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Celebrate the Diversity like V-Town
Updated: Aug 31, 2012 Marshall S1 Forwarded to PlanPHX Leadership Committee and appropriate city department
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Forwarded to PlanPHX Leadership Committee and appropriate city department
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19th Ave and Camelback is a gateway to a growing Vietnamese community. Some of the best Vietnamese food and shopping is easily accessible to this lightrail stop. What other communities are lurking steps from a train? Let's celebrate what we have!

4 Comments
  • Curt U

    Curt Upton ReinventPHX Project Manager This is a terrific idea! This are does have an emerging international flair - 19th ave/Camelback is also home to the Mexican Consulate (Lisa Huggins-Hubbard in the City's Neighborhood Services Dept. knows this area like the back of her hand and has been working very hard to build a positive identity for the area). Another great asset in in this station area are the Park Lee Apartments. Our Housing Department made a genius move by buying this for a steal. And they have done a masterful job rehabbing this beautiful mid-century modern development (it’s more neighborhood than apartment complex). I encourage anyone looking for an affordable place to live with a lot of history (word is that Steven Spielberg and several other famous people once lived here) to take a stroll down Highland between 15th and 17th avenues and check it out.

    Sep 01, 2012 at 9:27 AM  
  • comment icon

    by Marshall S1 Curt, you hit the nail on the head! Moved into the area about 12 years ago, because it was like very diverse community. Mexican Consulate, Vietnamese food, Mexican, now a small East Indian Market, Middle Eastern market, and Peter Wong's. Getting off the train reminds me of living in NY and seeing many different skin tones, facial features, and hearing a variety of languages. Like Will suggest, maybe a gateway to diversity, not just x-town, but more along the lines of Gateway to a U.N.Town?

    Sep 01, 2012 at 9:48 AM  
  • Will Novak

    by Will Novak Marshall I know about Da Vang, Pho Thanh & Cafe Sai Gon but are there other Vietnamese business in that area? I'd imagine there are non eatery type of places, I'm just unaware.

    If that area does reach a critical mass of Vietnamese, one of the easiest things to do to recognize it would be to change the LRT station name. Many stations have signs saying both the neighborhood or nearby attraction name (Midtown, Heard Museum, Melrose, etc) but the 19th Ave and Camelback stop only says "19th Ave and Camelback". "Vietown" or "Little Hanoi" (or whatever) signage along the LRT would be terrific, if its warranted.

    Aug 31, 2012 at 1:22 AM  
  • Will Novak

    by Will Novak Also, you could do a "Gate" over 19th Ave, on the South side of Camelback if the area every truly does become a Vietown. An "M" shaped gate going over the road, and into the planter strip maybe.

    Or in lieu of a "Gate" perhaps just some Vietnamese inspired obelisk shape in the median there at 19th. But again, I'm not sure if this area is truly a "X-Town" enough just yet to warrant these sort of things. But I hope it can develop that way, it would be cool for PHX to have something like that.

    Aug 31, 2012 at 1:39 AM  
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