The 27th Avenue corridor in Phoenix, once shadowed by challenges like crime, substance abuse, prostitution and neglect, now pulses with resilience. Community driven efforts, fueled by unwavering dedication, breathe life into forgotten spaces. From Indian School Road to Northern Avenue, a collective vision emerges, one that amplifies community voices through architecture. Thoughtful design interventions weave safety, accessibility, and positive change into the fabric of the neighborhood. Safety isn’t just lighting; it’s a sense of belonging and thriving. Bike lanes enhance connectivity, while art reflects aspirations. Community voices echo through collaborative workshops, town halls and open dialogues, thus building partnerships with residents, local schools, organizations and businesses. These spaces, woven with cultural nuances, are mirrors reflecting identity and aspiration. This endeavor celebrates the heartbeat of community-driven architectural expression.

Our story:
Roadways are a ubiquitous feature of life in the United States, being used by most Americans for travel to points of need. However, this brings in its own sets of challenges, as noted by Gabe Samuels and Yonah Freemark in their research paper “The polluted Life near the Highway”. Working with the Group 27Collab, we see this as an opportunity to correct course by reinvesting, re imagining what stories we may tell through Design of the Canyon Corridor.

27Collab:
A group of community leaders and volunteers representing the residents, businesses, university, school administration, non-profits, council office, city entities and others formed the 27Collab, to improve the area around 27th avenue in Phoenix.

The mission:
By synchronizing efforts and creating a healthy community initiative, the 27Collab actively seeks to foster strategic alliances that will transform the 27th Ave. Corridor into a thriving neighborhood, education and business community.