A landmark along McDowell Road in Phoenix was rededicated Saturday as part of a community effort to revitalize business along the strip known as the “Miracle Mile.”
In 1991, Michelle Stuhl designed the McDowell Gateway Arch, inspired by the arch in St. Louis, as a landmark for the community following the widening of the road, once known for its “Miracle Mile” shopping stretch between 7th Street and the 51.
Stuhl returned to the arch Saturday as community leaders seeking revitalization in the area held a rededication ceremony. Stuhl said she’s pleased by the positive energy from this restoration.
“It looks like it’s an opportunity now where numbers of small businesses and interesting cafes and interesting kinds of community businesses are clustering in this area,” Stuhl said.
Kathy Cano-Murillo is the co-owner of Mucho Mas, a Latinx gift boutique on McDowell Road near 18th Street. She said she feels support from the surrounding community.
“This area," Cano-Murillo said, "just has this sizzle to it where it feels like there’s some magic happening here and I feel like we got in here at the beginning of it and it has grown so much in the two years that we’ve been here.”
A group of nonprofits behind the project have received $125,000 to beautify the area.
