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Councilman Greg Stanton's
North Central News Column
September 2004
North Central Avenue Special Planning District
As a member of the Phoenix City Council Historic Preservation Subcommittee, I am committed to ensuring that the unique qualities of our established neighborhoods in Phoenix are protected. These neighborhoods, like North Central, represent the heart and soul of our city. That's why after more than two years of hard work by several community members and city staff, I was proud to support the North Central Avenue Special Planning District (SPD), a recently approved zoning overlay that will prove invaluable to the preservation of our North Central neighborhood.
Community members and staff worked to preserve the unrivaled character that makes North Central special among Valley neighborhoods. The neighborhood is noted for its historic homes, beautiful architecture, tree-lined streets and small town atmosphere. The area near North Central Avenue is home to large property lots and extensive front yards, which contribute to the lush landscaped appeal of the neighborhood. With Central Avenue as the neighborhood's most prominent road, preservation efforts were focused on the well-known and heavily traveled corridor between Missouri and Northern avenues.
Our neighborhoods will continue to grow and change and the North Central area will come under increased development pressure. By guiding future development along the North Central Avenue corridor in a manner consistent with existing historic homes and the surrounding neighborhood, the SPD zoning overlay will help balance change with preservation, and protect the character of our neighborhood.
The SPD will not settle all neighborhood disputes; and it is not a method to block community projects or change the underlying zoning for the area. Instead, the SPD is an important effort to preserve the long-standing unique character-the look and feel-of North Central Avenue by requiring significant neighborhood input on proposed development plans.
A great community win like the North Central SPD doesn't happen without a lot of work. Accordingly, a BIG thank you goes to North Central neighbor Mary Crozier and the all-volunteer Special Planning District committee for their time and commitment to this project. Thanks also to the wonderful churches along North Central Avenue, especially North Phoenix Baptist Church and Head Pastor Dan Yeary, for their willingness to contribute to the success of this effort. We are fortunate to have such great neighbors.
The North Central SPD is a perfect example of how neighbors and city government should work together. As a neighborhood advocate, I know the importance of proactive preservation efforts. Through teamwork and collaboration, we created a plan that respects the history and value of our North Central neighborhood.
If you have any questions about this or any other issue, as always, please feel free to call my office at 602-262-7491, send an e-mail to greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit my Web site at phoenix.gov/district6.
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