Newly bricked pathways, elongated sidewalk corners, new shade structures and replanted trees

include part of Tempe’s new plan to redevelop Mill Avenue.

Tempe City Council reviewed the final redevelopment plan for Mill Avenue on Thursday.

The plan focuses on recognizing the history of downtown Tempe, said Eric Iwerson, the director
of sustainability and resilience.

“Mill Avenue is the most important street in downtown …” Iwerson said to the city council, “It’s
where Tempe really started.”

The project will cost the city an estimated $21.8 million according to the plans documents,
Iwerson did not mention the cost at the meeting.

For a project that began as infrastructure development, it has turned into a celebration of the
history of Tempe, Iwerson said.

The new Mill Avenue will keep its famous red brick design, but will be replaced with stronger
bricks, Iwerson said. Gray concrete pavers will be laid at street corners, creating larger
pedestrian zones.

Iwerson said the gray concrete represents the renewal of Mill Avenue with a fresh new look.

Councilmember Berdetta Hodge had concerns for business owners trying to remain open during
the construction.

Iwerson answered Hodge’s concerns with a question, “How do you keep a business open when
you’re laying bricks in front of their door?”

He said his team were researching ways to work around businesses, including overnight work to
lay the bricks at businesses doorstep.

“We will be reaching out to businesses.” Iwerson said.

Shelly Seyler, the interim engineering and transportation director, said the plans will be finalized
next Friday.

“We will keep an open-door to business owners and the public,” Seyler said.

The project will begin construction in April 2024, starting at the crossroads of Mill Avenue and
University Drive according to Seyler.
Iwerson said construction will work up the east side of Mill Avenue up to Rio Salado Parkway,
before moving to the west side.

The plans also include replanting 129 trees along Mill Avenue, introducing five new tree types
that blend well together on the street, Iwerson said.

Iwerson said, colorful shade structures will also be built where trees will not be planted, in order
to provide extra shading.

Along with replanting trees and building shade structures, lithographs of historical landmarks
dating “from indigenous times to contemporary” will be added to the elongated pedestrian
zones, Iwerson said.

In total, 22 lithographs will be placed on street corners including images of Mill Avenue Bridge,
Hayden Flour Mill and a “Welcome to Tempe” sign.

Iwerson said the lithographs helped commemorate Tempe’s history onto the sidewalk.

Mayor Corey Woods was interested in selling off the old bricks that pave Mill Avenue after they
are replaced.

“So everyone can have a piece of history,” Woods said.

Iwerson said his team has been planning on salvaging the old bricks for some future project
along with donating some bricks to the Tempe History Museum.

He said they have not made any final decisions on the destination of the old bricks, and was
open to suggestions from the council.

Woods said the city council could discuss it and decide at a later meeting.

“The downtown hasn’t had a full-scale refresh since the eighties,” Mayor Woods said, “It’s been
a long time coming.”

Eric Iwerson 480-350-8810 Sustainability and Resilience Director

Shelly Seyler 480-350-8854 Interim Engineering and Transportation Director

Corey Woods 480-350-8793 Mayor

Berdetta Hodge 480-350-8748 Councilmember