Soutthside Village Neighborhood Presentation

City Council Work 
Session 
April 24, 2025
Washington Street Alignment &
Southside Village Neighborhood

Washington Street Area Vision

Southside Village Neighborhood
• Among the oldest and most 
diverse areas in the City
• Home of Winn School, built in 
1929
• First traditional Black and 
Latino neighborhood. Home to 
many prominent families and 
leaders (Coy Payne, Zora Folley, 
et al).

2006 Washington 
Alignment
Original intent of the alignment
•
South Arizona Avenue Corridor 
Area Plan 
•
Use to support larger 
development along Arizona 
Avenue
•
Traffic Reliever
•
Utility Corridor
•
S Curve was the preferred option

Studies 
2006
South Arizona Entry 
Corridor Study
2007
South Arizona Area Plan
2022
Urban Land Institute – 
Arizona Technical 
Assistance Program
2022
Wayfinding Study (J2 
Design)
2023
Parking Study (Walker 
Consulting)
2023
Washington Street 
Alignment Study (Lokahi)
2024
Downtown Region Area 
Update (anticipated 
completion in early 2025)
Future of neighborhood and development within the southeast quadrant of downtown

• Smaller lot development
• Adaptive Reuse
• Neighborhood uses
• Use of alleys 
Development to the South
South AZ Corridor Study –
➢High & medium density 
residential development
➢Assemblage of small parcels 
➢Revision of neighborhood streets 
to facilitate traffic for new growth

Neighborhood Enhancement Since 2021
• Neighborhood engagement
• Zora Folley Mural/Museum Exhibit
• Harris Park Improvements
• Neighborhood Parties/Envision Events
• New Historic Markers
• Continued engagement and support for the 
non-profit serving the neighborhood
• Funding Habitat for Humanity homes & CDBG 
housing rehab projects
  
Cultural Development and Neighborhood Resources met with 
stakeholders to ensure continued involvement and transparency 
through future studies
Commitment:

Urban Land Institute AzTAP (2022) 
➢ Allow the continuation of economic development while protecting multi-
generational housing and the neighborhood that holds so much rich history
➢ Analyze and suggest development growth opportunities
➢ South Arizona Avenue Corridor Area Plan not aligning with the type of 
development occurring and proposed
2022:  City Council approved Southside Village Neighborhood as the first 
Historic Conservation District

AzTAP Process
• Community-chosen stakeholder 
interviews
• Committee of experts 
• Study area plans
• Tour & all-day workshop
•
Keep the historic neighborhood intact
•
Consider traffic circulation during development
•
Placemaking, walkability, park development
•
Winn School as a historic neighborhood asset
Community Input

Recommendations
• Create an overlay to allow for flexibility of adaptive reuse policies 
• Micro-niche economy of arts and culture through live-work units 
• Gentle density options (infill of existing single-family 
neighborhoods to allow additional units on lots)
• Creating an urban form to protect the fabric of the neighborhood
Tree canopies, lighting, sidewalks and signage to transition the area, making it 
feel intentional, walkable and clearly identifying boundaries for redevelopment.
Placemaking Elements

Salvation Army Property
.79 acres - Winn School & trailers
 .95 acres - Vacant Salvation Army 
       
       property 
1.74 acres - Total Salvation Army
 
       property
Winn Park = .80 acres

Winn School was built on Saragosa Street in 
response to a petition from the Hispanic community 
in the Southside Chandler neighborhood.
Residents living in Southside and Winn’s Addition 
submitted a petition (in both English and Spanish) to 
the Chandler school board in June 1929 requesting a 
school be built for their children in their 
neighborhood. 
In 1967, CUSD dedicated Winn School to the City of 
Chandler for a community center.
The City leased and then sold Winn School to the 
Salvation Army in 1981 for $13,500.
Winn School

Salvation Army at Winn School Campus
• Concerns with location of homelessness services
• Preservation of historic building
Salvation Army commissioned a needs assessment to 
determine if they should stay in their current location  or 
consider relocation in the Southeast Valley.
City  is currently in communication with the  Salvation 
Army for possible acquisition of Winn School if they 
relocate.
Salvation Army has served the community through 
school-aged services, homelessness outreach
Community Input
• Cultural Center
• Neighborhood uses

Schematic of Salvation Army at 
Washington Street 
• 80’ right of way width
• Anchors Salvation Army on the southeast 
corner of Washington Street and Saragosa 
Street
• 12 angled parking spaces on the east side of 
Washington Street (18 currently)
• Potential additional parking on west side of 
Washington Street to accommodate 
Salvation Army parking needs
• Shift of Winn Park to the east

Parking Study (2023) 
• Studied City property within the 
Southside Village Neighborhood
• Recommend City-owned lots for future 
surface parking
• Allow lots to be used toward parking 
calculations in smaller developments
AzTAP recommended allowing City-owned parking lots to be used for food trucks, 
farmers markets, etc., to encourage local economic development.

Downtown Region Area Plan (DRAP, 2025)
The Downtown Region Area Plan 
will: 
• Guide all future development decisions 
within the region
• Provide a high-level view of how the 
future built environment within the 
region should look
• Set policies that define types of 
developments that can be considered
DRAP is consistent with recommendations from AzTAP and the Washington 
Street Alignment Study
New Recommendations 
• Adaptive Reuse 
• Commerce Routes 
• Mixed Uses 
• Alley Activation 
• Downtown Gateways 
• Character Area Guidelines

Examples from DRAP

Washington Street Alignment (2023) 
Community Input
Research 4 options for 
the alignment of 
Washington Street  
• 100% consensus opening to Pecos Rd
• Allow for neighborhood traffic circulation
• Right-only lane on Fairview Avenue
• Traffic calming
• Minimize on-street parking from businesses on 
Arizona Ave

N
S

N
S

Washington Street Alignment Options
1. Keep current alignment 
(no-build alternative)
2. Pedestrian Path at Pecos
3. Washington Street 
extension to Pecos with “S” 
curve
4. Street shift extension with 
intersection at Pecos
Community Input 
Unanimous request to provide access to Washington Street from Pecos Road, 
without strong opinions regarding exact alignment

Option 2

Option 2 
Option 3

Option 3 
Option 4

Washington Street Alignment 
Stakeholder Meetings Feedback 
Stakeholder Meetings 
•
November 2021 – Overall Neighborhood 
Meeting – Kickoff 
•
January 2023 – Southside Village Reunion at 
Harris Park
ULI AZ TAP 
•
April 2022  – ULI AZ Tap Meeting Stakeholder 
Meeting (Harris Park) 
•
May 2022 – Panel Day
•
Individual Stakeholder interviews chosen by 
neighborhood 
Washington Street Meeting 
•
August 2023  - Meeting with Southside Village 
Stakeholder Meeting 
•
November 2023 –Washington Street Kick Off Meeting 
(Community Input Meeting Mt. Olive with Southside 
Village Stakeholder Meeting ) 
•
December 2023 – Salvation Army Stakeholder Meeting 
•
March 2024 – Southside Village Stakeholder Meeting
•
January 2024 – Light and Life Church Stakeholder 
Meeting 
•
June 2024 – Salvation Army Leadership Board Meeting 
•
August 2024 –Southside Village Stakeholder Meeting 
Downtown Region Area 
•
August 2024 – Multiple meetings throughout the 
month 
Over 72 residents attended the 
various meetings, with neighborhood leaders assisting 
with communication on all meetings

Preferred Option

Housing Options with Excess City-owned property

Future Housing Opportunities
•
City has acquired all right-of-way anticipated 
to be necessary for the extension of 
Washington Street. An estimated 25 parcels 
were purchased, most zoned either MF-2 or 
SF-8.5.
•
The designs for Washington Street extension 
and Winn Park must finalized before 
redeveloping any of these parcels. However, 
the City can start now envisioning with the 
neighborhood the types of housing that 
would be appropriate. 
Staff are working with a consultant to:
•
Capacity test for city properties housing 
types, number of houses, and possible site 
plans for properties.
•
Evaluate economic feasibility and 
development models, including preferred 
method of construction (RFP, self develop, 
etc.), possible community partners, and 
financing/ownership/partnership structures.
•
Goal: To build new attainable/affordable 
housing product types in Chandler.

How the Washington Street Alignment Supports 
Neighborhood Feedback
Neighborhood traffic calming
Right only lane on Fairview Avenue
Minimize on-street parking from businesses on Arizona Ave
Allow for neighborhood traffic circulation
Washington Street provides a buffer from traditional neighborhood 
and development

Recommended Next Steps
Continue discussions with Salvation Army regarding their long-range plans and possible reacquisition 
of Winn School property as a historic site, park, and neighborhood center – Fall 2025
Finalize Washington Street recommended option design and begin design of replacement Winn 
Park (both currently funded in FY 2025-2026) – Spring 2026
Complete utility assessment needs assessment – Summer 2026
Complete the Downtown Region Area Plan (DRAP) for future City Council adoption and report back to 
neighborhood stakeholders – May – P&Z / June - Study Session / June  – Ordinance intro and adoption
Utilize excess property for housing with development partner(s) after final design of 
Washington Street and Winn Park determined – June 2025
Continue neighborhood communication and outreach