Phoenix's Roosevelt Row to get better lighting, walkways
By Stacia Affelt
azcentral.com
Mon Dec 16, 2013
Phoenix will add more than 30 street lights along the Roosevelt Row arts district next year, a move business owners and community leaders say they have requested for years.
The restaurants, boutiques and art galleries from Central Avenue to Fourth Street will benefit from increased pedestrian safety and customer traffic, community leaders said.
The city estimates it will install seven new roadway lights and 28 new pedestrian lights beginning in April.
The city’s Street Transportation Department began planning the Roosevelt Row Pedestrian Project about eight years ago with the help of community members and business owners.
But the city could not devote the $750,000 needed to fund the project, which also includes street improvements, until now.
“This corridor has had a lot of activity over the years,” principal planner Mark Melnychenko said. “We know it needs to be upgraded, too, for our lighting standards.”
‘Funding is scarce’
Installing lighting on a single street in downtown Phoenix costs thousands of dollars and must meet city standards and use LED bulbs, according to the transportation department.
Phoenix maintains about 90,000 street lights, according to civil engineer Briiana Velez.
Velez said the city has an annual budget of about $2 million for maintenance costs and about $8.5 million for energy costs.
Melnychenko said the department has to be frugal and make decisions the community doesn’t always support, including postponing some projects.
That’s one reason there haven’t been improvements to Roosevelt Row, a district known for its cultural events and proximity to historical neighborhoods, Melnychenko said.
“Funding is very scarce right now,” Melnychenko said. “That’s why a lot of these improvements in the streets take so long.”
Generally, the city has developers decide if street lighting is needed and the developors pay for the lighting when they develop vacant lots, department spokesman Matthew Heil said.
But lighting standards were different when the Roosevelt Row area began its revitalization over a decade ago. The city might not have required as many lights or any lights at all, Velez said.
“So, if they were developed a long time ago, they obviously don’t meet our current standards,” Velez said.
One big difference for downtown now: The city requires the installation of pedestrian lighting, which illuminates the entire sidewalk, while street lighting covers the road.
Beyond downtown, the city generally doesn’t require pedestrian lighting because residents prefer darkness around their homes while they sleep, Velez said.
In the past year, Velez said the city required a move to LED lights. Heil said LED lights are about $300 more per light compared with standard lights, but the city saves more on energy in the long run.
Business owners want lights
Greg Esser, vice president of Roosevelt Row Community Development Corp. board, said it is important pedestrians feel safewalking in the Roosevelt Row district.
The corporation board is made up of activists, business owners and entrepreneurs.
In a recent community planning meeting, Esser said a survey conducted over the past year indicated that better lighting, sidewalks and right-of-way improvements were the main concerns.
“Our mission is to foster a dense, diverse, walkable and sustainable community,” Esser said. “Every pedestrian enhancement or every lighting and safety improvement that we can make helps lead towards realizing our mission.”
Joshua Hahn, co-owner of GROWop Handmade and Found clothing store, on Sixth Street, said the street lighting would make the street more welcoming and inviting for people to shop.
Hahn said the lack of lighting has kept people from walking toward his street or even noticing the building.
“That’s why we’ve gone ahead and hung our own lighting, just to brighten up our corner,” Hahn said. “It would be nice to have the whole street lit up the same way.”
He said he would consider keeping his store open later once there is more pedestrian traffic. Now, shoppers head back to the suburbs once the sun goes down, Hahn said.
Erin Carroll, owner of Songbird Coffee and Tea House, on Roosevelt Street, said her major concern with the current lighting is for employees who walk to their cars or homes after the business closes at 10 p.m.
She said taking out the trash is also troubling because the alleyway is so dark.
Songbird has a bus stop in front of the building, which Carroll said would bring more customers in if not for poor lighting and seating.
“It’s not a friendly place,” Carroll said.
Roosevelt pedestrian project
The city project will include improvements to sidewalks, parking and landscaping, according to the transportation department.
The city plans to narrow the road to create wider sidewalks and make room for pedestrian amenities, such as shade trees, benches and bike racks.
“We’ve been working very diligently in working with the community and getting their input on these improvements,” Melnychenko said.
Melnychenko said department employees went out to observe the area.
People have strong opinions about whether the city should have more lighting or less lighting. They also have opinions about the different kinds of lighting the city should install, Heil said.
“Downtown lighting is a sensitive subject,” Heil said. “We’re often trying to balance community opinion.”
Esser said Roosevelt Row is working with the city to ensure the improvements allow for more “district identity.” Right now, he said the community lacks cohesion because there are different lights on either side of each street.
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