Our Neighborhood Fall 2016

In 2015, the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) received approval to construct 121 quality and energy-efficient single-family homes for homeownership in the South Phoenix Village (SPV) Neighborhood Initiative Area in order to increase sustainability of the area. This area is located between Broadway to Roeser roads and 24 to 32 streets. Construction is set to begin in the fall of 2016 beginning with the 1,314 square foot plan.

The infill project’s goal is to increase sustainability in the SPV neighborhood by increasing owner occupancy within the project area while achieving quality housing by building new, energy efficient, single-family homes at an affordable price. This will improve overall market area conditions and support the Four Corners Conceptual Plan for the mixed use and commercial redevelopment planned for the nearby intersection at 24 Street and Broadway Road.

NSD has teamed up with FSL Real Estate Services (FSL) through a Request for Proposal to construct the new infill homes.

NSD and FSL recognize that neighborhood revitalization and community development consists of more than just building homes. Health, education, jobs and housing are all intertwined and

must be simultaneously addressed in order for the neighborhood to thrive. Because of this, FSL’s model home complex will serve as a “one stop shop” not only for sales information, but for information on community resources as well.

A groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate new 121 home development, was held on Sept. 27 and was over 100 community members, stakeholders and city staff attended the event.

Did you know your home might have hidden dangers to your children’s health? Ask yourself: Is the air in your home clean and healthy? Is there lead in your home? NSD received funds from HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control to provide grants through the Lead Hazard Control Program (LHCP) to help homeowners, landlords and tenants in target areas control lead hazards and integrate healthy homes concepts, ensuring a healthy home. Residents who qualify will receive healthy homes education and free housing remediation focused on the seven principles of a healthy home: Keep it Dry: Prevent water from entering your home.

Keep it Clean: Control the source of dust and contaminants; use effective wet-cleaning methods. Keep it Safe: Store poisons out of reach of children and properly label. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep fire extinguishers on hand. Keep it Well-Ventilated: Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens. Keep it Pest-free: Seal cracks and openings throughout the home; store food in pest-resistant containers. Keep it Well-Maintained: Inspect, clean and repair your home routinely. Take care of minor repairs and problems before they become large repairs and problems. Keep it Contaminant-Free: Reduce lead-related hazards in pre-1978 homes by fixing deteriorated

paint, and keeping floors and window areas clean. To qualify for assistance, residents must have a low-to-moderate income level, must have a child under six or a pregnant woman living in the home, reside in one of the target areas, and the residence must have been built before 1978. For further information about qualifications or the program, call 602-534-4444.

Make plans to celebrate one of the biggest bus and Dial-a-Ride service enhancements in the history of Phoenix – thanks to the voter-approved Transportation 2050 plan. This long-awaited day provides three more service hours every day of the week for local bus and Dial-a-Ride service,

and 30-minute frequency or less on all Phoenix local routes. So save the date! On the morning of Oct. 24, rider appreciation events will take place at several Phoenix transit centers to celebrate the day. For more information, visit Phoenix.gov/T2050.

Fall is the perfect time to take care of the little things that can make a big difference for you and your home. Each season your home goes through changes in temperature, weather conditions, and aging. In order to keep all the components of your home running smoothly, it’s helpful to conduct seasonal maintenance. Exterior of home. Inspect and clean gutters and downspouts to avoid water damage. Check outside faucets and hoses for leaks, fixing a leaky faucet can save you money on your water bill. Seal gaps and cracks around windows, stucco, trim, and doors with caulking. Adding weather-stripping to doors and windows will help the cold from entering your home and helps reduce pest infiltration. Yard care. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed. Trim trees a minimum of six feet away from roof areas and feed all plants and trees with appropriate nutrient based products. You may also visit: www.phoenix.gov/water for landscaping, water resources and

conservation information. Maintain your heating system. Regular replacement of filters will extend the life and efficiency of your central air system. Water heater maintenance. Water heaters need maintenance to increase longevity and provide energy savings. At least once per year, drain the water and clean the inside surface of your water heater. Check carbon monoxide and smoke alarm detectors. Replace the batteries in your detectors once a year; including hardwired detectors, which require batteries as a backup. Test your smoke alarms using the alarms' "test button." Adjust ceiling fan fixtures. Change rotation of ceiling fan blades to circulate air upwards creating an upward draft that redistributes warm air from the ceiling to living areas. These tips will help decrease your energy consumption, lower utility bills and protect your investment in your home and your neighborhood. For more information and tips, you may also visit: EnergySaver.gov.

One in four women and one in five teens in Arizona will experience domestic or dating violence in their lifetime. In October, the city of Phoenix will “Paint Phoenix Purple” in observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Phoenix is committed to becoming a national leader in preventing and responding to domestic violence. Residents can show their support for this annual campaign with displays of purple. Displaying purple throughout the community sends a strong message that there is no place for domestic violence in our homes, neighborhoods, schools or workplaces. “Paint Phoenix Purple” in support of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month by Installing a purple light bulb on your porch, wear purple clothing on Fridays or tie a purple ribbon on your tree and car antenna. Residents also can follow us on Twitter @PHXNeighborhood for facts and tips about domestic violence during the entire month of October. Together, we can raise awareness about domestic violence and its impact on families. For more information about the Paint Phoenix Purple campaign, visit paintphoenixpurple.org. If you or someone you know is in need of victim services, call the city’s Family Advocacy Center at 602-534-2120 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

G.A.I.N. (Getting Arizona Involved in

Neighborhoods) is a day for Arizona to join forces and promote

awareness, safety and neighborhood unity. G.A.I.N.

showcases the importance of police-

community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight for a safer

Arizona. On G.A.I.N. day, we invite neighborhoods to come together

and make their community a safer, better place to live.

G.A.I.N. will be on Saturday,

October 15, 2016 in neighborhoods throughout the

City of Phoenix.

Want to know the neighborhood

groups in your area? Visit

phoenix.gov/nsd/programs/neighborhood-coordination

This summer, I participated in the Tomorrow’s Involved Leaders Today (TILT) program. I was interested in learning about how to become a better leader. During the five week program, many different and unique people spoke to us and we also learned more about public speaking. During every class, we learned something new. Over time, we all developed more as both leaders and speakers. My favorite activity was True Colors. This was about personality types. Each personality had a color; blue, gold, orange, green. The blue personality type was kindhearted and thoughtful. Gold was traditional and responsible. Orange was wild and spontaneous. The green personality type was intelligent and intuitive. Once you’ve figured out your own personality types, then you can understand how to use your strengths when working with others. This class was extremely helpful. I feel that I am a more focused person because of TILT. The lessons I learned will

help me for years to come. Every class was a memorable experience, and the vision I have for my future is much clearer than before. Amelia Chapman, High School student

Love Your Block community, We wanted to take a moment to introduce ourselves. We are the new AmeriCorps VISTAs, Alyssa Hagerbrant and Aine Fitzgerald Coleman, serving in year two of the Cities of Service Love Your Block program in the Neighborhood Services Department. In the second year of the Love Your Block program, we will be building on the foundation set. This year, the Love Your Block program will award five community groups in low-income areas of Phoenix a $1,000 mini-grant. The awarded community groups can use the funds to make the changes they wish to see in their

neighborhoods through volunteer-driven and sustainable revitalization projects. Our grant application became available in October and we encourage all interested parties to reach out to us as early as possible. This fall, before our grant application deadline, we will be attending neighborhood meetings and community events to spread awareness about our program and help interested groups brainstorm project ideas. We will also provide technical support and grant writing assistance for any

groups looking to strengthen their grant applications. For more information about Love Your Block and/or to see if your neighborhood is within our boundary, check out hpnphx.org/cities-of-service/.