About the Beautification Committee
Making SOHIP more beautiful, one corner at a time.
The SOHIP Beautification Committee is focused on a simple idea: our neighborhood is already great, and with a little coordination, we can make it even better.
We exist to:
- Improve the look and feel of everyday spaces we all pass by—sidewalks, corners, medians, and small “leftover” parcels.
- Turn underused areas into community assets, where it’s allowed by zoning and city rules.
- Make sure that, as SOHIP grows, the public realm keeps pace and reflects that this is a starter-home neighborhood people are proud to invest in.
Our Initial Focus
Phase 1: The Gilbert & Avondale Triangles
Our first major effort is exploring how to transform the empty triangular parcels at Gilbert & Avondale into something better for the neighborhood—within the constraints of city ownership, right-of-way, and safety requirements.
That could mean:
- Low-maintenance landscaping and plantings
- Dog-friendly green space or simple seating (if feasible)
- Modest design elements that clearly say “You’re in SOHIP”
Nothing is decided yet. The Beautification Committee’s job is to gather input, understand what’s actually possible under City and PD 193 rules, and bring forward realistic options.
Future Opportunities
Once we have momentum on the triangles, we’ll look at additional projects such as:
- School Green Space Access
- Exploring ways, in partnership with the school and the City, to make portions of nearby school green space more accessible or better integrated with the neighborhood—where safety and policy allow it.
- More Trees Across SOHIP
- Identifying priority blocks for new trees, working with the City and property owners to add shade and greenery that support our residential character.
- Lemmon Avenue Beautification
- Long-term, we’d like to see Lemmon Ave better reflect the fact that it borders a real neighborhood, not just a traffic corridor—through landscaping, visual improvements, and safer, more attractive edges.
These are directional goals, not promises. Every project will be vetted against zoning, right-of-way, and practical maintenance realities.
Smaller Projects & Ongoing Initiatives
Not everything has to be a big capital project. We’re also focused on smaller efforts that add up:
- Neighborhood Murals (where appropriate)
- Partnering with property owners and artists to add high-quality murals that reinforce SOHIP’s character without overwhelming it.
- Placemaking Markers
- Exploring things like street toppers, modest signage, or custom curb markers that help define SOHIP’s boundaries and identity—all compliant with City standards.
- Community Trash Clean-Ups
- Coordinated clean-up days to tackle litter, overgrowth, and neglected corners.
- Holding Vacant and Active Sites to a Standard
- Working with other SOHIP committees to ensure developers and property owners keep empty lots and active construction sites clean, safe, and in compliance with existing rules.
Why Beautification Matters
This isn’t about being fussy. It’s about:
- Stewardship – Showing that residents pay attention and care about the details.
- Safety & Comfort – Clean, well-kept spaces make it easier and more inviting to walk, bike, and be outside.
- Leverage – When we push for responsible development that respects MF-2 zoning and neighborhood scale, it helps if the neighborhood itself clearly looks invested-in and cared for.
Beautification work supports everything else SOHIP is doing on zoning, traffic, and safety.
How to Get Involved
You don’t have to be a landscape designer or urban planner to help. You just need to care about how SOHIP looks and feels.
Ways to plug in:
- Join our email list for Beautification updates
- Get notices about meetings, project updates, and volunteer days.
- Volunteer for project days
- Help with clean-ups, plantings, and small improvement projects. Most events are a few hours on evenings or weekends.
- “Adopt” a Triangle, Corner, or Block
- Informally take ownership of a nearby trouble spot—keeping an eye on litter, reporting issues, and joining efforts when we schedule work there.
- Share Ideas and Locations
- See a small area that could be so much better with a bit of attention? Tell us where, and we’ll add it to the list.
