LOCATION –
Danelle Plaza
3400 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85282
(Google Maps)
CONTACT –
contact@thedanelleproject.org
LOCATION –
Danelle Plaza
3400 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85282
(Google Maps)
CONTACT –
contact@thedanelleproject.org
THE DANELLE PROJECT –
Inspired by strong community guidance within the new ‘Tempe Arts and Culture Plan‘ directing city hall to respect and nurture Tempe’s established art and music scenes, residents began a grass roots outreach program in early 2016 to acknowledge and integrate Danelle Plaza’s cultural significance within the site’s redevelopment planning. The process included connecting local creatives with city council, commissions and staff, building awareness about the important role the plaza has played within the arts community while relaying concerns about potential heavy handed redevelopment solutions undermining the plaza’s live music and small business ecology and function as a creative community space.
In addition, through its own enigmatic character and nearly 60 years of local history, the plaza carries with it rich and diverse connections to Tempe’s growth and identity. This has inspired ongoing research and documentation of plaza artifacts and stories that continues on today – building a better understanding of ‘Danelle’ itself, but also reinforcing why established neighborhood retail centers need to be recognized (and valued) as unique contributors to our social, economic and cultural growth and diversity when considering the impact of future redevelopment plans.
THE DANELLE PROJECT –
Inspired by strong community guidance within the new ‘Tempe Arts and Culture Plan‘ directing city hall to respect and nurture Tempe’s established art and music scenes, residents began a grass roots outreach program in early 2016 to acknowledge and integrate Danelle Plaza’s cultural significance within the site’s redevelopment planning. The process included connecting local creatives with city council, commissions and staff, building awareness about the important role the plaza has played within the arts community while relaying concerns about potential heavy handed redevelopment solutions undermining the plaza’s live music and small business ecology and function as a creative community space.
In addition, through its own enigmatic character and nearly 60 years of local history, the plaza carries with it rich and diverse connections to Tempe’s growth and identity. This has inspired ongoing research and documentation of plaza artifacts and stories that continues on today – building a better understanding of ‘Danelle’ itself, but also reinforcing why established neighborhood retail centers need to be recognized (and valued) as unique contributors to our social, economic and cultural growth and diversity when considering the impact of future redevelopment plans.
ART # DANELLE PLAZA –
Launched in January 2018 in conjunction with Evan Liggins of Tempe Art A Gogh-Gogh and the plaza’s business community, the art project reflects the latent creative energy of the plaza’s small business, arts and music scene, while having a visual conversation about the hope of engaging and nurturing local creatives within the long-term vision for the plaza. Like Danelle Plaza’s own culture, the project has distinctive daytime and nocturnal personalities, with LEDs activating its window spaces at night. Also, like Danelle – the project also intends to feel obscure yet accessible, reflecting the plaza scene’s underground vibe and lack of pretense. Equally, the project attempted a ‘non invasive’ approach, allowing for the building’s own history and identity to resonate and breathe – leaving behind ephemera and infrastructure artifacts in plain view, connecting to its past. This effort is truly indebted to the over 60 participating local artists along with David Crummey of Newtown CDC, New Leaf and City of Tempe for their help initiating the project. And, a humble thank you goes out to the awesome plaza small business community for their continuing support, patience and kindness.
ART # DANELLE PLAZA –
Launched in January 2018 in conjunction with Evan Liggins of Tempe Art A Gogh-Gogh and the plaza’s business community, the art project reflects the latent creative energy of the plaza’s small business, arts and music scene, while having a visual conversation about the hope of engaging and nurturing local creatives within the long-term vision for the plaza. Like Danelle Plaza’s own culture, the project has distinctive daytime and nocturnal personalities, with LEDs activating its window spaces at night. Also, like Danelle – the project also intends to feel obscure yet accessible, reflecting the plaza scene’s underground vibe and lack of pretense. Equally, the project attempted a ‘non invasive’ approach, allowing for the building’s own history and identity to resonate and breathe – leaving behind ephemera and infrastructure artifacts in plain view connecting to its past. This effort is truly indebted to the over 60 participating local artists along with David Crummey of Newtown CDC, New Leaf and City of Tempe for their help initiating the project. And, a humble thank you goes out to the awesome plaza small business community for their continuing support, patience and kindness.
ASU HERBERGER SCHOOL OF DESIGN COURSE 301 –
Fall Semester 2019, the project collaborated with Professor Elena Rocchi, ASU Herberger Environmental Design Program, on an class dedicated to better understanding Danelle Plaza by identifying and documenting its ‘inherent design’ structured by memories, narratives, experiences and history – basically instilling in her students, ‘don’t attempt to solve what you don’t understand’. Kicked off by Vice Mayor, Lauren Kuby, over 50 plaza community members, including business owners, artists, musicians, neighbors and city staff, spoke and were interviewed by students during the semester. Even former mayor Harry Mitchell shared some memories of his first years on council when the city hall was actually relocated to the plaza in the late 1960’s. As a final project, the students coordinated a plaza community event called ‘Meet Danelle’, which included a pop-up museum, video presentation and an opportunity for community attendees to submit feedback on what they valued about the plaza and hoped for its future.
ASU HERBERGER SCHOOL OF DESIGN 301 –
Fall Semester 2019, the project collaborated with Professor Elena Rocchi, ASU Herberger Environmental Design Program, on a class dedicated to better understanding Danelle Plaza by identifying and documenting its ‘inherent design’ structured by memories, narratives, experiences and history – basically instilling in her students, ‘don’t attempt to solve what you don’t understand’. Kicked off by Vice Mayor, Lauren Kuby, over 50 plaza community members, including business owners, artists, musicians, neighbors and city staff, spoke and were interviewed by students during the semester. Even former mayor Harry Mitchell shared some memories of his first years on council when the city hall was actually relocated to the plaza in the late 1960’s. As a final project, the students coordinated a plaza community event called ‘Meet Danelle’, which included a pop-up museum, video presentation and an opportunity for community attendees to submit feedback on what they valued about the plaza and hoped for its future.
At the conclusion the semester, Professor Rocchi compiled the class findings into a conceptual approach for Danelle Plaza, emphasizing the opportunity to build with the existing small business community, repurpose original structures and engage the local community while still integrating new growth in thoughtful and paced ways. She then presented this concept to the mayor and staff for consideration. A massive thank you to the speakers, city staff, city council and community members involved in the process and especially to the students and teaching team, Professor Rocchi, Jessica Tsepal and Selina Martinez, who took on this effort.
At the conclusion the semester, Professor Rocchi compiled the class findings into a conceptual vision for Danelle Plaza, emphasizing the opportunity to build with the existing small business community, repurpose original structures and engage the local community while still integrating new growth in thoughtful and paced ways. She then presented this concept to the mayor and staff for consideration. A massive thank you to the speakers, city staff, city council and community members involved in the process and especially to the students and teaching team, Professor Rocchi, Jessica Tsepal and Selina Martinez, who took this effort on.
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE –
The City of Tempe released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on March 19, 2021, but the RFQ was not completed due to procedural issues. A follow up RFQ was released on August 24, 2022, and development negotiations were approved to begin by city council on September 22, 2022, resulting in a finalized ‘development agreement’ on November 29, 2023. The current stage involves coordination of remaining property owners to enable the development team to proceed with site planning and other agreed upon terms before any transfer of the city property holdings is approved.
Request for Qualifications 2021:
– DANELLE PLAZA RFQ 21-129 (download)
Request for Qualifications 2022:
– DANELLE PLAZA RFQ 23-049 (download)
Development Agreement 2023:
– MASTER DEVELOPMENT & DISPOSITION AGREEMENT (download)
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE –
The City of Tempe released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on March 19, 2021, but the RFQ was not completed due to procedural issues. A follow up RFQ was released on August 24, 2022, and development negotiations were approved to begin by city council on September 22, 2022, resulting in a finalized ‘development agreement’ on November 29, 2023. The current stage involves coordination of remaining property owners to enable the development team to proceed with site planning and other agreed upon terms before any transfer of the city property holdings is approved.
Request for Qualifications 2021:
– DANELLE PLAZA RFQ 21-129 (download)
Request for Qualifications 2022:
– DANELLE PLAZA RFQ 23-049 (download)
Development Agreement 2023:
– MASTER DEVELOPMENT
& DISPOSITION AGREEMENT (download)‘
PARTICIPATE –
As the redevelopment coordination for Danelle Plaza moves to the next phase, community input to city hall is more important than ever in making sure the process heads in the right direction. Moreover, as a landlocked city, development pressures will only increase across Tempe making it more important than ever to embrace strategies that nurture our homegrown music, arts and small business scenes while we still have a shot. Please contact your Tempe City Council and let them know how important conscientious decision-making is when planning for neighborhood retail center redevelopment, like Danelle Plaza, for sustaining the social, cultural and economic growth and diversity of our community – time is of the essence, if you don’t speak – developers will gladly speak for you:
Mayor & Council: Council Communicator
Mayor: Corey Woods
Vice Mayor: Jennifer Adams
Councilperson: Arlene Chin
Councilperson: Berdetta Hodge
Councilperson: Doreen Garlid
Councilperson: Randy Keating
Councilperson: Joel Navarro
Community Guidance from the General Plan 2040 | City of Tempe:
“Support neighborhoods for their diversity and distinct character, as well as, use preservation and revitalization efforts to make neighborhoods stronger”
“Enhance neighborhoods with community-inspired solutions, ultimately serving to improve the quality of life”
- “Partner with other agencies, business, and residents to preserve, develop and maintain cultural facilities that provide gathering places for cultural exploration, expression and inspiration”
“Maintain a strong commitment to advance Tempe as a vibrant and progressive community for cultural and artistic activity”‘
“Attract creative workers by the kind of development, technology, social and cultural amenities that draw creative workers of all ages”
“Preserve and promote Tempe as a national municipal leader supporting arts and culture”
PARTICIPATE –
As the redevelopment coordination for Danelle Plaza moves to the next phase, community input to city hall is more important than ever in making sure the process heads in the right direction. Moreover, as a landlocked city, development pressures will only increase across Tempe making it more important than ever to embrace strategies that nurture our homegrown music, arts and small business scenes while we still have a shot. Please contact your Tempe City Council and let them know how important conscientious decision-making is when planning for neighborhood retail center redevelopment, like Danelle Plaza, for sustaining the social, cultural and economic growth and diversity of our community – time is of the essence, if you don’t speak – developers will gladly speak for you:
Mayor & Council: Council Communicator
Mayor: Corey Woods
Vice Mayor: Jennifer Adams
Councilperson: Arlene Chin
Councilperson: Berdetta Hodge
Councilperson: Doreen Garlid Councilperson: Randy Keating
Councilperson: Joel Navarro
Community Guidance from General Plan 2040 | City of Tempe
“Support neighborhoods for their diversity and distinct character, as well as, use preservation and revitalization efforts to make neighborhoods stronger”
“Enhance neighborhoods with community-inspired solutions, ultimately serving to improve the quality of life”
- “Partner with other agencies, business, and residents to preserve, develop and maintain cultural facilities that provide gathering places for cultural exploration, expression and inspiration”
“Maintain a strong commitment to advance Tempe as a vibrant and progressive community for cultural and artistic activity”‘
“Attract creative workers by the kind of development, technology, social and cultural amenities that draw creative workers of all ages”
“Preserve and promote Tempe as a national municipal leader supporting arts and culture”
Questions about The Danelle Project? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us – we look forward to hearing from you!:
contact@thedanelleproject.org
Copyright 2024, The Danelle Project
Questions about The Danelle Project?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us – we look forward to hearing from you!: contact@thedanelleproject.org