After years of uncertainty, The Danelle Project is finally moving forward with plans to develop high-density retail, housing and open-use space in its plaza.
At the Tempe City Council hearing on Sept. 18, the Tempe community assembled to share their feelings on The Danelle Project's upcoming rezoning from low to high density. Multiple speakers at the hearing let the City Council know what they expect from the project in the approaching years.
"This unassuming commercial strip has served as a canvas for local expression, a refuge for artists and musicians and a symbol of community," local historian Dion Romero said.
READ MORE: Tempe locals react to redevelopment of historic Danelle Plaza
Danelle Plaza has been a source of indecision for the city of Tempe since the 2000s. It has undergone many transformations over the years, from skate park to concert venue to art galleries. But one thing has remained consistent about Danelle Plaza since its founding in the 1960s — it has always been a hub for makers.
"Our space acts as a bridge where all people can find fun, thought provoking conversations and connections," Jacqueline Swan, the president of the Tempe Arts & Music Coalition, said.
Swan said the goal of TAMC, which operates out of Danelle Plaza, is to make "inclusive environments where emerging artists can mix and mingle with seasoned professionals to learn and grow."
Located just a mile away from the Tempe campus, TAMC offers plenty of opportunities for students to get involved in the local arts and music scene. With areas such as the Rocket Space Gallery and Yucca Tap Room right on site, Danelle Plaza has served all members of the Tempe community for many years.
Some locals are concerned with the culturally significant site being used for commercial purposes.
"Mixed-use zoning can work, and work well, when properly planned and integrated," Romero said. "However, when used as a speculative tool, it tends to undermine the very local character cities like Tempe claim they want to protect."
The project has been greenlit by the council and zoning administrators, but some locals have more questions.
"Within the (Tempe) community, a little bit of what I hear is, maybe this group of people is a little bit hesitant to change, or they just don't want things to be different," Tristin Harp, a Tempe artist, said.
The developers have promised that supporting local art and businesses are a top priority throughout the redevelopment process. However, others say that "high-density mixed use" leaves a lot of room for interpretation.
"I think all of us don't want to see Danelle Plaza be these huge, gigantic skyscrapers one day."
Desert Viking, one of the companies spearheading Danelle's development process, has its sights set on new apartments and possibly a hotel in the plaza. They also promise affordable housing, which Tempe residents have described as a necessity.
READ MORE: Tempe Mayor, students conflict in confidence on housing plans
"Greenlighting high density development would bring in the dense and overpriced condos and apartments we see near ASU/Mill Ave," longtime activist in Tempe Briannin Gross said in a written statement. "(These high-density residential areas) have all but destroyed most of the mom-and-pop shops that made residents move here in the first place."
Small businesses have always been the foundation of Danelle Plaza. High-density development could bring in the large, expensive housing and chains that have been pricing people out of Tempe for years.
"The things that are not being talked about yet are how it's going to impact the neighborhood and impact traffic," Timothy Palmer, a Tempe homeowner since 1963, said.
Palmer is hesitant to support certain aspects of the commercial development that Danelle Plaza is going to go through.
"One of the major concerns that I have about Danelle Plaza is that this is a generational precedent-setting process," Palmer said. "That is going to have ramifications all throughout Tempe, probably 20 years down the road."
How the Tempe City Council's development of Danelle Plaza will set a precedent for the future urban sprawl of Tempe, how much expansion is allowed and to what extent the plaza will be expanded are just a few questions residents have.
If all goes according to plan, the redevelopment could bring a new era of prosperity to Danelle Plaza. Palmer urges the developers to stay true to their original promises of affordable housing and artistic preservation so the community is not disappointed in the end.
"Preserving and investing in Danelle Plaza isn't just about saving old buildings, it's about honoring the soul of a city that has always made room for the experimental and the diverse," Romero said.
Correction: This story was updated on Sept. 24 at 1:08 p.m. to include more context in Tristin Harp's quote.
Edited by Kasturi Tale, Senna James and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at ajanusee@asu.edu and follow @lexijanusee on X.
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Lexi Janusee is in her first semester with the State Press. She is a freshman studying Journalism and Mass Communications with a minor in Theatre. Lexi also works for Blaze Radio, and is an on-air host for Open Mic.
