In anticipation of the m7 Street Fair on Saturday, March 6, DPJ is spending the week getting to know the great businesses, neighborhoods and people that make the Melrose area so intriguing.
Pierson Place is historically important to Phoenix for the diversity in housing represented by its 16 architectural styles. The neighborhood retains examples not only of the architecture, but also of the building materials and construction practices used from the 1920s through the 1950s. The district is home to seven adobe buildings, and houses a mix of owner-occupied homes and properties offered as rentals, including single-family homes on residential lots, small duplexes or quads. Later, infill construction provided multifamily housing for rent or sale.
Homes in Pierson Place are quaint and high on the charm.
Many of Pierson Place’s original residents no longer live here; however, some of my neighbors grew up here and still live in the family home. Some of us have been around for decades; others are new to Phoenix and Pierson Place. We have kids, dogs, roommates and hail from all over the world!
This location offers great access to the city center, and we do not have to venture far for recreation or entertainment. Schools, museums, cultural activities, First Fridays and, of course, light rail are on our doorstep! Shopping and errands can begin and end less than a mile from my home in Pierson Place; a bike ride or a short walk will get me to restaurants, groceries, coffee shops, boutiques, exercise programs, critter care, spas and beautifying or just poking around looking for treasures among the many shops along 7th Avenue! Often, when I am asked where I got some article or another, I can smile and say, “I shop ‘the Avenue.’”
We are not the largest historic district or the oldest, nor do we have the cachet of some, but we offer a great place to live near the resources of our large metropolitan area. Pierson Place is safe and affordable, and we know and meet our neighbors at the shops and stores close to home!
Pam Perry is a Pierson Place resident and editor of the neighborhood’s newsletter. The Pierson Place Historic District stretches from Camelback Road south to canal and 7th Avenue east to Central Avenue.
