If you live in South Tempe, you may recognize the horse as a symbol of our part of the city. But have you ever wondered what “Corona/South Tempe Character Area 8” actually means?
About 10 or 11 years ago, I noticed an announcement in a local Tempe newsletter inviting residents to a meeting about Tempe’s Character Areas. I attended—and I have continued attending these meetings over the years.
What interested me from the beginning was the idea that the City of Tempe was initiating a conversation with residents about the places where they live: What gives an area its character? What should be preserved? What kinds of businesses would residents like to see? What amenities, activities and public infrastructure would make the area better?
What is a Tempe Character Area Plan?
According to the City of Tempe, a Character Area Plan communicates the vision and goals residents have for their area and helps guide positive change.
These plans can provide useful guidance to different parts of city government. Economic development staff can learn what kinds of businesses residents would welcome. Planners can consider residents' priorities when working with developers or planning housing, landscaping, bike paths, public art and streetscapes. Character Area Plans can also help identify the city amenities residents consider important.
It is important to understand what these plans do not do. They do not come with dedicated funding, and they cannot override Tempe's General Plan, zoning regulations, existing laws or private property rights.
For more information about Tempe's Character Areas and the planning process, visit the City of Tempe's Character Areas page.
Tempe Character Areas Map — Corona/South Tempe is Area 8 | Source: City of Tempe – Character Areas
Why do I attend these meetings?
As a real estate agent, I believe it is important to know more than the recent home sales in the areas where I work.
I want to understand what residents value about their neighborhoods, what they would like to preserve, what changes they would welcome and what concerns they have about the future.
The most recent Corona/South Tempe Character Area meeting gave me several interesting examples.
Aging in Place—and What Housing Might Look Like
One of the topics that caught my attention was aging in place.
A question was raised about whether we might see more patio-home developments in the 85284 area. That led to a broader discussion about what types of housing could help longtime Tempe residents remain in their community as their housing needs change.
One resident raised an especially interesting question: What will happen to the buildings of the schools that are expected to close?
Could some of those properties eventually be repurposed in ways that include smaller homes for seniors, along with spaces for activities and community connections?
There are obviously many planning, zoning, ownership and financial questions that would have to be answered before an idea like that could become reality. But I found the question worth thinking about.
ADUs Were Another Interesting Topic
I was also interested to learn that the City of Tempe has a library of plans for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
ADUs have become an important housing topic because they may provide additional options for multigenerational living, caregivers, adult children, rental housing or homeowners who would like to age in place.
I left myself a note after the meeting: Research Tempe's ADU plan library.
I would like to understand the available plans, current requirements and practical considerations well enough to share that information with homeowners and clients who may be considering whether an ADU could work on their property.
Could South Tempe Have Better Bicycle Connections?
Another topic raised by residents was bicycle connectivity.
Could South Tempe eventually have a bicycle route connecting more comfortably with Tempe Town Lake while avoiding some of the major traffic arteries?
That discussion reminded me that neighborhood planning isn't only about buildings and development. It is also about how people move through their community and how easily neighborhoods connect with parks, recreation, shopping and other parts of the city.
Why These Conversations Matter
A Character Area meeting doesn't mean that every idea discussed will become a city project. Some ideas may prove feasible; others may not.
But I think there is value in the conversation itself.
Residents have an opportunity to tell the City what they appreciate about their neighborhoods, what they worry about losing and what they would like their community to become.
And for me, as a Tempe real estate agent, these meetings provide another layer of understanding of the community I live in and serve.
Real estate isn't only about what a home is worth today. It is also about what makes people want to live in a neighborhood—and how that neighborhood may evolve over time.
If you live in South Tempe, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts:
What would you most like to preserve about South Tempe—and what would you like to see added or changed in the years ahead?
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