Saving Roosevelt Row from its own success

Popularity is not always kind to artists.

Cities looking to repopulate distressed neighborhoods often turn to their arts communities in hopes of transforming shabby into chic. A little rezoning here and a smidgeon of low rent there and — voila! — a popular, bohemian, community-enhancing arts "district" can rise up, even with a minimum of hard-dollar city investment.

That is what Phoenix has witnessed with its downtown "Roosevelt Row" district. The Roosevelt area — mostly between Central Avenue and North Seventh Street — has become so popular, in fact, that its artists fear success may eradicate the very sort of funky appeal that created Roosevelt Row in the first place.

Developers drawn to the rapidly rising demand for new residences around Roosevelt want to tear down some of the old to make room for that new. One plan includes tearing down the GreenHaus Boutique and Gallery near Third Street on Roosevelt. Another developer wants to tear down the office building where the now-closed Bodega 420 grocery store operated.

Fearful of losing the neighborhood atmospherics they have helped create, local artists have started protesting to the city, including a meeting last Thursday at the old Bodega 420.

To developers, the former owner of the grocery, Adrian Fontes, said new construction is fine … within limits. "Bring it," he said. "But bring it well. ... Don't be lazy."

The hard truth is that artists cannot be granted immunity from laws of supply and demand. They have created value along Roosevelt that, like it or not, increases property values.

Phoenix, though, has a well-established history of knocking down what it should cherish. The art-bedecked Greenhaus building is one such place.

The artists are right to seek to salvage such places.

Tour Roosevelt Row: