May 5, 2021 Mitigating Rising Temperatures in Edison Eastlake Parish May 5, 2021 10:30 am Cities around the world are seeing rising summer temperatures, in part due to the Urban Heat Island Effect. This phenomenon is mainly due to urban infrastructure, including streets, buildings and sidewalks that absorb heat during the day and release it at night. In 2018, the city received a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant of US $ 30 million from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to redevelop the Edison-Eastlake neighborhood east of downtown Phoenix, each containing some of the The hottest temperatures in the city are recorded in summer – up to 10 degrees hotter than in other parts of the city. This community-sponsored renovation is groundbreaking for what it means to be a modern, warm-up community. “It is fitting that a historic neighborhood like Edison-Eastlake will host this new vision for warm homes and communal spaces that preserve the traditional qualities of a close-knit neighborhood,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “These new mixed income residential units not only offer residents more modern amenities, they also offer a sense of place with additional resources and their design promotes climate and thermal protection to improve the wellbeing of our residents and our environment. “The redevelopment includes: an extension of Edison Park and the addition of a linear park along 19th Street; the addition of shade trees and structures within the many green spaces in the area; an expanded shade canopy along Van Buren, 19th and 20th Streets, to encourage walkability; and the addition of shaded bus stops. The plan also includes strategic placement of buildings to block sunlight and create shade; landscaping and placement of trees to maximize shade on the sidewalk; use thermal insulation roof coatings and building materials, among others. “The community of Edison-Eastlake and its residents have been struggling with higher temperatures for far too long due to a lack of investment,” said Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia, who represents District 8 of the city. “I hope this Project will help reduce the impact of the war The ideal climate for this diverse and historic district. ” Residents and community representatives were part of the renovation team from the start. The Nature Conservancy identified the Edison-Eastlake Community as one of three priority areas across the valley to combat the effects of rising temperatures. The project, with the support of the Phoenix Revitalization Corporation (PRC), engaged residents and stakeholders to create a heat action plan that provides solutions for urban heating in the neighborhood. The heat action plan identified some of the techniques to reduce the Urban Heat Island effect. “It was important that we bring community partners to this project to provide unique expertise and ensure that residents’ voices were not only heard, but their ideas were brought to life in the design and final product,” said Deanna Jonovich , Acting Housing Manager. Community member and local resident Rosalyn Gordon said shade is extremely important to seniors and families. “So it was critical for me to attend the various community meetings to find solutions to meet the year-round shading needs in our neighborhood.” The city’s Housing Department also worked with urban heat researchers at Arizona State University teamed up to offer mitigation best practices and place thermal sensors across the community, including two rooftop units to provide pre and post remediation data to understand the real impact of thermal protection efforts informed by residents and project partners. “It’s really about showing me the data,” said Paul Coseo, PhD, associate professor of landscape architecture at Arizona State University’s Design School. “We believe these design elements will cool the neighborhood, but the data will tell us if they really do.” The new development of the Edison-Eastlake Community is taking shape. New units are being built and residents now have an outdoor event space available for everyone with Ramadas, a shaded communal stage and lots of trees preparing to provide some shade. Soluna, Choice Neighborhoods’ first mixed-income housing development in Edison Eastlake Parish, is also taking shape. When completed, Soluna will be a modern community with a variety of amenities that will be informed by residents, including a computer room, energy efficient homes, and shaded common areas. The northeast corner will serve as the gateway to the neighborhood, integrating public art and shadow into an art space. The next phase of the housing development, Harmony at the Park, will continue the heat reduction mission with more shaded common areas and elements to improve accessibility, with an emphasis on safety and comfort. The site will also include a linear park stretching from Villa to Polk Street. This park will have open green spaces with walking paths and even more shady trees. And that’s just the beginning of the story. The Phoenix Housing Authority is seeking silver LEED neighborhood development certification for the area north of Van Buren Street. LEED is a framework for identifying, implementing and measuring green building and neighborhood design. “This project will serve as a national redevelopment model, centered around health care strategies and technologies,” said David Hondula, PhD, associate professor in the School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning at Arizona State University. This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are your own.
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