Phoenix could f orce some senior citizens to leave their homes to make room for more apartments downtown, but, the early plan is to invite them back after construction.
In 1992, Phoenix built the Deck Park Vista apartment complex for low-income seniors just off 3rd Street, south of McDowell Road. Today, the downtown location is considered hot and so is the need for apartments that low and moderate income people can afford.
“The conditions are pretty perfect for redevelopment of this property at this time,” Housing Director Cindy Stotler told a council subcommittee Tuesday. “It is located in the highly desirable and nationally recognized Roosevelt Arts District.”
She said the department wants to tear down the current 56-units and build hundreds of apartments, possibly up to 400. The city has offered to move current residents to other city properties and let them return after the new complex opens, but Councilwoman Laura Pastor wants to make sure the plan will welcome seniors.
“We’re moving them out,” she said. “And really in the downtown area, the way I look at it, is the richness of it is the diversity of age. And they also have some disposable money and we want them out in the restaurants and enjoying the entertainment.”
At the subcommittee’s direction, the Housing Department will work on a proposal to include at least 56 apartments designed for seniors with the rest being a mix of affordable and workforce units. The full council must approve before the call goes out to developers.
