The Melrose Community Alliance schedules monthly happy hour events at local establishments as a way to support small businesses and grow their community connection (photo courtesy of Robb Olivieri).

Heading into 2025, we checked in with North Central neighborhood organizations to learn about their “wins” in 2024, their goals for 2025 and how neighbors can engage with them. This month, we are shining the light on the Melrose Community Alliance and the Midtown Neighborhood Association. Next month, we will catch up with the North Central Phoenix Homeowners Association and the Neighborhood Coalition of Greater Phoenix, and we will continue to tell the stories of our many amazing organizations throughout the year.

As the calendar flips from 2024 to 2025, the new year brings with it fresh opportunities to pause, reflect and perhaps reassess. Many resolution lists may start with things along the line of “get healthy” or “spend more time with family.” But in a world where it is easy to feel increasingly disconnected from one another, there are opportunities out there to connect on a community level, beginning in residents’ own neighborhoods.

“Melrose is a diverse community, in every sense of the word, and is a place welcome for all. It gives off small town energy in the middle of the city,” said Robb Olivieri, president of the Melrose Community Alliance (MCA). MCA operates in the Melrose District, mainly along 7th Avenue, Camelback to Indian School Road, but also Central to 15th Avenue – as well as any neighborhoods that touch those streets.

The group was founded in 2012 to bring the resident community in the surrounding neighborhoods to work with and support the Melrose businesses.

“Our board meets monthly, and we plan regular events,” Olivieri added. “Monthly happy hours, quarterly meetings/gatherings open to the public, and a few larger events for the year. Usually at CoOperate Melrose, but always around the Melrose area.”

MCA had some wins in 2024: they were recognized by Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department Council District 4 as top “Community Builder”; collected over 600 pounds of food in October for their first food drive; have had well-attended monthly happy hours (a new event); and just concluded the 9th Merriment in Melrose and had their biggest fundraising success for Osborn School District in the decades-long event.

Despite their positive news, the community still faces plenty of challenges.

“On a high level, it’s the high volume and often fast traffic along 7th Avenue, which makes it way less pedestrian friendly,” Olivieri said. “It would help the area tremendously to slow down traffic, widen sidewalks and make it truly walkable. On a regular basis, the issue we hear the most about is homelessness and homeless-adjacent issues. There seems to be a visible uptick in the area and people want clean streets and for these people to get the help they need. The businesses deal with the brunt of it along 7th Avenue.”

Going forward, Olivieri says, “We want to continue to build upon our successes the past couple years. We’ll set more concrete goals in January’s meeting, but we want to focus on more ways to get community members engaged, find more ways to give back and to find ways to get more Melrose residents involved.”

Connect with the Melrose Community Alliance at www.melrosecommunityalliance.com or follow them on Instagram: @mcaphx.

The Midtown Neighborhood Association will once again host its annual Sunday Off Central block party, held this year on March 9 (submitted photo).

Just south of Melrose and established in 2008, is the Midtown Neighborhood Association (Midtown). Their mission is to enhance the livability of the Midtown neighborhood in Phoenix by fostering community connections through social and informational events.

“These gatherings provide opportunities for neighbors to get to know one another, strengthen bonds and share resources,” said Kelly Williams, Midtown board member. “A key focus of our organization is promoting neighborhood safety, including the support and development of Block Watch groups to reduce crime and vandalism.”

Midtown’s boundaries are, roughly, from Margaret T. Hance Park north to Indian School Road, 3rd Street west to 3rd Avenue. Like Melrose, a big concern for Midtown is issues surrounding homelessness and encampments.

“These encampments impact both the safety and livability of the area, contributing to concerns around sanitation, crime and general well-being,” Williams said. “Addressing homelessness in our neighborhood requires a multifaceted approach that combines housing solutions, support services and community involvement.”

Improved coordination between the city, local police and community organizations is key, she added, to create “a more compassionate and effective approach to supporting individuals facing homelessness while maintaining the safety and well-being of the broader community.”

Looking ahead, in 2025, the organization plans to enhance Midtown’s identity and diversity with banners along Central Avenue celebrating the neighborhood’s positive attributes, businesses and events. Key events include the 14th annual Sunday Off Central block party on March 9, and the Midtown Urban Living Home Tour on Nov. 9, both of which aim to share how fun Midtown Phoenix is and to strengthen community connections by showcasing the area’s culture and architecture.

“Midtown offers opportunities for both residents and visitors to experience its unique energy,” Williams said. “We encourage everyone to get involved and help make Midtown an even better place to call home.”

Midtown meets quarterly at various neighborhood businesses. Connect with them at www.midtownphx.org or on social media: @midtownphx.

Residents looking for a neighborhood group in their area can visit the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department’s Neighborhood Link page. Visit www.phoenix.gov/nsd/programs/neighborhood-coordination.

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