3rd Avenue Project – COMPLETED!

Published on 01/18/2025 • Posted in

The City has informed me that 3rd Avenue up through the North edge of Edgemont is now complete.  This 8-year process included:

  • Multiple Public Meetings
  • Phoenix Library hosted public meetings
  • Multiple City Budget Hearings
  • Monthly Board updates and community updates through consistent and honest communication. The plans have always been public. 
  • Surviving 3 Street Directors and multiple project leaders
  • Convincing the City as we attended 10 budget hearings (over 2 years) to fund this project and support the Willo Conservation Plan
  • To protect 3rd AVenue from being a Freeway from I-10 to Thomas Road.
  • Collaborating with multiple stakeholders on the eventual design (this was not easy) to include the preservation of the traffic circles, bike lanes, speed humps, stop signs, consistent design from Roosevelt, one way one lane, and to be consistent with the City of Phoenix bike path protocols and construction elements
  • Learning from the mistakes in the Roosevelt Neighborhood process.
  • Financial stewardship of this project is funded by the City and not one penny from Willlo
  • Doing our best to serve the residents of Willo while understanding we are a City of Phoenix public street surrounded by businesses we use and medical facilities
  • Besides convincing the City to drop plans to extend 1st Avenue north of Holly to Thomas and closing the streets with gates in exchange for Light Rail support, this is the single biggest strategic logistical change in Willo in history

As many of you know, being a Willo leader is not easy. This project has been fully supported by the majority of Willo residents. Change is not easy, including getting used to a STOP sign. A design of this magnitude was not easy.    

Many forget that Willo exists due to the Willo Conservation Plan, which contains language on traffic mitigation.

What is next for 3rd:

1. Working with the City and Hospital Team on a design from Edgemont to Thomas

2. The possibility of adding “green” to include trees (which was rejected on the original plans) as well as historic street lights (they laughed at me due to the cost)

3. Overall, that can be improved, which will cost money. 

In closing. doing “nothing” was never an option.  We have an inherent duty as Willo Leaders to ensure the next generation can enjoy living in a historic neighborhood while also living in one of America’s largest cities.

No design is perfect.  Pleasing everyone is not possible. 

  What is possible is a relentless effort with an eye on the goal. 

With appreciation for your support of Willo,  Bob Cannon

5th Avenue is up next.