KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2024 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Phoenix Activists Want To Restore McDowell Road's 'Miracle Mile'

Lots of cities have landmark shopping districts — think of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Well, though you may not know it, here in Phoenix, McDowell Road — from Seventh Street to the 51 — was once known as the "Miracle Mile."

It had its heyday in the 1940s and '50s when it was home to a number of shops and restaurants. But the following years spelled decline for the strip.

But now, a dedicated group of activists are working to restore this area to its past glory. And this weekend, they will hold a rededication of the McDowell Gateway Arch.

Joel McCabe is co-chair of the McDowell Road Revitalization Committee, and he told The Show more about the history of the area.

More Stories From KJZZ

Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.