Beginning in early 2013, DPZ began the design, coding, and implementation plan for five TOD districts located along the existing Metro light rail corridor in the City of Phoenix. 

As the prime consultant, DPZ lead a team with over a dozen national and local consultants; the DPZ Team also worked closely with the Gateway Steering Committee representing the local community, the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department and other departments, agencies and organizations, as well as the City’s partners, Arizona State University (ASU), and St. Luke Health Initiative.

As a recipient of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Challenge Grant from the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, the City of Phoenix has started the process of defining a new vision for a more livable and equitable development future.  The DPZ Team was privileged to be a part of this process and work with the City and its partners to create long-term, sustainable vision and plans for the five TOD Districts, and to help stimulate growth within them while also positively influencing the larger city.

The six main components of this vision include:

• Diverse and Affordable Housing
• Thriving Economic Development
• Green Infrastructure
• Balanced Land Use
• Connected Mobility
• Health and Vitality

The multi-year process included large scale planning, envisioning potential futures and best-use scenarios addressing land-use, transportation, utilities, affordability, and development regulations. The primary goal of DPZ’s engagement was a new zoning code addressing land within 1/2 mile of light-rail stations. The process included engaging local architects and developers, separately, in review of current processes and those DPZ proposed.

Reinvent Phoenix has resulted in a number of small-scale interventions continuing to transform the city, as well as commitment to major thoroughfare reconfigurations now secured through CIP. The TOD code was adopted in July 2015.