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from the Phoenix Union High School District office

Graduation ceremonies for 16 Phoenix Union schools and more than 5,000 graduates will take place May 23 and 24 in two locations.

Eleven large schools will have commencement exercises in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum over two days, while five small schools will have graduations at Phoenix College’s Bulpitt Auditorium on May 23.

The large school lineup is:

Wednesday, May 23

• Carl Hayden, 10:30 a.m.;
• Cesar Chavez, 1 p.m.;
• Maryvale, 3:30 p.m.;
• Trevor Browne, 6 p.m.;
• Alhambra, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 24

• Metro Tech, 8 a.m.;
• Central, 10:30 a.m.;
• Camelback, 1 p.m.;
• North, 3:30 p.m.;
• South Mountain, 6 p.m.
• Betty Fairfax, 8:30 p.m.

The small school lineup for May 23 at Phoenix College is:

• Desiderata, 11:30 a.m.;
• Franklin Police and Fire, 1:30 p.m.;
• Linda Abril Education Academy, 3:30 p.m.;
• Bioscience, 5:30 p.m.
• Bostrom, 7:30 p.m.

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 ©FindItInLaveen.com

LAVEEN, AZ – Santa Claus is coming to town at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. He will arrive via helicopter at the Heritage Academy Campus where the public is invited for a morning of Christmas festivities.

 Campus opens at 9:30 a.m. for the event with seasonal entertainment provided throughout the morning by the Heritage Academy’s orchestra, choir and dance programs.

 The free event runs until noon and is sponsored by Heritage Academy, a charter school for grades 7-12, Rob Olson, the “Red Bus” Realtor, AmeriFirst Financial, US Preferred Realty, Great American Title Co., and FindItInLaveen.com, a business directory of Laveen-based businesses.

 Olson, who is known in the area for his vintage double-decker British bus, developed the idea because he thought there were too few community events that cater to young children in the Laveen area.

 “This is the official welcome of Santa Claus to our community,” he said. “We want the community to come out and meet Santa, get photos, and enjoy food and music.”

 Suzette Haynie, PTO president at Heritage, said there are many families in Laveen with young children who will enjoy a visit with Santa.

 “We wanted to kick off the holidays with a community-wide event for families,” she said. “We love our Laveen community and want to share during the holiday season.”

 Kabob King and Scooptacular will be present, and Heritage Academy will provide complimentary hot chocolate, as well as the entertainment, and arts and crafts stations for children.

• WHO: Santa Claus arrives in Laveen
• WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. (Event is from 9:30 a.m. until noon)
• WHERE: Heritage Academy, 4275 W. Baseline Road, Laveen
• WHAT: Family Holiday Celebration, featuring free hot chocolate, music and dance performances, arts & crafts activities for children, and photos with Santa Claus.

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Animal-Helping Sisters to Attend Phoenix Pet Expo

Sisters and equine/pet Instructors, Teri Ann Tate of Comfy Pets of AZ and Tami Blake of The Enlightened Horse, will have a group of booths at the Eighth Annual Phoenix Pet Expo at WestWorld of Scottsdale from 3-8 p.m. Friday, April 14(and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 15.

Comfy Pets of AZ offers Equine & Pet Health and First Aid Training Clinics and The Enlightened Horse offers Light Therapy on dogs, cats, and horses.

Both businesses are based in Laveen while serving clients throughout the Southwest.

This year, Blake has started teaching a two-day course on “Introduction to Equine Light Therapy.” Bring your pets to the Comfy Pets of AZ side of their booths for a free Snout-2-Tail health assessment from Tate, a certified instructor in first aid for pets and horses.

Free water for pets also will be available at the booths.

Next, visit with Blake on The Enlightened Horse side and receive free light therapy for pets, or their owners. Blake is certified to treat both animals and humans using infrared light therapy.

The Phoenix Pet Expo is a fun family event with dozens of vendors and pets available for adoption.

For more information, call Tate at 602- 579-1437 or Blake at 602-790-9404. For information about the expo, visit www. phoenixpetexpo.com

Development Updates for South Phoenix and Laveen

Developer Michael Moreines with DPR Realty said the projects at Estrella Mountain Village shopping center, on the southwest corner of 51st Avenue and Baseline Road, are nearing completion.

Dairy Queen opened March 9 while construction continues on Peter Piper Pizza, which is expected to open in early May. KFC is also slated to be opening with in the next month, Moreines said.

Smoothie Run Expands with Location in Gilbert

Laveen-based Smoothie Run Internet Café opened a second location in March at 1633 S. Higley Road in Gilbert. Owner Marcus Moody said he is excited about adding an East Valley location for the café, which features smoothies and salads. “It’s an exciting to be expanding and to be able to bring our smoothies to the east side.”

The Gilbert location is slightly different from the original site at 51st Avenue and Southern in Laveen. The Gilbert menu focuses on sandwiches, salads, and pizzas, as well about 20 flavors of smoothies. The original Smoothie Run opened in December 2015 and has been a visible corporate citizen in Laveen.

Moody said he opened in Laveen due to the few healthy eating options available. “We wanted to provide a healthier option to fast-food chains,” he said. Smoothie Run also has collaborated with several Laveen schools and youth groups in fund-raising efforts. “Giving back is an important part of being a local business,” Moody said.

He plans to develop those same relationships with schools near the new Gilbert restaurant.

Both locations also deliver via UberEats. Visit www.smoothierun.com for more information.

City Approves South Mountain Park Trails Plan

The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department approved the South Mountain Parks Trails Master Plan in March after what city officials called significant public input.

Implementation of the trails master plan will be a multi-year effort.

As the city moves forward with the Trails Master Plan, staff will continue to work with the community for additional input. Trail alignment evaluation will be an on-going effort targeting trail safety,sustainability, and maintainability objectives.

To view the full report, visit https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails

Childcare Celebrates 5th Anniversary in Laveen

Kinder’s Paradise Childcare and Preschool is celebrating its fifth year in Laveen. The home-based business provides services for up to 10 infants ages infant to 5 years old.

“We offer individualized attention in a safe, warm, clean, and caring environment where we help children with emotional, social, physical and intellectual development,” according to owner Lorena Liliana Viseur.

Kinder’s Paradise offers bilingual care and is DHS certified at 7822 S. 64th Lane in Laveen.

For more information, email lmviseur@gmail.com or call 623-698-3395.

The company also has a Facebook page, Kinder’s Paradise.

Scooptacular Celebrates 7th Anniversary in Laveen

During a seventh-anniversary celebration on May 4, Scooptacular will be offering 70-cent ice cream scoops from noon to 8 p.m.

Phoenix police and firefighters, as well as Vice Mayor Kate Gallego, are expected to take part in the festivities, and Laveen’s double-decker red bus will be on site.

Owners Nindi and Carissa Wadhwa opened the ice cream shop in 2010 when Laveen lacked restaurants, particularly family-friendly destinations. It was the height of the recession caused by the collapse of the local and national housing market, and not everyone was convinced of their business-making decision.

“Our friends thought we were crazy to leave a stable job and open a business,” Nindi Wadhwa said. “We just knew Laveen needed something positive.”

He said Scooptacular’s ongoing fundraising partnership with local schools aligns with their original mission statement: “To be a beacon of hope to the community of Laveen.”

“This last year we were able to give back over $12,000 to our local schools as well as provide incentives and ice cream to the students,” he said. “Education is the cornerstone of our future and we want to see all of our Laveen kids succeed.”

n recent months, Scooptacular has made a few updates, including digital menus, delivery service through UberEats, and a refresh to the interior. “We serve premium hand crafted ice cream and want our store to reflect that,” Wadhwa said.

Scooptacular makes its ice cream in Laveen, using ingredients from all over the world to create unique flavors.

Nindi credits the company’s employees as being another ingredient to Scooptacular’s ongoing success.

“They are like an extension of our family,” he said. In March, Jocelyn who was Scooptacular’s very first Scoopie and manager Kalani got engaged. “We are so excited for them as they take the next step in their relationship. They are both just awesome people and awesome Scoopies,” Wadhwa said.

Visit www.scooptacular.net for more information.

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South Phoenix native Jose Zacarias Jr. opened his South Mountain Café in July 2016, and in the months since the eclectic menu debuted under the guidance of his father, Executive Chef Jose Zacaraias Sr., fans from South Phoenix and Laveen have been telling others about what they consider a local treasure.

Taking to social media to boast about the home-grown success story, more than 100 reviewers rated South Mountain Café as a favorite, giving it a 4.5 star ranking on YELP with more than 50 reviews and a 4.9-star rating on its Facebook page with more than 70 reviews.

“We really we strive to give our guests the best eating experience in South Phoenix,” Jose Sr. said. “From an actual plate and silverware to follow up on satisfaction of the meal you are eating. We will make you feel like family and ensure that you are happy and leave happy.”

This month (April) the restaurant is expanding its reach by collaborating with UberEats. Residents Valleywide will be able to order Mexican, American, and French dishes from South Mountain Café and have them delivered to their door by the ubiquitous UberEats, which parent company Uber launched in March 2016.

The father and son team chose South Phoenix for their restaurant because it’s home, both men grew up there. “I was prepared to take a gamble, really, and I was wanting to do more than just a job, to do something that could better the community I grew up in,” Jose Jr. said of launching the business at age 21.

Their goal: to provide a fine-dining experience at a reasonable cost. “Both my son and I have been raised and grew up in South Phoenix and there really are only fast food options in the area. We strive to bring a unique customer experience focusing on made-to-order food along with superior customer service.”

Residents in South Phoenix and Laveen brag frequently about South Mountain Café on social media, giving the restaurant on Central Avenue just north of Southern a groundswell of local support. Most all the reviews start out with the caveat to not measure the quality of the food by the rather dreary exterior of a previously vacant fast-food location.

Jose Sr. described the list of improvements made to the site’s infrastructure as “endless.” The family has overhauled the electrical for the restaurant, upgraded sewage lines and more to ensure the property could meet city and county health inspection standards. “Cosmetically it doesn’t show, but there was a lot of money put into the innards of the property,” Jose Sr. said.

Recently, the exterior got a little pizazz through the assistance of artist Lalo Cota and students from Phoenix Collegiate Academy high school and Maxine O. Bush Elementary School who painted a mural along the outside of the café’s patio walls in February.

The Zacarias say they will continue to improve the aesthetics as the business grows. But inside the kitchen, South Mountain Café needs little improvement. Jose Sr. worked many years in the kitchens of restaurants serving French, Asian, Hawaiian, Irish, Mediterranean, and American foods. He draws on those influences, as well as his Hispanic heritage, to create the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that feature Mexican, American, and French favorites, from French toast on the breakfast menu, to salads and Croque Monseiurs for lunch, to a variety of burros and steak quesadillas for dinner.

“A little of everything learned along the way has been applied to what we do now,” he said. “From growing up watching my mom to my experience working long hours and double shifts in kitchens around the Valley.”

South Mountain Café also is a family affair, with all but one staffer being related to Jose Jr. Working together can be a challenge, Jose Sr. said, noting that finding a working rhythm has been one of their tests as a family. “The challenge of everyone finding out how to best contribute to the family business.

“It’s an ongoing challenge as we all find what who is best at doing what, and doing that on a consistent basis.”

Visit the café at 5630 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, 85040. Visit www.southmountaincafe.com to see restaurant hours and menu, or call 602-495-1614 for more information.

This article first appeared in the April 7 print edition of the South Mountain District News.

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A handful of shootings during the first months of this year put many Laveen residents on edge, making most of the 60,000 people who live in the rural suburban community anxious about their safety.

Between Jan. 1 and mid-March, there were five shootings involving teenagers with three fatalities. Social media sites blew up with people expressing opinions about how to stay safe and voicing concerns about rising crime in Laveen.

“We’ve got to make public safety and hiring officers a priority,” says Wendy Ensminger, an active Block Watch member and president of the Laveen Association of HOAs. “We used to have squads of 12 officers. That’s what we’ve got to get back to.”

To address concerns about crime, Ensminger’s organization brought in Phoenix police to the group’s January, February, and March community meetings to talk about changes at the Maryvale-Estrella Mountain Precinct that serves the community and to get tips on how to make the community safer.

In February, the Phoenix Police Department added 51 officers to the precinct and assigned two squads of between seven and nine officers to serve the area south of Interstate 10. A third squad will serve the area north of I-10. Officers said the goal is to improve response time to the areas and to increase the number of arrests.

Also, the city of Phoenix is in the preliminary stages of setting its 2017-2018 budget. Vice Mayor Kate Gallego, who represents Council District 8, which includes South Phoenix and a portion of Laveen, said more than 70 percent of the General Fund budget is allocated to public safety. The budget proposal also includes a modest $1.9 million surplus that City Manager Ed Zuercher recommends using for “critical public safety needs. …”

Zuercher suggests using $1.3 million from that surplus to create 16 new positions for police administrative assistants. The assistants would ease administrative burdens from active officers and allow those officers to respond to high priority calls and reduce overall response times.

The police department also continues to actively recruit, says Officer James Spross, community programs sergeant for the Maryvale-Estrella Precinct.

Gallego said the goal is to have about 3,125 officers by year’s end, up from the approximate 2,900 officers currently serving. Attrition from retirement and officers leaving for other jobs makes that goal challenging, Spross acknowledged.

Following the rash of shootings earlier this year, the department’s 86 Zebra Squad – which consists of eight officers and a sergeant – began very closely monitoring social media sites frequented by teens. At least two of the shootings, including one in which an 18-year-old girl died, and two other teens were injured, took place at parties in vacant homes organized by “Party Crews.” Police said they have been able to shut down several of the parties before they happened due to the squad’s surveillance.

Officer Brandy Carter, a community action officer for Laveen and Sgt. Spross attended the March meeting of LAHOA and discussed break-ins and how homeowners can be proactive in keeping their property safe:

• Park vehicles inside garages.
• Lock vehicles parked on streets and do not leave valuables, particularly guns, inside vehicles.
• Padlock residential electrical boxes as several burglars have turned off the power to homes hoping to deactivate alarms and security systems.
• Use digital timers for lights, both inside and on outside fixtures, to deter criminals.
• Take pictures of serial numbers for electronics such as televisions, computers, cell phones, gaming systems and appliances.

Spross said having an alarm system gives homeowners a false sense of security because thieves can be in and out of a house very quickly – long before police officers can arrive on the scene. He also that often criminals will see an opportunity and take it.

“Lock your house; lock your car. Don’t make it easy for them,” he advises. “Don’t leave your guns in your car.”

Spross said that homeowners who do experience a break-in should watch the internet and social media sites such as Craig’s List, OfferUp and Facebook groups for buying and selling items to see if their stolen goods get listed for sale.

“We’ve had people call us and say their property is on OfferUp. We’ve had undercover officers call and go to the location and retrieve the items. But that only works if you know your serial numbers,” he said.

“It’s really easy for these kids, who are more savvy with social media, and these web sites… it’s really easy for them to unload this stuff,” Spross said.

Officer Carter said overall calls for burglary alarms are up 30 percent for the first months of 2017 to 845 from 675 in the same time period of 2016. The data is from January through mid-March.

However, first-quarter statistics overall bely claims of a crime wave in Laveen. According to Raids Online, a free Lexis-Nexis web site that tracks crime numbers using data provided by local police, the number of suspicious deaths, homicides and attempted homicides stayed the same at seven incidents for the first quarter of 2017 when compared with first-quarter 2016.

First-quarter robberies and burglaries also are down when compared with the first three months of 2016. Data was obtained for a three-mile radius from the intersection of 51^st Avenue and Baseline Road, which covers much of the Laveen boundaries.

To help residents be proactive, Ensminger said LAHOA is reforming its Block Watch and Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol Committee.  “We really want to expand the number of Block Watches in the community.”

The committee will assist communities that want to form Block Watches as well help existing Block Watch groups write grants for additional funding. Other goals include meeting with property managers and business owners at the intersection of 51^st and Baseline – where there are often calls for theft, robberies, and other crimes – and discuss how the neighborhood patrols and Block Watch can assist.

“We really want to be proactive,” Ensminger said.

RECENT SHOOTINGS IN LAVEEN

• Jan. 6 – 18-year-old Kajmere Burton killed, two other teens, ages 17 and 19, injured in shooting at a party near 43^rd Avenue and Baseline Road.
• Jan. 13 – 22-year-old Irvin Salazar-Murillo of Glendale died after a shooting during a party at a house near 55^th Avenue and Dobbins Road.
• Feb. 24 – 16-year-old boy was shot and died while home near 51^st Avenue and Estrella Drive.
• March 7 – A teenage girl was shot in the stomach at her home near 63^rd Avenue and Baseline Road.

Get Involved

Phoenix Police Crime Stop Number (non-emergencies): 602-262-6151

Maricopa County Sheriff: (non-emergencies) 602-876-1000

Block Watch – A city-sponsored program that encourages neighbors to watch out for each other and to enlist their participation to cooperate with police to reduce crime and improve safety in their neighborhoods.

Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol – Citizens who have received special training volunteer to patrol in the neighborhoods and be the “eyes and ears” for the police.

Visit https://www.phoenix.gov/police/community-relations for more information about PNP and the Block Watch program. If you are interested in setting up a Block Watch or receiving PNP training, contact Maryvale / Estrella Mountain Precinct Programs Coordinator, Officer Angie Shuman, at angelica.shuman@phoenix.gov or 602-495-0354 or Officer Holly Dancy, South Mountain Precinct, at holly.dancy@pheonix.gov or 602-534-6545.

If you are interested in the Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol program, contact Detective Brian Kornegay at brian.kornegay@phoenix.gov or 602-256-4303 or Officer Deb Iodice at deborah.iodice@phoenix.gov or 602-495-0597

Upcoming Training Dates for Block Watch and PNP

• May 20
• July 22
• Sept. 16
• Nov. 18

These articles first appeared in the April 6 edition of the South Mountain District News.

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Kona Ice Offering Deals to South Phoenix/Laveen Customers

Michelle and Kirk Davis recently opened Kona Ice of South Phoenix, a food truck with flashing lights that serves premium shaved ice products (made from real fruit) while playing music. Kona Ice also has a reputation for being a strong community supporter with fundraising partnerships available.

Michelle Davis said their Kona Ice truck is focusing on South Phoenix and Laveen as its primary market and they are currently offering a “Deal on Wheels”– a $75 party package for the first 20 books in the area. The deal includes a half hour of time with the truck and music, shaved ice servings for 40 people and a visit with the Kona Penguin mascot.

“The truck plays music, has flashing lights, and customers can make their own Konas and choose their own flavors. Kids just really love it,” she said.

Originally from Minnesota, the Davis family moved to Arizona in April 2016. They started their Kona Ice business a month later and have recently begun expanding their market reach.

For more information, email rdavis@kona-ice.com or follow them on Facebook.

Laveen woman earns light therapy accreditation

Tami Blake, owner of the The Enlightened Horse and Enlighten Yourself to Wellness in Laveen, recently passed the light therapy exam to become a board-certified light therapist and practitioner.

The exam is administered by the Board of Advanced Natural Health Sciences, which “certifies individuals and practitioners who attain a degree of education and maintain a level of training that is current and comprehensive with respect to their field and distinction as well as teachers and trainers who are competent and diligent about upholding BANHS standards within their industry and area of expertise.”

Blake has been using photopuncture and light therapy for several years to improve healing for horses and other animals suffering from soreness, inflammation and injuries. She also recently expanded into the human domain. Light treatments assist with the healing of muscles, migraine headaches and other common ailments.

Visit www.theenlightenedhorse.com for more information.

Local businesses support Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Several businesses are supporting Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation during its Make March Meaningful fundraising campaign. Throughout the month of March, dozens of businesses are hosting events and promotions for the Hope Fund.

The Hope Fund allows Phoenix Children’s Hospital to launch critical new programs, purchase essential equipment, conduct cutting-edge research, provide charitable care and much more, according to press release from the hospital.

Participating businesses include:
Papa John’s: Will donate a portion of proceeds from their Mike Smith Smitty Special.

Zoyo Yogurt: March 5-26, a portion of the proceeds from its Mint Madness flavor of the month will benefit be donated.

Dairy Queen: On March 20, Dairy Queen is offering a free small-sized regular soft served cone and encouraging customers to make a donation. Limit is one per person. All March, customers can also round up their total transaction with the extra being donated to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Filiberto’s: Each of its locations is donating $500 in addition to asking customers for donations of $1 or more at the register.

H&R Block: Every time you mention Phoenix Children’s Hospital when you visit H&R Block, they will make a $20 donation.

Jersey Mike’s Subs: March 29 is Jersey Mike’s Day of Giving where 100 percent of sales will benefit Phoenix Children’s. In addition, they are collecting donations from customers all month long.

Lyft: In March, $10 for every first ride will be donated and $50 in free ride credits will be given (this will only apply to new users).

Panda Express: Canisters on the counter will be available for people to drop their change into.

Do you have some news you want to share about your business? Email your information to the South Mountain District News with subject line: BUSINESS BRIEF. This is a perfect time to let people know about a business anniversary, special sales or events, an expansion, the addition of new staff, a promotion, etc. Send news to smdnews@cox.net

This article first appeared in the March 2, 2017 issue of the South Mountain District News.

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This is a guest column by Kevin Danzeisen, who owns and operates Danzeisen Dairy in Laveen with his family.

Many adults today think they can’t drink milk due to a lactose intolerance. At Danzeisen Dairy, we think our milk is so pure and fresh and bottled the old fashioned way, that you can drink our milk without experiencing discomfort.

So what is lactose intolerance? It’s different from a true milk allergy, which is triggered by the immune system, not our digestive system. Lactose intolerance is basically a discomfort that occurs when you drink more lactose than your body can absorb. All milk and dairy products contain natural (which is a key word here) milk sugar, which is called lactose.

Now, just to be clear, having a lactose intolerance is different from having milk allergies. If you are allergic to cow’s milk, that is triggered by your immune system and not the digestive system. Lactose intolerance occurs through the digestive process.

What’s interesting is that just 25 percent of people in the United States experience true lactose intolerance (according to the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine). That leaves a whole lot of people who should be drinking milk but instead are avoiding it! Remember, our bodies need calcium and vitamin D throughout our entire life to stay healthy and strong, especially as we age.

We hear from so many of our customers that they thought they couldn’t drink milk due to being lactose intolerant or experiencing discomfort when they drank other brands of milk. Time after time they write to us and say that once they tried Danzeisen Dairy’s milk, they have not had any problems with discomfort or intolerance.

Now, unscientifically, we think it’s because we bottle our milk the old-fashioned way using equipment from the 30s, 40s and 50s, which leaves our milk fresh and pure not to mention that we put that fresh and pure milk into glass bottles. Glass bottles ensure that you are tasting nothing but the milk itself.

Don’t believe us? Pick up a bottle of Danzeisen Dairy milk the next time you’re at the grocery store or at the creamery and give it a taste. We think you’ll agree!

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PRESS RELEASE from ADOT on Jan. 17, 2017:

PHOENIX – Construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway remains on track with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejecting the Gila River Indian Community’s motion for an injunction pending appeal.

The order, released Friday, means work can proceed on the South Mountain Freeway while an appeal by freeway opponents is pending before the 9th Circuit in San Francisco. It’s the fifth time courts have rejected attempts to halt construction of this long-planned link between the East Valley and West Valley.

“The Arizona Department of Transportation and its partners are moving forward with construction of a freeway that will improve the quality of life in this region, connecting people with employment centers and providing a much-needed alternative to a strained Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said.

In November 2016, the 9th Circuit denied a separate request for an emergency injunction by a different group of freeway opponents.

In October 2016, the U.S. District Court in Phoenix denied the plaintiffs’ motion for an injunction, saying, in part, that they are unlikely to prevail on appeal. That followed the court’s August ruling granting the motions for summary judgment by the Federal Highway Administration and ADOT, concluding that the agencies complied with federal law in moving forward with the project.

In July 2015, the court rejected a motion for a preliminary injunction that would have halted all work leading up to the start of construction.

The 22-mile South Mountain Freeway, approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley by connecting Interstate 10 at the Loop 202 Santan Freeway interchange and the I-10 Papago Freeway near 59th Avenue.

Construction began in September with improvements to the I-10/Loop 202 Santan Freeway interchange that include extending Loop 202 HOV lanes and widening the shoulders to Pecos Road near 48th Street. Construction of the mainline freeway is scheduled to begin this month.

For more information, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

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A microburst of new retail – mainly national and local chain food stores – rained down on Laveen during the second half of 2016 with developers and planners predicting a steady outpouring of new development proposals coming in 2017.

Multiple new eateries joined LA Fitness at the corner of 51^st Avenue and Baseline Road in the Estrella Mountain Center including Smashburger, Zoya, Firehouse Subs and Dunkin’ Donuts. KFC, Peter Piper Pizza and Dairy Queen are scheduled to open in the center by January.

“I think we’re going to see the existing centers fill up, and there’s not very much left,” said Phil Hertel, a member of Laveen Citizens for Responsible Development, a nonprofit group founded in 1999 to work with developers and residents to guide the type of projects planned for Laveen, a Phoenix suburb with about 60,000 people.

“The Walmart center (southwest corner of Southern and 35^th avenues) and CAL Ranch center (northwest corner of 35^th and Southern) both have opportunities for construction,” Hertel said. “There’s an open pad south of Jack in the Box in the Walmart Center. There’s a lot of open space in the CAL Ranch for construction.”

Last month, Planet Fitness opened in the CAL Ranch shopping area next to Goodwill, but Hertel said there is room for additional new construction. He also noted that the large empty field behind Fry’s Shopping Center on the northwest corner of 51^st Avenue and Baseline Road is attracting attention.

“Once they start moving dirt on the freeway, everything is going to change,” he said. “Then we will have an explosion. That’s when the Target would build – there’s so much commercial opportunity along the freeway I don’t even know how we’re going to use it.”

Developer Michael Moreines with DPR Realty agrees with Hertel’s prediction regarding the South Mountain Freeway. Preliminary work on the 22-mile highway began in September. The roadway will link Interstate 10 at about 59^th Avenue with the Loop 202 near Pecos Road near Ahwatukee. Completion is expected by 2019, although opponents still are seeking legal steps to stop the project due to cultural and environmental concerns.

“There’s not going to be any more major soft retail until the (Loop) 202 is built, and that’s when you’re going to see a Super Target,” Moreines said. “You’ve got to have a lot of infrastructure in place. They’re not going to build until the off-ramps are there.”

Laveen residents must bide their time a bit longer before a large-scale destination shopping center such as a Westgate opens in the area, but commercial plans along the freeway call for that scale of development. That also means additional people will need to live here to support the businesses.

“As an area grows in number of residential homes, retail and professional services see the expansion in housing as an opportunity to reach new markets in areas where retail and other businesses were previously limited,” noted Sam Lawmaster, a Laveen realtor with Realty One Group.  “As seen by the growing number of new businesses along the Baseline corridor and other parts of Laveen, corporations, small business, and public services see a promising future for Laveen and have invested in our community.”

Marc Thornton II, a long-range planner for the City of Phoenix, predicts that by fall of 2017 – with the freeway only a year or so away at that point – there will be many development applications in the pipeline.

“I think the climate is ripe for development in Laveen. You have the nexus of the freeway construction and that will help spark development along the corridor,” Thornton said. “Most of the projects are along the freeway. The time is definitely ripe for developments. It’s the same message we’ve been conveying, development will be coming.”

Some business owners have been eyeing Laveen for quite a while. Hertel said the local Harkins Theatres group expressed interested in locating north of Baseline Road near 61^st Avenue on more than one occasion and a Target has long been sought for that same area to anchor a shopping center.

“I think they’re waiting for the highway to come in before they build anything big,” observes Jennifer Rouse, a member of the Laveen Village Planning Committee, which makes zoning and development recommendations to the City of Phoenix. “Everyone wants something nearby. A lot of what we want here in Laveen we are going to have wait for them to build when the freeway comes. But having Firehouse Subs and Smashburger shows that we are a place to take a chance on.”

Moreines said the managers at Firehouse Sub, Smashburger and Papa Murphy’s Pizza all report their relatively new Laveen stores are doing well, an incentive for other businesses to follow suit. “It’s his No. 1 Papa Murphy’s store, and the barbershop, Moe’s, is also doing great.”

That center is in the final stages of completion, according to Moreines. He has about 4,400 square feet of available space left shared between two spaces, one next to Smashburger and the other next to Zoya. Other businesses in the center include LA Fitness, Walgreens and Discount Tire.

In October, the Phoenix City Council approved the rezoning of the former driving range near the Cottonfields neighborhood to C-1, the least intense commercial zoning the city offers. Plans call for an 8-acre church campus for CrossWalk Church a restaurant, bank and some small-scale retail. Though a small development, the site is planned to include a handful of small boutique-size retail spaces, according to its developers, Jaguar Premium Properties.

DPR Realty, Moreines company, is either developing or working with land owners on several other projects in and near Laveen.

Southwest Corner of 19^th Avenue and Baseline Road

“We’ve done our research and that’s going to be the next corner to be really developed out. That’s going to be a pretty major intersection for South Phoenix. There is a lot of housing development already going on nearby,” Moreines said.

Construction is getting started on the site, which is across from the center that houses Lowe’s, CVS and Goodwill. According to city site plans, a McDonald’s is being built on the northeast corner of the intersection, though that is not part a DPR project.

Tenants for the 9-acre DPR project include Dunkin’ Donuts, a child care facility, a mini storage facility and several leads for a restaurant. He describes the project as infill development, a growing trend in which tenants are secured before the structures are built. When Laveen first began expanding in the early 2000s several developers built shopping centers, notably at 35^th Avenue and at 27^th Avenue along Baseline Road. Many sat empty for years because of the housing market and the subsequent economic recession.

“This is the new age of infill development. It’s a very hot area,” he said. “We are taking that eyesore and we wanted to clean up the crap but not get ahead of ourselves like we did back in 2005 and 2007, building before we had users. I don’t spec builds – that’s crazy.”

He said the vacancies across the street – notably Staples and Fresh & Easy – are not likely to last long as his project and the one on the northeast get going. “This intersection is going to be very strategic and important in 2017.”

51^st Avenue and Baseline Road (behind the Fry’s)

“2017 will see us developing out a large commercial project just behind the Fry’s at 51st Ave & Baseline,” Moreines said. “There will be a combination of commercial projects landing at this site. It’s going to be a combo of retail and restaurant pads and possibly office space. I am working on end-users right now.”

The site is across the street from Dignity Health’s Arizona General Hospital.

Northwest corner of 51^st Avenue and Dobbins Road

DPR is collaborating on the development of the 7.2-acre lot that is across the street from the Laveen Baptist Church and diagonal from the Laveen Education Center, the under-construction Islamic Center of Laveen, the Laveen Post Office and Laveen Elementary School District’s Transportation Department.

Northeast corner of 43^rd Avenue and Baseline Road

This 1.5-acre site is under consideration for development and Moreines said he plans to sell to whoever ultimately chooses the site for construction.

To keep up to date and become involved in Laveen development, residents can attend meetings of the LCRD and the planning committee: The Laveen Village Planning Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. on second Mondays at the Laveen Elementary School District No. 59, 5001 West Dobbins Road. The LCRD meets first Mondays at 7 p.m. in Building A at the same address.

This article first appeared in the December issue of the South Mountain District News.

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