was finally being able to drive through the Dreamy Draw mountain pass with ease.
UFO tales
Dreamy Draw’s namesake isn’t the only question that has been asked regarding the area. A while back someone wanted to know if there was any truth to the rumors of a UFO crash in this particular area.
Bach said a book written in the early 1950s by Frank Scully titled “Behind the Flying Saucers.” In this book, it “suggests that a UFO crashed in Dreamy Draw in 1947,” Bach said with a laugh “Jokingly, I can neither confirm or deny this.
“I suppose it’s urban legend dating back to when aliens and flying saucers were a trendy topic.”
Sounds like a fun story to pass down … even if it is more than likely fiction.
Popular recreation area
Here’s the nugget of truth in all of this — Dreamy Draw is … DREAMY! And beyond the beauty, there are other benefits to this area as well.
”The Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area (Piestewa Peak) and Dreamy Draw Recreation Area provide some of the city’s most popular hiking and outdoor recreation property,” Bach said.
From bike trails to hiking, from areas to sit and ponder to horse trails for trail riding, there’s a little something for everyone.
So go out and enjoy what’s right in our back yard.
For information, go to phoenix.gov: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/lo cations/piestewa-peak.
Recap on Medical Marijuana Dispensary
The community Meeting on Monday 10/26/15 at 6:00 was a great success.
We had over 100 neighbors come out to support and become educated on changes and issues in our community.
The issue that received the most attention was the Medical Marijuana Dispensary proposed at Shea & 32nd St.
It is time for the community to make their voices heard. Whether you are for or against this proposal, it is urgent that you speak up.
See the following conditions for use permit approval.
CONDITIONS FOR USE PERMIT APPROVAL:
A Use Permit is a request to allow a use which is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance provided that the use will not cause an adverse impact on adjacent property or properties in the area. The Zoning Administrator or Hearing Officer must find two (2) conditions exist in order to rule favorably on a Use Permit request. The burden of proof is with the applicant and the granting of a Use Permit is at the Zoning Administrator’s or Hearing Officer’s discretion. The two conditions are as follows:
- The use will not cause an adverse impact on adjacent property or properties in the area. Adverse impacts would include, for example: a significant increase in vehicular or pedestrian traffic in adjacent residential areas; emission of odor, dust, gas, noise, vibration, smoke, heat, or glare at a level exceeding ambient conditions; contribution in a measurable way to the deterioration of the area or contribution to the lowering of property values.
- The use will be in compliance with all provisions of the Zoning Ordinance and the laws of the City of Phoenix.
It has been determined that the applicant is in compliance with Zoning and City of Phoenix.
For example: A survey has been done and determined that Shadow Mountain High School is further away than the minimum distance required.
The remaining questions are:
Will it cause an adverse impact on the adjacent properties?
Will it have a significant increase in pedestrian or vehicular traffic in adjacent residential areas?
Will it emit odor, dust, gas, noise, vibration, smoke, heat, or glare at a level exceeding ambient conditions?
Will it contribute in a measurable way to the deterioration of the area or contribution to the lowering of property values?
Whether you are pro or con – these are the items that need to be addressed in any communication on this matter.
If you would like to send an email or letter, here is the contact person.
Please make sure any input references Zoning Adjustment Case No. ZA-421-15
Email: edward.keyser@phoenix.gov
Fax: 602-732-2075
Address: Zoning Adjustment Hearing Officer, 200 West Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85003
If you would like to be a part of a much bigger impact, you can attend the hearing on November 19th @ 1:30pm.
Address: 200 West Washington Street, 1st Floor Assembly Room C, Phoenix, Arizona 85003
There will be a Carpool of home owners, who are NOT in favor, meeting at 12:30 at Heritage Heights Clubhouse 3030 E Mission Ln to go to the hearing at City Hall.
Any questions about the carpool, please contact Kathy Landis at kathyaz@cox.net.
If you would like to learn more about the dispensary and their future plans, there will be an open house on… (Please See Attached Flyer)
5 housing projects breaking ground in Phoenix neighborhoods
Retrieved from www.AZCentral.com
Phoenix is in a building boom.
Cranes dot the downtown skyline as construction crews transform lots on nearly every major street. Housing projects run the gamut from apartments to townhouses, from the central city to the suburbs.
Some already are underway. Others will need more planning and approval before they break ground.
See what’s next for your neighborhood and if you see any projects you’re curious about, e-mail Brenna Goth at brenna.goth@arizonarepublic.com.
Downtown
- Project: Alta Fillmore.
- Developer: Wood Partners, LLC.
- Location: Fillmore Street and Seventh Avenue.
- What’s to come: The 4.1-acre project will include 230 apartment units. The company says the project will be walkable and bikeable to appeal to downtown professionals. One, two and three-bedroom units will range from 671 to 1,525 square feet.
- The neighborhood: Wood Partners is building on vacant land in the western part of downtown. The city owns adjacent land that also is slated for development.
- Timeline: Wood Partners already broke ground on the project and projects completion in 2017.
Downtown
- Project: en Hance Park.
- Developer: Sencorp.
- Location: First Street and Portland Street.
- What’s to come: The condominium project will include 49 units geared toward downtown professionals. Units range from 400 to 1,700 square feet and start at $150,000. The development also will include outdoor community space and a pool.
- The neighborhood: The project is across from Margaret T. Hance Park and near the Roosevelt Row arts district in downtown Phoenix. en Hance Park is one of several condominium projects underway in the area.
- Timeline: Sencorp expects to complete the project June 2016.
Midtown
- Project: Edison Midtown.
- Developer: Deco Communities.
- Location: Central Avenue and Monterey Way.
- What’s to come: The $40 million condominium project along the light rail line will include 110 units ranging from about 800 to 1,400 square feet. Prices start at about $240,000. The complex will include amenities such as a pool, a fitness center and electric car charging stations.
- The neighborhood: Phoenix economic development leaders see midtown as the city’s next hub of dense development, stretching north of downtown.
- Timeline: Developers expect to break ground on the project this fall and complete the condos in 2016.
Melrose District
- Project: The Curve at Melrose.
- Developer: P.B. Bell.
- Location: 7th Ave between Camelback and Indian School roads.
- What’s to come: The luxury apartment development will include 204 units as well as a pool, fitness center and parking.
- The neighborhood: The Melrose District in central Phoenix is known for local businesses and vintage shops anchored along Seventh Avenue.
- Timeline: The project expects to break ground in spring 2016 and end construction in 2018.
32nd Street Corridor
- Project: View 32.
- Developer: Watt Communities of Arizona.
- Location: 32nd Street and Shea Boulevard.
- What’s to come: View 32 will include 135 apartments on about 3.6 acres of land.
- The neighborhood: The 32nd Street corridor in north Phoenix is the focus of a city revitalization effort, including re-branding and infrastructure improvements like bike lanes. Watt has another project planned along 32nd Street and aims to create urban lifestyle options, according to the company.
- Timeline: Watt expects to begin construction in spring 2016 and complete the project in 2017.
Future light Rail Map and Movephx Campaign
I recently received this information from a representative of the MovePhx campaign which is in support of proposition 104. I am sending this out to the community as information. This is not an endorsement for prop 104.
According to the movephx.org group, “The population of Phoenix is projected to double in the next 30 years. That’s the same as moving the entire population of Denver into our city.” That is quite the expansion. Following the general rule of thumb, larger population, more traffic and transportation issues. Proposition 104 plans to combat the continuous growth in our city by expanding the light rail and bus routes. By the view of the the projected light rail expansion depicted in purple the light rail will follow Cactus Road until Paradise Valley Mall. The map indicates how everything will be connected and can display the benefits from this expansion. Showing the newly connected paths available also helps our students attending Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University.
I particularly found the map interesting with the proposed future light rail expansions. The closest that it will get to our neighborhood is from Cave Creek Road and Cactus Road eastbound to Paradise Valley Mall.
Click Here to find out more from MovePHX!
If you have any questions about the proposal or the attached information, please contact: Brian Irvine.
Cell: (602) 499-7208 Email: btirvine78@gmail.com