Desert Mission Neighborhood Renewal

Community Economic Development Summary

Prepared by Innovative Urban Solutions
2015-2016
S ince May of 2015, Innovative Urban Solutions
has assisted Desert Mission Neighborhood Re-
newal reach small businesses, increase survey
participation, track event participation, help
plan the Sunnyslope Community Economic
Development Summit, and provide follow-up
services after the Summit. The work has included
countless foot-miles traveled door-to-door
reaching out directly to businesses, non-profits,
residents, and City officials.
Successes have included:
more than 280 businesses participating in
the survey
unprecedented attendance at the
Summit
new, effective relationships with city,
business, faith, and nonprofit institutions
stronger, more resilient business
community
increased attention to homeless issues
working groups achieving set goals
police bike unit presence increased in
area
development of the Hatcher Road Busi-
ness Coalition and Street Feeding Collabora-
tive Groups
St. Joseph the Worker employment
center in development
and more!
Desert Mission and the John C. Lincoln Hospital
historically have been the principal advocates
and supporters of the Sunnyslope area. John C
Lincoln / Desert Mission have directly led and
developed community events, revitalization, and
economic development activities. As the work
continues to evolve, HonorHealth / DMNR should
work to transition leadership to neighborhood
leaders and advocates with the support and
depth uniquely available from HonorHealth. At
this moment, Honor Health is uniquely situated to
become the thought leader and first contact for
comprehensive community health services in the
Sunnyslope area. The area has a unique sense of
place and an active community that is ready to
be self-guiding.
HonorHealth must remain as the
convening agency and catalyst
in the community. It is in the
best interest of the organization
to entrench themselves as a
partner in the neighborhood to
advance improvements in the
built environment and social
determinants of health.
Desert Mission and HonorHealth can support the
creation of strong partnerships between key
Sunnyslope stakeholders and the creation of
sustainable, self-reliant business and neighbor-
hood groups that work in partnership with Desert
Mission and Honor Health. These coalitions will
then be able to tackle the many challenges
outlined in the Community Health Needs Assess-
ment, supporting both the hospital and the
communitys goals.
Desert Mission Neighborhood Renewal's Com-
munity Economic Development work began on
May 15, 2015. It was focused on understanding
how to reposition Desert Mission. The first task
was to develop a business needs and percep-
tions survey ending in an Economic Develop-
ment Summit. The idea behind this survey and
Summit was to have Desert Mission / Honor
Health re-engage with the community and
understand how the organizations could be-
come a voice of the community and go-to
source for community and health services.
Business Survey and Promotion for the
Sunnyslope Economic Development Summit
Survey outreach began on May 15th and ended
on June 18th, 2015 with the Economic Summit.
Out of the Summit groups were established to
start the process of building strong community
partners that would support the work of revitaliz-
ing Sunnyslope and support addressing the
Health Impact Assessment needs.
More than 280 businesses were surveyed, as well
as contact information on more than 500 busi-
nesses. Complete results from the survey were
lost in the Desert Mission Neighborhood Renewal
transition process, but highlights from the results
include:
96% of all respondent businesses are
locally owned
74% have only one location
70% have five or fewer employees
32% have been in operation for more
than 20 years
65% have been in operation for five or
more years
Businesses have a diverse geographic
customer base --only 26% of businesses report
that at least half of their business comes from
the Sunnyslope area, while 25% of businesses
report that less than 10% of their business
comes from the area.
87% of businesses note that they think
their business prospects are
stable or seeing some or
good growth.
43% of businesses
noted the are planning on
expanding their services in the locally
next 1-3 years
9% are looking at expand- owned
ing the number of locations
17% are planning on investing in their
building in the next 1-3 years
89% of businesses feel theyre ready to
grow
42% of businesses feel the neighborhood
is neither good or bad for making their cus-
tomers feel welcome, 34% feel the neighbor-
hood is unwelcoming, while 24% felt the area
was welcoming.
The survey results, as well as the substantial
attendance for the Summit indicate that the
business environment in the area is stronger than
expected and, with work, has strong potential to
lead the area with increased profitability, job
growth and reinvestment.
The Sunnyslope Economic Development Sum-
mit, held on June 18, 2015, was held to reinvig-
orate relationships with Sunnyslope businesses
and to check in on issues that may be present-
ing, informed by the survey work and conversa-
tions held over previous months.
Outcomes
97 people attended, representing more
than 70 area businesses
Three community-driven groups were
initiated:
Sunnyslope Development Opportunities
Committee
Sunnyslope Business Networking Commit-
tee
Sunnyslope Homeless & Transient Popula-
tion Committee (highest attended)
Results: A large value to the survey and summit
project has been that the people and the
businesses are seeing people in the community
and showing up to things representing Desert
Mission. Three community groups were estab-
lished at the summit, evidence of the business
owners taking initiative and ownership of the
issues in the community and their solutions.
Sunnyslope Development Opportunities
Committee
The Sunnyslope Development Opportunities
Committee was established by businesses to
assess properties in the area that may be able
to be improved by property owners, be a
neighbors-helping-neighbors organization and
to prevent a code-compliance war. As well as
to provide a group for developers to meet with
and discuss working and developing in
Sunnyslope.
Staff from the City of Phoenix Neighborhood
Services Department, Economic Development,
and Council Member Bill Gates' office met with
community members, prospective land devel-
opers and business owners, as well as current
business owners. Two development projects
were discussed. Code and Police enforcement
strategies to address blight and crime to sup-
port the stabilization of Sunnyslope are being
developed.
HonorHealth Desert Mission role as facilitator
supported the development of vital relationship
between key stakeholders and creating strate-
gies to address concerns brought up by the
business community interested in invest the key
to developing and moderating relationships
and are considered a thought leader in quality
and development on Sunnyslope.
After more than half a year meeting, these
meetings were discontinued and rolled up into
other committees that better fit the goals gen-
erated.
Meetings: 07/09/15, 08/20/15, 09/17/15,
10/15/15, 11/17/15, (No meeting in Decem-
ber), 01/21/16, 02/18/16
Meetings focused on:
Properties in Sunnyslope in need of devel-
opment partners
New businesses needed in the neighbor-
hood
Opportunities to improve the Sunnyslope
brand
Marketing the excitement and overall
growth of Sunnyslope as the next "hot" neigh-
borhood
Sunnyslope Business Networking Committee
Every month a local business is patronized by this
group giving exposure and new customers to
the businesses
This Sunnyslope Business networking group was
created as a method for business owners to
meet up with fellow Sunnyslope business owners,
and businesses doing work in Sunnyslope, to talk
about joint ventures, projects, opportunities and
local sourcing for products and services.
The Sunnyslope Village Alliance is recruiting
members and actively promoting this partner-
ship between Honor Health Desert Mission. The
Sunnyslope Plus Magazine, a local businesses, is
running stories and community events in its
monthly magazine. Businesses owners have said
that this is a valuable resource that keeps them
connected to the surrounding business commu-
nity.
Meetings: 07/30/15, 08/27/15, 09/24/15,
10/22/15, 11/19/15, 12/12/15 (Community
BBQ) 12/17/15, 01/21/16, 02/25/16,
03/24/16, 04/21/16, 05/26/16, 06/23/16
Sunnyslope Homeless & Transient Population
Committee
Homelessness is a significant challenge in the
Sunnyslope area that is often seen as a hin-
drance to the redevelopment of the area. This
committee provided an opportunity for business
community members, homeless providers, and
homeless community members to meet and talk
about the challenges. To develop partnerships
that assure the safety of residents and day to
day operations of businesses are not hindered.
Supporting commercial corridors that are at-
tractive and active.
This meeting became a partnership with Phoe-
nix City Councilman Gates' Office, Neighbor-
hood Services Department, Saint Vincent De
Paul's Dining room (SVDP), the Phoenix Police
Bike Squad, various church groups, businesses,
and most importantly, homeless individuals in
the area of Hatcher Road and 10th Ave.
The Sunnyslope Homeless & Transient Population
Committee has now evolved into two organiza-
tions, the Hatcher Road Business Coalition and
the Street Feeding Collaborative. The Street
Feeding Collaborative is run by Sunnyslope Faith
Collaborative, Phoenix Police, and Human
Services. Separating the work of this Committee
into two groups has allowed each group to
grow and focus on their individual priorities.
City of Phoenix Police Department has become
a great partner in the area. Their work, initiated
about five to six months after the businesses
began organizing, has included completing
several cleanups of the 10th Avenue area,
including trash, shopping carts, bedding and
more. Police has also worked on proactive
enforcement along Hatcher Rd, coordinated
clean-ups with Sanitation along 10th Ave, col-
lected over 300 shopping carts directly or from
citizen complaints, worked closely with St. Vin-
cent de Paul to address issues, conduct out-
reach to the community every Wednesday
morning with Human Services, worked with
businesses to create Authority to Arrest for
Trespassers (ATA) to help with enforcement in
the area, increased arrests for misdemeanor
repeat offenders including 72 arrests between
February 2016 and October 2016 along Hatcher
Rd alone. PD has also initiated work with South-
west Behavioral Health to increase homeless
outreach and worked with Phoenix Parks &
Recreation.
A homeless group has been created to help
clean up messes and help to create a mindful-
ness amongst homeless individuals to work with
the businesses. It is thought that an LLC might
come out of this employing the individuals who
started it. SVDP has worked a social worker into
their food kitchen to evaluate people for rapid
rehousing and other services. SVDP has also
started to collect and clean out standing carts.
DMNR is partnering with St. Joseph the Worker to
have an employment center on our campus.
The police have created a special bike force to
attend to the Hatcher area. Family Services
attends and also offers services. Relationships
are being explored with two local churches and
possibly Vets on Patrol. Circle K has recently
become involved as a partner. IN addition, PD
has checked scrap yards for proper operation.
Meetings: 07/30/15, 08/24/15, 09/03/15,
10/01/15, 10/28/15, 11/05/15, 12/14/15,
01/21/16, (All following meetings refer to
the new groups Hatcher Road Business
Coalition and Street Feeding Collabora-
tive) 02/03/16, 02/09/16, 03/03/16,
04/07/16, 04/21/16, 06/09/16, 07/06/16,
07/14/16, 08/18/16
This work group is by far the most active, with
attendance varying from 20 to 40 at each
meeting.
Additional Events:
Tour De Sunnyslope - Special Event
Planning Meeting - 02/02/2016
Sunnyslope Bike & Talk - 03/01/2016
Tour de Sunnyslope - 04/23/2016
Developing the Question: A group of small
business owners began a series of meetings to
develop an organizing question to address next
steps in the neighborhood development pro-
cess. The group finalized the guiding ques-
tion: What are the resources required to make
Sunnyslope safe, clean, prosperous and attrac-
tive to new business?
Planning Session: Now that the organizing ques-
tion has been established for the group the
question is how do differing objectives focus
around the question? The group established a
number of priority areas under the guiding
question. Those areas are:
Development Marketing
Community Involvement
Resident Involvement Zoning / Code
Compliance / City response support
Community Assets Development
Problem Areas
Government Support
By the end of the contract, Innovative Urban
Solutions had organized small business groups,
involved the police and supportive services in
the community to work with business and the
homeless population to create solutions that
address underlying issues and protect the public
welfare.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Using Hatcher Road as the core and radiate
outward
1. Support Local Entrepreneurship
Support and Assist Local organizations
such as Sunnyslope Village Alliance, Local
First Arizona, 19 North, North Mountain Busi-
ness Alliance in growing Area business.
Provide technical assistance & support to
currently operating businesses and reach out
to refugee & immigrant owned businesses.
Continue to assist / take part in communi-
ty events such as the Crystal Princess and the
Sunnyslope Art Walk. Encourage all procure-
ment done by local businesses.
Assist in Promoting and marketing local
businesses and local business activities to
civic groups and schools.
Assist in promoting & Marketing local
businesses to new and renovated apart-
ments and tenants.
Start to think about building an area
brand or identity. (Hatcher Road being the
center)
2. Create Readiness for Investment & Develop-
ment
Engage civic organizations & local institu-
tions in ongoing coordinated cleanup & fix
up programs.
Promote & Support storefront improve-
ments & facade renovations on the corridor
Establish joint community / business pub-
lic safety programs
Regularly communicate positive stories &
improvements to residents, businesses & area
users.
Desert Mission, or equivalent organiza-
tion, should to continue to be the convener
of voices for both the businesses and com-
munity in general
3. Focus Development Efforts to Maximize
impact
Concentrate on Key nodes: Hatcher
Road at 7th St, Central, 7th Ave, 19th Ave,
North side of Hatcher between 7th St and
 Central clean up, build upon canal connec-
tions, direct good fits for empty land in area,
work with owners to promote clean & safe.
Support quality businesses & target im-
provement around them.
Fill vacancies in quality and renovated
shopping centers & office buildings first
While not listed in the last Community
Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive
housing strategy for the neighborhood, as
well as a non-profit advocate to support this
need.
4. Remember to think of an exit plan for all
projects
Support local community groups & organ-
izations and help them to take leadership
Support small businesses in taking initiative
to upgrade their property and encourage
their neighbors to do the same.
Use HonorHealth / John C Lincoln lever-
age to encourage larger area players to be
involved in the reinvention of the area.
CONCLUSION
As the organization with the largest footprint
and largest employer in the area, it is important
that HonorHealth Desert Mission remain involved
in community & economic development in the
area. HonorHealth Desert Mission has the ca-
pacity and the infrastructure to address chal-
lenges facing disadvantaged communities and
not just in the areas of housing, education, or
unemployment. In order to make meaningful
improvements in the lives of low-income individ-
uals and families, we must address all these
areasand morein an integrated way. A
single, trusted, local organization like DMNR who
is in the position to integrate antipoverty work
across a region, can bring together multiple
partners to collaborate together and achieve
shared goals.
Individual businesses do not necessarily need a
large range of free services to thrive; in fact,
various combinations of technical assistance,
knowledge of city services, and a community
convener can affect equally positive corridor
development.
The business owners of Sunnyslope, using
Hatcher Road as a center point, need contin-
ued exposure to the councilmembers office,
useful city programs, training on how to be self
reliant in creating a sense of place, and oppor-
tunities to attract and retain new customers
from surrounding areas.
There are many young people in the area that
could be engaged on a greater level, utilizing
their energy to get community projects done
while providing them experience and creating
community buy in.
Because of the long history of work in the area,
Desert Mission and HonorHealth are at the cusp
of becoming deeply impactful community
thought leaders, directly addressing the social
determinants of health in Sunnyslope and are
uniquely positioned to become the first contact
for comprehensive community health services in
the Sunnyslope area.
order to thrive and continue on its upward
trajectory, it needs continued investment and
help with coordination. Businesses and residents
have shown interest and support for these
efforts. The area has a unique sense of place
and an active community that is ready to be
self-guiding. The community and businesses are
ready to take the reins and lead Sunnyslope into
a healthier, more prosperous future with the
support and backing of a strong partner like
HonorHealth Desert Mission.

The Sunnyslope neighborhood is a diamond in

the rough in the city of Phoenix with a strong
sense of community and history. The majority of
businesses in the area are unique and long-
standing survivors of many economic changes.
The neighborhoods are well established and
when they work together they have the ability to
get things done. The increased attention by the
various departments from the City of Phoenix led
by Desert Mission and Councilmember Gates
office has had a significant impact -- increasing
civic engagement by residents and business
owners, as well as bringing significant additional
resources to help the transient population.

HHDM has a long history of involvement. The

neighborhood has come a long way, but in

GO