You see “problem areas” in your neighborhood or around Greater Downtown Phoenix in general, and you want to talk with someone about what is or can be done. You want action!

Here’s a handy, rather comprehensive list of issues we’ve all heard about down through the years, along with the “right” city department and/or nonprofit organization that’s involved in maintaining or improving the matter in question.

Do you want to contribute and work toward positive change?  Then review the list for the area(s) of concern to you, “package” your idea/suggestion, click on the link for background and contact information, and take action!

NOTE: As for any directory, things change. If you see any additions or corrections to be made to the list, please contact us. Also, here are two additional online resources: City of Phoenix Keyword Search and City of Phoenix Seamless Service Directory (PDF).

Architecture

• Bland/boring color scheme ~ Phoenix Planning Department (Carol Johnson)
• Bland/boring design ~ Phoenix Planning Department (Carol Johnson)
• Empty lots ~ Phoenix Development Services, Phoenix Neighborhood Services, Desert TULIP (Braden Kay), Brownfields and the Arts Phoenix (Brad Biddle)
• Historic/vintage building demolitions ~ Phoenix Historic Preservation Office (Barbara Stocklin), Phoenix Adaptive Reuse Program, Phoenix Historic Neighborhood Coalition (Steve Procaccini), Modern Phoenix Neighborhood Network (Alison King)
• Incompatible development next to residential ~ Phoenix Planning Department (Carol Johnson)
• Lack of or not enough density ~ Phoenix Planning Department (Carol Johnson)

Arts and Culture

• Lack of or not enough entertainment (e.g., music, films) ~ Artlink (Sloane Burrell), No Festival Required Independent Cinema (Steve Weiss)
• Lack of, not enough, or could be better public art ~ Phoenix Office of Cultural Affairs (Ed Lebow), Artlink (Sloane Burwell)

Crime

• General crime ~ Phoenix Police Department (Community Action Officers for your area)
• Graffiti ~ Phoenix Graffiti Busters (Tim Boling)
• Noise (barking dogs, etc.) ~ Phoenix Law Department
• Noise (loud music) ~ Phoenix Police Department
• Random gunfire ~ Phoenix Police Department
• Vagrancy/panhandling (in alleys, parks) ~ Phoenix Police Department

Environment

• Brownfields ~ Phoenix Environmental Programs, Brownfields and the Arts Phoenix (Brad Biddle)
• Lack of “green” or street-friendliness (all venues) ~ Phoenix Planning Department (Carol Johnson), Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Terry Madekza)
• Lack of or unkempt streetscape ~ Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Terry Madekza)
• Lack of or not enough dog parks ~ Phoenix Parks & Recreation (Karen Williams), PhxDowntowner (Sean Sweat)
• Lack of or not enough pocket parks ~ Phoenix Parks & Recreation (Karen Williams), Phoenix Parks & Recreation Foundation
• Lack of or not enough shade ~ Phoenix Street Transportation Department (PDF)
• Lack of or not close enough recycling ~ Phoenix Public Works
• Litter ~ Keep Phoenix Beautiful, Arizona Department of Transportation
• Littered or underutilized canals ~ Salt River Project, Canalscape (Diane Brossart)
• Unkempt yards ~ Phoenix Neighborhood Services (Erynn Crowley), Phoenix Keep It Clean

Housing

• Lack of affordable, small-scale, compatible housing ~ Phoenix Housing Department (Kim Dorney), LISC Phoenix (Teresa Brice), ASU Stardust Center
• Lack of work/live, small-scale, compatible housing ~ Phoenix Business Services

Signage

• Billboards too large or too close to residential ~ Phoenix Planning Department (Debra Stark)
• Lack of light rail wayfinding ~ Valley Metro
• Lack of, not enough, damaged, or wrong street signage ~ Phoenix Street Transportation Department (Jenny Quezada)
• Lack of, not enough, or damaged wayfinding signage ~ Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Terry Madekza)
• Lack of information kiosks ~ Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Terry Madekza)
• Unorganized, messy newspaper kiosks ~ Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Terry Madekza)

Transportation

• “Bad” locations of parking meters ~ Phoenix Street Transportation Department (Thomas Godbee)
• Cost of parking meters ~ Phoenix Street Transportation Department (Thomas Godbee)
• Lack of bike racks, rentals, lanes (safety) ~ Phoenix Street Transportation Department (Joseph Perez)
• Lack of connectivity between districts ~ Sustainable Communities Working Group (Kevin Kellogg), LISC Phoenix (Teresa Brice), Phoenix Planning Department (Carol Johnson)
• Lack of, not enough, or damaged bus stops ~ Valley Metro
• Need for rail trolley along Grand Ave. ~ Grand Avenue Rail Project (Bob Graham)

Venues

• Abandoned, visually uninviting storefronts ~ Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Dan Klocke), Phoenix Community Alliance
• Broken, damaged residential windows ~ Phoenix Neighborhood Services (Erynn Crowley)
• Lack of or not enough entertainment venues ~ Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Dan Klocke), Phoenix Community Alliance
• Lack of, no Wi-Fi, inadequate size of meeting space venues ~ Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Dan Klocke), Phoenix Community Alliance
• Lack of or not close enough retail dining ~ Downtown Phoenix Partnership (Dan Klocke), Phoenix Community Alliance

Emergency Numbers

• Police, Fire, Medical Emergency ~ 911
• Accident Cleanup ~ 602.262.6441
• Crime Stop (Police) ~ 602.262.6151
• Gas Leaks (Southwest Gas) ~ 602.271.4277
• Graffiti ~ 911 (if you see it in process) or 602.262.7327 (Anti-Graffiti Hotline)
• Information (City Switchboard) ~ 602.262.6011
• Parks Night Emergency ~ 602.262.6386
• Poison Control ~ 602.253.3334
• Power Outage (APS) ~ 602.371.7171
• Power Outage (SRP) ~ 602.236.8811
• Snake Removal ~ 480.894.1625
• Traffic Signals, Malfunctioning ~ 602.262.6021
• Water Safety Hotline ~ 602.495.5555

Update: March 29, 2011