Tempe council candidate outlines Mill Avenue revival plan

Joe Forte

Submitted photo/D-MAK Productions

As a small business owner and independent candidate for Tempe City Council, I’m Joe Forte, and I’m running because our downtown can shine brighter.

Mill Avenue, the beating heart of our community, is fading. Beloved local businesses — quirky shops, cozy cafes, family gems — close within five years. Foot traffic has vanished, strangled by painful parking and few compelling draws.

The Mill Avenue Refresh was a solid start, but it’s not enough. We need a pro-small-business voice on Council to unlock our city’s untapped potential and sustain local commerce for decades.

My plan unfolds in three phases, from quick wins to transformative growth.
Short-term wins: Free parking weekends and after 6 p.m. — smart economics. More shoppers boost city sales tax (2%) and bed tax (5%), offsetting costs. Test, track, scale.

Add weekly farmers markets, monthly Food Truck Fridays and an open-container entertainment district to draw crowds and share dollars. Retractable bollards close Mill to cars weekends — saving police costs, creating safer, livelier streets.

Medium-term infrastructure: Build a public parking garage above renovating Hackett House, funded partly by entertainment taxes. The city’s RFP for affordable housing has drawn no bids; residential above a noisy event venue — headquarters for Tempe Sister Cities — makes little sense. Parking fits perfectly, easing access while spotlighting Sister Cities’ global work. Let’s choose synergy over stagnation.

Long-term transformation: Construct a true convention center linked to Tempe Mission Palms. From my AV industry experience, the Omni excels at galas but fails large conventions with breakouts. A dedicated center would attract national events, fill hotels, and flood local shops with out-of-town spenders.

Tempe is already a destination with untapped potential. As your small business champion, I’ll make it thrive!

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