Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee Meeting - March 26, 2025

The Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee met on March 26, 2025, to discuss and vote on several items including the Phoenix Bioscience Core update, a shopping cart ordinance, land acquisitions and disposals, and development agreements. The meeting also included public comments urging the committee to add a right to counsel ordinance to the April 9 agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously.
• Items 2 through 5: Approved on consent without discussion or opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mandy (Phoenix DSA, Take Back Our Homes campaign): Urged the subcommittee to add a right to counsel ordinance to the April 9 meeting, citing 87,000 eviction filings in Maricopa County last year and the need to prevent homelessness, especially during extreme heat.
• Juniper Bradford: Shared personal experience of unstable housing and echoed the call for right to counsel, emphasizing the need for preventative measures.
• Eric Mahaffey: Described three retaliatory evictions and the lack of legal representation for tenants, stating that right to counsel would reduce evictions and homelessness.
• Pamela Silvas (retired nurse): Told the story of her 80-year-old cousin evicted after a hospital stay and urged right to counsel.
• Ruth Kintijan (AFLAC regional director, Safety Around Water LLC): Described severe maintenance issues and a prolonged eviction case, arguing that the landlord-tenant act is not enforced.
• Darren Jezick (Take Back Our Homes): Stressed that time is running out before summer heat and urged the committee to add right to counsel to the April 9 agenda, criticizing police funding priorities.
• Evelyn (Phoenix field organizer, Take Back Our Homes): Shared data on eviction rates and called for right to counsel to keep tenants housed and save public money.
• Andrea Lina Cervantes (Take Back Our Homes): Highlighted community education efforts and urged the committee to act before summer heat.
• Sebastian Del Portillo (campaign manager, Take Back Our Homes): Described the multiracial, multi-generational organizing and requested right to counsel be added to the April 9 agenda, noting it is evidence-based and cost-effective.
• Catherine Branch: Shared personal experience of fighting eviction without legal help and described rent hikes via algorithm, urging support for right to counsel.
• Michelle Ashton (agency assisting elders, Take Back Our Homes): Argued right to counsel would decrease homelessness and heat-related deaths, reduce police interactions, and save resources.

Discussion Items

• Phoenix Bioscience Core Update: Christine Mackey and Claudia Whitehead presented the history and economic impact of the Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC). Key points: The city acquired 30 acres starting in the 1980s; the PBC now has 2 million square feet built, with a $3.1 billion economic impact in 2025; TGen has generated $606 million in impact and spun off 26 companies. Questions from council members addressed land ownership (city still owns all land, leases to universities), federal funding impacts (University of Arizona paused construction of a building due to uncertainty), and private sector interest (Mayo Clinic announced a $2 billion expansion, no desperate calls from companies). Councilwoman Stark requested a future report on federal impacts on Head Start.
• Shopping Cart Restrictive Device Ordinance: Spencer Self and Anna Maria Ortega presented an updated ordinance framework. Data showed 74% of abandoned carts come from 12 retailers, with Walmart averaging 131 carts per store. The proposed ordinance requires registration for all retailers, locking wheel mechanisms for stores over 50,000 sq ft, or a compliance plan with iterative reviews. After three violations over three years, a mandatory minimum plan (locking wheels, GPS, daily retrieval) would be enforced. Stakeholder feedback was considered. The subcommittee voted unanimously to move forward with drafting the ordinance.
• Spark Area Land Acquisition: Thomas Sawyer presented the acquisition of three parcels (19,800 sq ft) from Bag Piper Investments LLC for $495,000, funded by 2023 GO bonds. The purchase will fill ownership gaps in the Spark Area 2 to facilitate redevelopment. Approved unanimously.
• Aviation Noise Land Disposal: Thomas Sawyer and Christine Mackey presented the disposal of parcels in blocks F, G, H, I, J north of I-17, following FAA approval. The parcels will be marketed for light industrial use, with adjacent owners given first opportunity. Proceeds go to aviation. Approved unanimously.
• Development Agreement with ArtX LLC: Anton Keating presented a 14-story mixed-use project at 1 W Madison and 10-20 W Jackson, including 262 residential units, 20,000 sq ft retail, historic preservation, and a 25-year excise tax agreement (no abatement). The developer will donate to the Affordable Housing Trust and improve pedestrian circulation. Approved unanimously.
• Development Agreement for Affordable Housing at 1016 N 2nd Street: Jeff Stapleton and Gretchen Wolf presented a 100% affordable housing project by Penrose Development (5 stories, 60% AMI, 40-year deed restriction). Purchase price $1.5 million, with community support. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All votes passed unanimously: Approval of minutes, consent items, the shopping cart ordinance framework, land acquisition, land disposal, ArtX development agreement, and the affordable housing development agreement.
• Public comment request: Multiple speakers urged adding a right to counsel ordinance to the April 9 subcommittee agenda. Councilwoman Hodge Washington requested that an update on the eviction legal services program be scheduled for an upcoming agenda.