By District: Barrel | Cactus | Cholla | Ocotillo | Sahuaro | Yucca | Back to Main District News Page

Get the Barrel District Network News!

Get the latest information about what's happening in the Barrel District and the city of Glendale by visiting the Barrel District Network News page. You can also sign up to receive these newsletters via e-mail.

Click here to visit the page now!

Open House Meeting

Join Councilmember Yvonne Knaack on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Glendale Adult Center, 5970 W. Brown St.  This will be an open house format, where residents will have the opportunity to speak to Councilmember Knaack as well as representatives from many city departments and other agencies.  Spend just a few minutes or stay the entire time – the choice is yours.  Light refreshments will be served. 

On hand to answer questions and provide information will be staff from:

• Code Compliance
• Community Partnerships
• Fire
• Parks and Recreation
• Police/CAT Team
• Sanitation/Recycling
• Transportation
• Utilities
• Water Conservation
• Census 2010
• Maricopa County Animal Care and Control
• Volunteer/ Civic Education

For more information call 623-930-2250.

Northern Avenue Storm Drain Project

Construction has started on a project to install storm drains along Northern Avenue from 47th to 63rd avenues.  Traffic will be restricted (east and west) usually to one lane in each direction.  Some lateral lines will also be installed which are designed to bring water from the side of the street into the storm drain pipe. In order to reduce the impact on traffic at the 59th and Northern avenue intersection, the contractor will tunnel underneath 59th Avenue to insert the storm drain pipe under that intersection.  This will require the excavation of two large pits in Northern Avenue, one on either side of 59th Avenue for the contractor to be able to perform this installation.  This process will begin early July and take approximately three months to complete.  The entire project is expected to take about 13 months. Please click here to read the latest newsletter.

National Register of Historic Places

Thunderbird Estates / McDonald Addition subdivision, located between Northern Ave. and Royal Palm Rd. from 57th Dr. to 59th Ave., is the first Barrel District neighborhood to become eligible to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Property owners attended a meeting on June 24, 2009 to learn about the benefits of being listed as a Historic District. Benefits may include a reduction in the primary property tax, potential increase in property values, and added neighborhood protection due to a special review process for projects using federal monies that may impact historic resources.

Listing on the National Register requires that properties be associated with an architectural style, person or event of historic importance, have maintained their historic integrity and generally be at least 50 years old. The Ranch House style of homes in Thunderbird Estates / McDonald Addition typifies Post World War II development and the historic integrity in a majority of homes has been maintained with over 70% of the properties being “Contributing Properties.” The review process may take up to one year after which time, bronze plaques may be installed on “Contributing Properties.”

Park Improvements

The picnic pavilion at Sahuaro Ranch Park was recently refurbished. New support beams and roof were constructed, additional lattice and lighting were added and a fresh coat of paint applied. Additionally, the picnic tables have been refinished. The rest of the park is scheduled for additional renovations with completion planned for 2010.

Barrel District Town Talk

Councilmember Yvonne Knaack hosted an informal meeting for Barrel residents at the Glendale Adult Center on March 31st.  Many residents took the opportunity to stop by and talk with Councilmember Knaack about their concerns and suggestions for Glendale.  Residents were also able to talk with staff from several departments who provided valuable information. 

VIP Check Presentation

On May 26th Councilmember Knaack presented a Visual Improvement Program (VIP) check to Chris Ulrich, President and CEO of RSI Enterprises, Inc. for improvements made to his building at 5440 W. Northern. 

Glendale's VIP assists in the improvement of commercial and industrial properties by offering a rebate of up to 50 percent of any qualified improvement costs. These funds help support commercial and industrial property owners and long-term tenants who want to reinvest in and renovate their properties. The program is intended to improve the aesthetic nature of properties and to assist in bringing properties up to current building and property code standards. For more information about this program, including eligibility requirements, click here.

WeeVOS Playground Equipment

Councilmember Knaack recently attended the dedication of a new playground designed to keep kids fit while having fun.

The new playground, located in Sahuaro Ranch Park, is called WeeVOS. It is designed for toddlers aged 2-5, and complements the adjacent EVOS play structure for older children. The unique playground concept is a suspended structure that encourages physical exertion, as well as thought on the part of the kids as they maneuver over, under and around all of the play features.

This play equipment was donated by Landscape Structures, and is the first of its kind internationally in a public setting. Sahuaro Ranch Park is located at 59th Avenue and Mountain View Road.