Journey Through the Phoenix Historic Districts: Roosevelt Historic District Revitalizes Phoenix

Roosevelt Historic District Revitalizes Phoenix:

A few years ago, Maria Capogreco’s friends told her she was taking a big chance opening a deli in the Roosevelt Historic District. But she had faith in the future of what once was – and soon would be again – a thriving urban neighborhood. She was right.

The former working class community had been a streetcar neighborhood during its heyday between 1895 and 1930. The area saw both California and Craftsman bungalow styles built on the narrow, deep lots along its streets. During years of decline, the neighborhood seemed destined to be a blight on Phoenix, but caring residents had another plan.

Many other neighborhoods have become historic districts, but Roosevelt led the way in 1986 as the first to earn that designation. Phoenix officials now point to Roosevelt, which is bounded by McDowell Road, Fillmore Street, Central Avenue and Seventh Avenue, as a model for turning around sagging urban areas by enlisting residents to work with cities as they revitalize communities.

Roosevelt’s renewal meshed very well with the city’s progress in redeveloping downtown. The light-rail system was designed to run right through Roosevelt on Central Avenue, and nearby the downtown campus of Arizona State University was in expansion mode. Add to that new housing, hotels, and a University of Arizona medical school, and you have a lively area. All this activity is intended to bring people back downtown to the rejuvenated city core…and it’s working.

Redevelopment on this scale takes money, and the city worked with business owners, developers, and residents to find the money needed. Federal Community Development Block Grants and Phoenix bond monies fueled the work, but private investors spent ten times more investing in the future of Roosevelt. With new lofts and storefronts, restored historic buildings and rehabilitated housing, Roosevelt is now a thriving urban neighborhood. More than 200 buildings have been renovated, and tree-lined streets welcome visitors to Phoenix’s popular art walk events, First Fridays.

There have always been artists in Roosevelt, and one whose work you can’t miss is Robert J. Miley. His work is seen throughout the world in public and private spaces, and we have several of his sculptures right here. One especially inspiring work is “Release the Fear,” located on Central Avenue.

Miley is a founder/organizer of Release the Fear, a community organization that seeks to heal those hurt by violence. It is a grass roots, non-profit organization whose mission is: “To reverse the paralyzing effects of violence in our communities by promoting healthy resolution of conflict through the healing power of education through art.” Miley’s 22-foot tall sculpture of collected, melted-down weapons symbolizes this awakening.

The Roosevelt historic district has come a long way in the last half-dozen years, and is now a desirable home and business area in the rejuvenated core of Phoenix.