WEBVTT 00:00:02.769 --> 00:00:04.769 Rio Salado, a vision of the transformation of our dry salt river bed to 00:00:06.328 --> 00:00:10.427 many the father of this concept almost 30 years ago is Dean Jim Elmore, 00:00:10.460 --> 00:00:14.476 Dean Emeritus of Asu's College of Architecture who oversaw the creation of 00:00:14.509 --> 00:00:18.776 his students proposals. Following is a presentation by Dean Elmore of the 00:00:18.809 --> 00:00:23.855 origins and visions that we know today as Rio. So 00:00:23.888 --> 00:00:27.776 the Rio Salado project has progressed through four distinct eras, 00:00:27.809 --> 00:00:35.686 including the present one under the leadership you see identified here 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:40.237 that began in the College of Architecture where our studio projects most 00:00:40.270 --> 00:00:46.527 always dealt with local problems and local settings. During 1966 67 we 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:52.457 devoted our year long design program to what became the Rio Salado project 00:00:52.490 --> 00:00:57.396 in the fall of 1966. The fifth year design studio accepted the challenge 00:00:57.429 --> 00:01:02.116 of combining flood control with environmental design to convert the river 00:01:02.149 --> 00:01:07.717 bed from a scar to the major asset of the metropolitan area. In the spring 00:01:07.750 --> 00:01:12.456 semester, the other four levels designed projects in the new Rio Salado 00:01:12.489 --> 00:01:17.665 setting. In their research, the students came across an old map on which 00:01:17.698 --> 00:01:22.385 the Salt River was labeled Rio Salado. They produced the graphics for the 00:01:22.418 --> 00:01:27.995 cover and much of the text for the first brochure in the central of the 00:01:28.028 --> 00:01:32.156 five panels portraying the 38 mile length from Granite Reef to the Agua 00:01:32.189 --> 00:01:37.186 Fria. They proposed water features just north of a su just below the 00:01:37.219 --> 00:01:45.219 airport and Astride Central Avenue in Phoenix. Also possible development 00:01:45.430 --> 00:01:51.316 at the I 10 river crossing immediately following the initial presentation 00:01:51.349 --> 00:01:58.275 to about 80 business and civic leaders. On March 9th, 1967 7 of those 1st 00:01:58.308 --> 00:02:02.837 16 students discussed the project with two members of the Los Angeles 00:02:02.870 --> 00:02:07.096 District Office of the Corps of Engineers and Rod mcmullin, General 00:02:07.129 --> 00:02:12.386 manager of the Salt River project. Speaking not in this picture is 00:02:12.419 --> 00:02:17.547 Professor Bob mcconnell, the students, instructor critic who later served 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:21.416 as Dean of Architecture at the University of Arizona, but he later joined 00:02:21.449 --> 00:02:26.805 us for an October 1984 Arizona highways article and picture. He's fifth 00:02:26.838 --> 00:02:32.737 from the right shortly after the first showing the city of Phoenix posted 00:02:32.770 --> 00:02:37.626 signs using the students graphics. 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:42.666 In 1968 the new fifth year studio explored and designed in greater detail 00:02:42.699 --> 00:02:50.699 . A limited segment of the river that just north of the A SU campus. 00:02:52.649 --> 00:02:58.146 Finally, Rio Salado three summed it up at the conclusion of each of the 00:02:58.179 --> 00:03:02.305 three study phases. The proposals were presented to about 80 public 00:03:02.338 --> 00:03:05.896 officials and interested business, professional and civic leaders of the 00:03:05.929 --> 00:03:10.487 communities along the river. At the day long Rio Salado three conference 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:17.327 on November 7th, 1969 the participants listed in the final college report 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:20.936 resolved that Valley forward, be asked to assume responsibility for 00:03:20.969 --> 00:03:26.237 coordinating and prosecution of the Rio Salado project. Making maximum use 00:03:26.270 --> 00:03:34.270 of all public and private entities concerned and involved. 00:03:35.508 --> 00:03:40.816 The Valley Forward Association was just forming in 1969. It is a region 00:03:40.849 --> 00:03:45.725 wide nonprofit business association whose mission is to promote aesthetic 00:03:45.758 --> 00:03:50.536 , cultural, environmental and quality of life interests in the Valley of 00:03:50.569 --> 00:03:54.585 the Sun. I was a founding member and was asked to chair its Rio Salado 00:03:54.618 --> 00:03:58.755 steering committee during the seventies Valley forward, served as 00:03:58.788 --> 00:04:04.536 custodian facilitator, evangelist, cheerleader and sponsor of several 00:04:04.569 --> 00:04:07.606 major studies. 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:14.055 Rio Salado phases one and two were completed in 1972 and 1974 by Daniel 00:04:14.088 --> 00:04:18.846 Mann Johnson and Mendenhall, Los Angeles for the Maricopa Association of 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:24.656 Governments and Valley forward with the support you see here, they 00:04:24.689 --> 00:04:29.036 addressed interests such as these, 00:04:29.069 --> 00:04:34.426 they provided a master concept for the whole 40 mile length with some 00:04:34.459 --> 00:04:39.805 detail on pilot projects in Phoenix and Tempe. 00:04:39.838 --> 00:04:45.377 Also in 1974 came the first involvement of the Arizona legislature with a 00:04:45.410 --> 00:04:50.645 $100,000 appropriation for land acquisition made available to local 00:04:50.678 --> 00:04:55.096 jurisdictions on a matching basis. The city of Tempe acquired the entire 00:04:55.129 --> 00:05:01.697 amount again. In 1977 the College of Architecture became directly involved 00:05:01.730 --> 00:05:08.075 Rio Salado phase three, a $17,800 study for the Corps of Engineers was 00:05:08.108 --> 00:05:12.026 based not on an approved project. But rather on one of the flood control 00:05:12.059 --> 00:05:16.947 alternatives than under consideration by the Corps, a major charge of the 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:20.866 study was to identify recreational benefits that might be realized with 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:25.495 the advent of flood control to many Rio Salado is perceived as a 00:05:25.528 --> 00:05:30.926 recreation project to a great extent. It is that it is in town recreation 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:36.805 , right where the people are and recreation generates its own economic 00:05:36.838 --> 00:05:41.757 benefits. The phase three study completed during the decade of valley 00:05:41.790 --> 00:05:46.926 forward responsibility suggested the variety of specific uses at specific 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:54.106 sites along the river such as these stables, Marina, 00:05:54.139 --> 00:05:58.245 the Red Mountain freeway is here now with three wide passages under it. 00:05:58.278 --> 00:06:02.645 Anticipating trail connections to Papago Park, the zoo and the botanical 00:06:02.678 --> 00:06:05.236 gardens, 00:06:05.269 --> 00:06:13.176 golf, the A SU cars and golf course is here. Now we got that one right 00:06:13.209 --> 00:06:17.976 and it pictured other water related and trail oriented activities that 00:06:18.009 --> 00:06:22.366 would become possible with flood control 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:27.986 as a key achievement of its stewardship valley forward with a new logo was 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:36.019 instrumental in bringing about the next era. 00:06:36.858 --> 00:06:41.395 In 1980 the Arizona legislature created the Rio Salado Development 00:06:41.428 --> 00:06:46.717 District to determine feasibility, prepare a master plan and recommend a 00:06:46.750 --> 00:06:50.916 funding mechanism. The nine members of the board were appointed by the 00:06:50.949 --> 00:06:54.437 several affected jurisdictions. I was appointed by the president of the 00:06:54.470 --> 00:06:58.296 Senate. The General manager of the Maricopa County Flood Control District 00:06:58.329 --> 00:07:03.176 was named ex officio with its principal consultants, Carl Lynch, 00:07:03.209 --> 00:07:07.467 associates of Cambridge Massachusetts, the Rio Salado Development District 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:13.437 accomplished four major tasks. First, it clarified feasibility issues 00:07:13.470 --> 00:07:20.187 including flood management, water supply, landfill treatment, social 00:07:20.220 --> 00:07:25.245 concerns such as providing for people and neighborhoods affected by change 00:07:25.278 --> 00:07:30.226 and other concerns such as continuing the mining of sand and gravel for as 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:35.515 long as it is the highest and best use. Second, it prepared a master plan 00:07:35.548 --> 00:07:41.455 and provided further definition. 00:07:41.488 --> 00:07:45.745 Third, it estimated costs and benefits in the process advised by 00:07:45.778 --> 00:07:50.526 economists at the Valley National Bank. The refs investment firm and an 00:07:50.559 --> 00:07:55.467 advisory committee of experts in real estate finance and development. The 00:07:55.500 --> 00:08:01.296 land acquisition and development costs were estimated to be 1.5 billion 00:08:01.329 --> 00:08:07.705 and the operating costs 544 million, both over 25 years and both 00:08:07.738 --> 00:08:14.286 approximations inflated. The 25 year revenues inflated were estimated to 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:19.846 be approximately 1.3 billion from a direct property tax of 25 cents per 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:26.406 $100 of assessed value and 1.4 billion from sales and leases of land 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:32.934 acquired early and increased in value as development progressed. The 00:08:32.967 --> 00:08:37.405 intent was that Rio Salado would be one enormous development operated 00:08:37.438 --> 00:08:43.895 through many years like a private enterprise. But for the public benefit, 00:08:43.928 --> 00:08:47.356 finally, the district put the proposal before the voters in Maricopa 00:08:47.389 --> 00:08:51.927 County with the assistance of a separately funded campaign organization. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:56.946 It promoted the project in meetings and media all across the Valley right 00:08:56.979 --> 00:09:02.927 down to campaign buttons and enjoyed considerable support. But with all it 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:08.696 wasn't enough in the 1987 election, the proposal failed by a margin of 2 00:09:08.729 --> 00:09:14.755 to 1. 00:09:14.788 --> 00:09:18.807 The concept of Rio Salado was not turned down the method of financing. It 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:24.446 was now in Phoenix and especially in Tempe. Rio Salado is happening 00:09:24.479 --> 00:09:29.616 through the normal processes of city building. Rio Salado will accommodate 00:09:29.649 --> 00:09:37.375 and be paid for by growth, substantial growth, anticipated growth. Rio 00:09:37.408 --> 00:09:43.505 Salado was a very large infill area. As suggested by this old picture, Rio 00:09:43.538 --> 00:09:47.586 Salado can compete with other infill sites in the valley for growth that 00:09:47.619 --> 00:09:52.657 might might otherwise go to farmlands and desert at the periphery. In the 00:09:52.690 --> 00:09:57.635 tradition of sprawl, Rio Solaro is simply a wise way of continuing to 00:09:57.668 --> 00:10:02.476 build our regional city 00:10:02.509 --> 00:10:07.106 tempe's mayors and city councils. It's Rio Salado Advisory Commission 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:13.866 formed in 1979. It's Rio Salado overlay district established in 1982 and 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:19.316 its staff including the Rio Salado project manager appointed in 1988 all 00:10:19.349 --> 00:10:24.677 have done and planned great things. The Rio Salado Parkway was so 00:10:24.710 --> 00:10:30.226 designated in 1975 when northbound traffic on Mill Avenue was still in the 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:34.346 riverbed as a joint project with the College of Architecture and 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:39.505 Environmental Design at a su A study and model of the Tempe. Rio Salado 00:10:39.538 --> 00:10:42.875 Park were prepared in 1988 00:10:42.908 --> 00:10:48.946 the river was channelized between 1989 and 92 resulting in over 800 acres 00:10:48.979 --> 00:10:53.066 of land now being protected from flooding and ready for future Rio Salado 00:10:53.099 --> 00:11:01.099 development. The northbound Mill Avenue bridge was opened in November 1993 00:11:02.710 --> 00:11:07.816 the Rio Salado Parkway has been relocated and improved in the area north 00:11:07.849 --> 00:11:13.775 of Sun Devil Stadium in good time for the 1996 Fiesta Bowl and Super Bowl 00:11:13.808 --> 00:11:18.986 30. But the full Tempe accomplishment must be told about in a separate 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:21.346 presentation 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:25.515 in Phoenix. There is now considerable commercial industrial development in 00:11:25.548 --> 00:11:31.755 areas adjoining or even within previously suggested district boundaries, 00:11:31.788 --> 00:11:34.375 there's progress 00:11:34.408 --> 00:11:38.486 and there's a very good start on the two features that can best give 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:43.287 increased visibility to the project and demonstrate it as a co ordinated 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:51.320 regional endeavor. They are the parkway and a logo. 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:58.086 Six miles of the evolving parkway exist. I urge you to take a drive on it 00:11:58.119 --> 00:12:03.476 start at 32nd street in Phoenix where it's necessary. Crossing of I 10, 00:12:03.509 --> 00:12:09.537 the Maricopa freeway is already in use. Go east on University Drive to 00:12:09.570 --> 00:12:16.515 52nd Street in Tempe. This 2.5 miles can be additionally identified with 00:12:16.548 --> 00:12:22.525 appropriate graphics and signage as the Rio Salado Parkway. Some of it is 00:12:22.558 --> 00:12:28.996 now a mature demonstration of the ideal go north on 52nd street which 00:12:29.029 --> 00:12:33.496 becomes the Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe 00:12:33.529 --> 00:12:40.096 and on along the river for 3.5 miles to M clinic Hayden, you'll see the 00:12:40.129 --> 00:12:43.677 long term possibilities. 00:12:43.710 --> 00:12:48.667 An excellent logo was adopted by the district either right side up or 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:55.236 upside down. It shows its initials, a green, lower case R suggesting oasis 00:12:55.269 --> 00:13:01.606 type development along both shores of a meandering stream. The blue si 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:07.000 can't think of any logo that is more representative of what it represents. 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.080 But whether that logo or another, there should be just one identifying the 00:13:12.229 --> 00:13:18.366 Rio Salado project and Parkway from the Gila River to Granite Reef and the 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:25.956 Lakes beyond using an agreed logo as its basis, an agreed system of 00:13:25.989 --> 00:13:30.755 graphics with an agreed set of design specifications can distinguish the 00:13:30.788 --> 00:13:36.726 40 mile Rio Salado Parkway through Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa as a shared 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:43.316 regional feature that celebrates there our common heritage. It can rival 00:13:43.349 --> 00:13:49.047 the long famous yellow brick road, that intention can be declared and 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:53.186 initiated at any time. 00:13:53.219 --> 00:13:57.625 In due course, we will see a familiar logo at all river crossings along 00:13:57.658 --> 00:14:03.265 the parkway and marking trails, recreational facilities and all other Rio 00:14:03.298 --> 00:14:10.726 Salado things, hot air balloons, Frisbees T shirts, whatever the district 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:15.015 logo is now in place at the Central Avenue and other crossings in Phoenix 00:14:15.048 --> 00:14:17.125 , 00:14:17.158 --> 00:14:20.456 replacing the original 00:14:20.489 --> 00:14:25.826 in the words of the students. Nearly 30 years ago, Rio Salado has given 00:14:25.859 --> 00:14:32.476 Phoenix its life. Now, Phoenix Reed Metropolitan Phoenix can return life 00:14:32.509 --> 00:14:38.436 to the river and benefit greatly from that act unquote. 00:14:38.469 --> 00:14:43.297 We do have the talent and the energy to do such great things. Our 00:14:43.330 --> 00:14:48.927 riverside cities, Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa have demonstrated this with what 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:54.066 they have done and are doing in their downtown. 00:14:54.099 --> 00:14:59.015 This picture suggests in a poignant way that we also have the innate 00:14:59.048 --> 00:15:03.047 desire to do good things. 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:08.255 We still have our desert and our mountains and our sunlight and we still 00:15:08.288 --> 00:15:13.505 have our river in all its aspects and we've just reviewed them. The 00:15:13.538 --> 00:15:18.157 possibilities and opportunities are all still there to respect it, 00:15:18.190 --> 00:15:25.076 celebrate it and exploit it beneficially for our regional good. After a 00:15:25.109 --> 00:15:30.029 hesitant start, there's progress and promise.