Tempe kicks the ball on Danelle Plaza, begins leasing to nonprofit

A new page is turning on Danelle Plaza, a watering hole for artists and a shrine to an intensely local artistic community that some have called “the last cool place in Tempe.”

The city of Tempe is giving a nudge to longtime Danelle Project leader Rob Moore to scram. On March 21, its Economic Development Department delivered a letter to Moore and his nonprofit, Access Geographic, giving the longtime leader of the Danelle Project — an endeavor to protect, revitalize and celebrate the area — a not-so-subtle hint to pack your bags.

The letter, signed by Assistant City Attorney Sam Arrowsmith, told Moore the city is terminating his lease with him, effective April 21. The letter also ordered Moore to “remove all personal property from the Premises, restore the Premises to its original condition, excepting normal wear and tear, and return any keys or access cards.”

While Moore was already planning to sunset his tenure running the project and pass the baton to new leadership, he was left a bit surprised.

“I am confused as I don’t recall Access Geographic, LLC having a lease with the City of Tempe?” Moore wrote via email in response to the letter. “I could be wrong!?”

Tempe did not respond to an inquiry from Phoenix New Times asking whether there was an original lease.

"It's kind of smart on their part, because it's like, 'you're out,' but we're not sure what that means," Moore told New Times. "What that does is puts me in limbo. It's kind of a master play."

The surprise play to nudge Moore out will give Tempe Art and Music Coalition (TAMC) power over managing the plaza’s artistic evolution as it enters a new phase under the reign of Guina Affiliated Developers and Desert Viking Development LLC. The nonprofit will begin coordinating art programming in May.

“The galleries were a gift to show and activate space, to see if you gave a space to a community, you could see what the community could do,” Kyllan Maney, the nonprofit’s executive creative director, told New Times. “That was a gift, and now we have to start paying for the gift. With developers and investors and all that stuff, they have to pay their bills too.”

Plans 'put to the test'

Moore’s April 21 eviction date is just four days before he is supposed to host a final art show at the plaza on April 25, the "Cat Prison Art Show" curated by local artist NXOEED. Maney said she thinks there was some confusion between city departments over the termination date and there may be adjustments made in the coming days.

For now, the nonprofit’s executive director, Jacqueline Swan, said the art isn’t going anywhere.

“That’s the first thing we negotiated — to leave the art for the rest of the summer,” Swan said. “That is not going to be an issue.”

The city of Tempe’s webpage for the plaza echoes the idea.

“Despite holding a warm place in our community’s heart, Danelle Plaza has deteriorated,” it reads. “That being said, there is no demolition scheduled.”

Tempe spokesperson Kris Baxter-Ging did not respond to a New Times inquiry by the time of publication.

Maney told New Times the nonprofit’s plans are in flux.

“We want to move the art to mostly the front Yucca building. But the developer — Desert Viking — is planning on doing cosmetic work to that building, because if you’ve ever seen that painted, it’s atrocious,” Maney said. “So it seems pointless to put artwork up when you’re about to do a bunch of work.”

Moore reflected with nostalgia on the Danelle Project’s history over the phone with New Times

“For years, people have written letters, artists have contributed their amazing talent, ASU professors and students have shared visions of possible futures that embrace the local community,” Moore said. “It's nice to see all this energy recognized in part within the latest development agreement between the developers and the city.”

Moore issued a warning about the agreement, which he said does include language about including the artistic community in development plans.

“I think things are aimed in the right direction, but the community needs to stay engaged all the way through the process for this to work,” Moore said. “Now that we’re entering the actual redevelopment phase, long-term goals for nurturing the plaza’s alternative arts scene will truly be put to the test.”