Ms. Downtowner
Robin Meinhart
Amazing Liaison
By Kimberly Hundley
Photo by Morgan Bellinger

Downtown’s eclectic blend of businesses and residences span 786 acres bisected by two major streets and a canal. Helping knit this many-textured community together and further its identity is Robin Meinhart, the city’s Downtown liaison. She’s the one who’ll hold your hand through permitting processes, renovations, event planning, property hunting and more.

Though she and her staff have an office on Craftsman Court, you’re just as likely to find Meinhart on the sidewalks of Old Town, talking to business owners, sharing their joys and sorrows—and constantly calculating ideas to make it all better, much better.

How do you like your job? To be corny, I love it down here. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Downtown and always have. I don’t know if that’s kismet, or not, but this feels like home and I’m very grateful to be down here.

What’s the most difficult part of your duties? With the economy, traffic hasn’t been what it used to be, and I think you suck up some of that energy. I talk with some of the long-timers who are struggling—the mom-and-pops who make the Downtown unique—and when you kind of walk from that, it hurts … On the flipside, maybe the economy is helping us keep a lid on rental rates.

What do you see as a major challenge for the area? We’ve seen a departure of some of our galleries, especially on Marshall, and that is such a unique feature to the Downtown we need to find ways to sustain it. Part of that will be how to change up the ArtWalks and make them even more accessible and interesting.

Name four exciting factors on the horizon for Downtown. 1) A number of condo projects are nearly completed, and we’ll have more people living here, creating energy and providing business. 2) The Rose Garden boutique hotel is moving along, and that will be a great addition to the Downtown and provide additional foot traffic. 3) The NBA All-Star Game is coming to Phoenix in February, and we may attract some high-profile types. 4) I’m extremely excited about the new Farmer’s Market.

It seems like you’re always working! What do you do for fun? On my non-work hours, I have a husband who also works for city in the transportation department, and we do a lot of shop talk. But we’re also blessed with a little 7-year-old boy we adopted from China. Cameron keeps us on our toes! He loves Downtown, the trolleys and the toy stores, which is exciting. A lot of the attractiveness of Downtown is to have something for all ages, and I think we’re getting there.

For more info or to subscribe to an electronic bulletin, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/downtown.