Phoenix Community Alliance Celebrates 40 Years of Building Downtown

This article was originally published in the Phoenix Business Journal. 

Turning 40 years old used to be synonymous with being “over the hill,” but in the case of Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA), Greater Downtown Phoenix’s preeminent business leadership organization, turning 40 means “just getting started.”

Throughout Downtown’s dramatic evolution from a mostly forgotten car-centric government center to a thriving, multi-modal neighborhood and nightlife destination—there’s been one constant: PCA.

As PCA turns 40 this month, we’re launching a year-long celebration of the projects, initiatives and people who have helped shape Downtown’s skyline and transform its sidewalks. The campaign will include storytelling that charts Downtown’s growth, profiles of business leaders who have volunteered their time for the betterment of the city they love and a birthday celebration befitting this momentous occasion.

Examples of signature projects PCA helped deliver to Downtown include:

• Leading the capital campaign for the revitalization of Margaret T. Hance Park, the 32.5-acre park sitting atop the Interstate-10 freeway tunnel in the heart of Downtown Phoenix
• Advocating for the adoption, funding, construction and expansion of light rail
• Kick-starting and participating in the development of the 2004 Downtown Strategic Plan and in the upcoming next iteration of the plan
• Facilitating the land assemblage for the Phoenix Bioscience Core, a 30-acre life sciences and innovation hub on the east side of Downtown that encompasses all three state universities
• Spearheading the development of Arizona Center, which recently added the AC Hotel, will soon add PALMtower Residences (opening in 2024) and is currently undergoing a resurgence under new local ownership
• Initiating the creation of the Human Services Campus, the largest collaboration of social services in the state for individuals experiencing homelessness

Because PCA’s role has been behind the scenes on so many impactful developments like the handful listed above, it’s possible that Phoenix Business Journal readers aren’t familiar with what PCA has been all about for the last 40 years.

PCA’s mission can be distilled down to three keywords: Advocate, Activate and Build.

As the advocacy and membership affiliate of Downtown Phoenix Inc., we fulfill our mission in lock-step with the business community for a stronger Downtown and a better Phoenix.

Our mission drives the work plans of our eight member-led advocacy committees, which mirror the themes of the Downtown Strategic Plan:

• Arts, Culture and Public Life
• Central City Planning and Development
• Education
• Multi-Modal Connectivity
• Social and Housing Advancement
• Hance Park Fundraising
• Public Affairs
• Membership Engagement

The work PCA does is for the people, by the people. Our 300-plus members are the engine that makes PCA run.

Consider this your invitation to take a seat at our PCA table. There’s so much we can do together over the next 40 years.

To learn more, please visit www.phoenixcommunityalliance.com.

Diane Haller is a Partner at Quarles & Brady LLP and Phoenix Community Alliance Board Chair.

Devney Majerle is President & CEO of Downtown Phoenix Inc. and past Executive Director of PCA.