Phoenicians can thank the Salt River floods of the late 19th century for the Roosevelt Row Arts District that we know today. Had they not forced early residents of Phoenix northward, the city center may have grown along the river’s edge instead of the higher ground where it is.

Homes sprung up in the Roosevelt District in the early 1900s in the distinctive styles of the day. The Roosevelt Row Arts District neighborhood was the City of Phoenix’s first designated historic district, established in 1984 thanks to Terry Goddard and the members of Trinity Cathedral.

Roosevelt Row Homes

Palm trees lining a residential street in Roosevelt Row in Phoenix, Arizona
The median sale price is in the mid $400s.

You won’t find the Mediterranean sameness in this neighborhood that you see in the newer parts of the metro area. Most of the homes have been painstakingly restored to their original conditions.

Besides the striking single-family homes, you’ll find sleek apartments and condo projects that complement this eclectic mix of homes and buildings. As a city-center location, the Roosevelt District is home to the notable Phoenix attractions that make it a destination city. The median sale price is in the mid $400s, but current home prices range from the high $400s to over $1.5 million.

Get to Know RoRo

An artistic sign post in Roosevelt Row in Phoenix, Arizona
Roosevelt Row showcases the artistic talents in the neighborhood.

The Roosevelt neighborhood has emerged as the preeminent art district in the metro area. Roosevelt Row (known as RoRo by locals) showcases the artistic talents in the neighborhood, celebrated en masse on First Fridays held at the beginning of each month. It was the local artists who first moved into the area in the 1980s, starting First Fridays to showcase their work in 1994. Visitors took note, saw its potential, and the revitalization began. 

Visitors who don’t want to walk the RoRo art district can take the Trolley Tour or the Metro Rail. During the summer, the shops keep late so that people can enjoy the galleries, live music streaming from bars and nightclubs, and boutiques after the sun sets and temperatures cool.

What’s Nearby

An aerial view of Margaret T. Hance Park built over Highway 10
The Roosevelt Row Arts District has everything you need within walking distance.

Sports, the arts, first-rate shopping, higher education, and good food are all within walking distance in and around the Roosevelt Row Arts District. Here are some of the more iconic landmarks in the area:

  • Chase Field - Chase Field is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Suns play at nearby Footprint Center. Both are within walking distance.
  • The Burton Barr Library - This library anchors the Phoenix Public Library system. At the exact time of the summer solstice, the sun shines through skylights and floods the library with light through its five levels, shinning onto the lobby’s floor in circles.
  • Margaret T. Hance Park - This park houses the historic Winship House inside the Japanese Friendship Garden. A tour of this home will give you a sense of what life was like in the early days of Phoenix. The park hosts many cultural events from September through May.
  • CityScape - CityScape is a mixed-use project that includes a hotel, retail shops, luxury apartments, and offices. You’ll also find Phoenix’s only rooftop lounge with a full-service bar and restaurant where the views of the city are unmatched.
  • Cibo - Located in a 1913 fully restored bungalow, Cibo's menu includes Italian favorites like hand-tossed pizza, stuzzichini, antipasti, and fresh pasta.
  • The Welcome Diner - The Welcome Diner chose an old-fashioned diner car to serve its full menu of American comfort food. Anyone craving buttermilk biscuits, red beans and rice and po-boys will be right at home.