Attachment F - Support - Z-SP-12-22-8.pdf

From:
Anthony M Grande
To:
Anthony M Grande
Subject:
FW: Rio Fresco
Date:
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 8:52:59 AM
Attachments:
seal-black-50px_a3d9a4d7-d742-435e-a8ed-1b9f58bdcb29.png
From: Jessica Berg <JBerg@svdpaz.org> 
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 5:02 PM
To: Rachel B Milne <rachel.milne@phoenix.gov>; Scott Hall <scott.hall@phoenix.gov>
Subject: Rio Fresco
To the Village Planning Committee:
Thank you for considering this matter - Z-SP-12-22-8 – to rezone for the “Rio Fresco” homeless shelter run by
Community Bridges Inc.
I am in favor of this rezoning, and have experienced first hand how beneficial a community-embedded shelter
can be to a neighborhood, both those residents temporarily living within the shelter, and the businesses and
individuals in the neighborhood.
St Vincent de Paul is just about to have its first anniversary of running the Washington Street Shelter at 28th
Street and Washington.
We went through a similar process before we opened, reaching out to the neighbors and ensuring we had a
clear operating plan and “Good Neighbor Agreement” that outlined our intentions to be the best possible
neighbor.
To this day, we get great feedback from local business owners, and in fact very often folks don’t even know
there’s a shelter there.
There are no lines out front, no tents, and there’s no noticeable “overflow” on the street.
Because we have had the ability to hire security, to work with local police, to have a fence around the
property, and to have a dog run inside the property, we are able to provide dignity for those living inside as
well as those living or working nearby.
While Community Bridges has been running Rio Fresco since November, they are currently leasing the rooms,
thus they have some limitations as to what they can do (eg, security, fencing, etc).
They will be purchasing the property, and with the proper zoning and ownership, they will have the freedom
to do more with the space to be able to be the best possible neighbors.
In fact, CBI has been working with us at the Washington Street, and they too have enjoyed the space, the
closed campus model, and the great relationships with neighbors. They will be attempting to emulate this
model, and we will continue to partner with them to assist with any tools they may need.
Washington Street, a closed-campus, emergency, community-embedded shelter with services for pets, is an
important model for our community. We need more facilities and programs like this one, spread out
throughout the City, County, and State.
I welcome anyone to visit anytime to talk more about these types of temporary housing programs. I’m eager
to support CBI as they build a similar program at Rio Fresco.
Thank you!
-Jessica Berg
ATTACHMENT F

.
.
Jessica Berg | Chief Program Officer 
St. Vincent de Paul | Feed.Clothe.House.Heal.
O 602 850 6931 | JBerg@svdpaz.org
[azgives.org] [azgives.org] [100days.stvincentdepaul.net] [reflectinghope.stvincentdepaul.net]
[reflectinghope.stvincentdepaul.net] [stvincentdepaul.net] [stvincentdepaul.net] [stvincentdepaul.net]
[stvincentdepaul.net]
  [100days.stvincentdepaul.net] [stvincentdepaul.net] [100days.stvincentdepaul.net]
[stvincentdepaul.net] [summerrelief.stvincentdepaul.net]

To whom it may concern,  
After many conversations with the team at Community Bridges, Inc. We have 
decided to relinquish our opposition to their purchasing of the property at: 
2425 S. 24th Street Phoenix, AZ 85034.  
We feel the relationship between CBI and our local community of business 
owners will benefit the clients of CBI in some way, shape, or form.   
Sincerely,  
Giovanni and Ali Pace.  
05/30/2023

6/9/2023 
 
Anthony Grande 
Planner II | Village Planner 
City of Phoenix 
Planning & Development Department 
Long Range Planning 
200 West Washington Street 
Phoenix, AZ 85003 
 
Re: Z-SP-12-22-8 Rezone 3.77 acres from A-2 RSIOD to A-2 SP RSIOD for a homeless shelter. 
 
Dear Phoenix City Council Members,  
 
I am writing this letter in support of Z-SP-12-22-8. I am a local Urban Planner, Chair of the Central 
City Village Planning Committee, and owner of a small business within 3.5 miles of the property 
(310 E. Buchanan Street, Phoenix). I support this proposed rezone and project because it will bring 
a much-needed housing resource to the Downtown community in a way that effectively alleviates 
the current housing crisis in Phoenix.  
 
The project’s proposed use is compatible and appropriate for the property size, location, and 
surrounding area. This project would provide a crucially needed housing type for the fastest 
growing demographic in Phoenix: people experiencing homelessness. Community Bridges has 
presented a viable redevelopment plan for the site that will significantly impact the thousands of 
individuals and families sleeping on Phoenix streets. Residents will not benefit from denying 
additional shelter and relief is needed today.  
 
Approving Z-SP-12-22-8 will provide more Phoenix residents experiencing homelessness with the 
essential resources of shelter and social services in a timely response to the volatile post-COVID 
housing market. The positive impact that this project will have on the City drastically outweighs 
any potential growing pains or “NIMBYism” that inherently occurs when introducing a shelter 
into the community. It is in the City’s best interest to approve this rezone application and support 
Community Bridges’ homeless shelter.  
 
Thank you,  
 
Nicholas Gonzales 
City of Phoenix 
Central City Village Planning Committee Chair 
310 E. Buchanan Street 
Phoenix, AZ 85004