2019
FALL 2019
Thank you all for your support on stopping the proposed Valvoline shop at McClintock and Warner. We do not believe that this project is the best fit for our community. The services offered are redundant with many locally-owned auto repair centers within close proximity of the proposed location.
On September 24th, 2019, the City of Tempe’s Development Review Commission (DRC) heard the applicant’s plans on opening up a lube shop. After considering the community response to the proposal, the DRC rejected the application. Then on Thursday, November 7th, City Council heard an appeal to that earlier ruling. Council also listened to the concerns from the many neighbors who attended the meeting. They also considered the 100s of emails that they received from South Tempe residents. The City Council unanimously voted to reject the appeal.
Thank you!
- Mark Mitchell, Mayor.
- Lauren Kuby, Vice Mayor.
- Jennifer Adams, Councilmember.
- Robin Arredondo-Savage, Councilmember.
- Arlene Chin, Councilmember.
- Randy Keating, Councilmember.
- Joel Navarro, Councilmember.
FACT: For this campaign, 800-1000 neighbors in South Tempe engaged by signing an online petition, contacting their elected officials, and voicing their concern in a public fora. Arguably, South Tempe is one of the most engaged communities in metropolitan Phoenix.
SPRING 2019
We launched three campaigns in South Tempe. We are fighting an oil change megashop and a Cane’s Fried Chicken, because both are chains and boring. Boo! Then, we fought against a vape shop from re-opening (???) at Kyrene and Warner.
This vape shop was an issue because the original vape shop was able to open without any community hearing at all–City of Tempe dropped the ball on this one. Then when the new owners applied for a new license, it was clear that the city didn’t even know there was a smoke shop in operation at that location. So, basically, “you don’t have to follow the rules if you come back and say you are sorry.” This is a bad thing.
SUMMER 2019
Unfortunately, we were not successful in stopping either the re-opened vape shop or Cane’s. The vape shop was in reasonable standing, and probably the City of Tempe was too embarrassed to make a scene and kick them out.
Canes? We didn’t have much hope on this project because there was no public forum for neighbors to express their opinion. The existing “zoning and use” already matched Cane’s, so they got the thumbs up from the city.
However, we are still fighting against Valvoline.
2018
- A second vape store tried and failed to open up shop at Rural and Elliot
- We gladly welcomed Sprouts to Rural and Elliot. 🎉
- We celebrated as three new cool restaurants opened at Rural and Warner: Ghost Ranch, Tempe Public Market, and Cotton & Copper. 🍻
2017
In 2017, we discouraged a vapor shop from opening up on the SE corner of McClintock and Warner. We met with business owners in the center, including reaching out to Bashas’ HQ. We recieved over 400 signatures from 15+ South Tempe neighborhoods. Many of those same neighbors came and spoke up at the Public Hearing, Leading into the hearing, the city planner had recommended that the Design Review team approve the shop for opening.
The applicant was exposed for selling tobacco to minors.
2015
In 2015, in our first grassroots effort, we discouraged Goodwill from opening up shop on the NEC of McClintock and Warner. At the time, the shopping center had many vacancies. The property management was excited to get an anchor. At the public hearing, we discredited their claim of investing a “million dollars” in the shopping center. (It appeared as though the attorneys had never actually been to the shopping center.)
After the hearing, we put the friction on Goodwill, property managers, and the attorneys that represented their cause. After months of effort, Goodwill withdrew their application. They went on to open up on Ray and Rural in Chandler.
Today (2019), the would-be Goodwill is now a very successful EOS fitness. It’s a high quality fitness center with excellent amenities: group fitness, cycling, pool, movie theater, childcare… everything! It’s so successful that they are opening up a second fitness center only 2 miles away. And the shopping center is doing quite well.
