Hi renters,

Welcome to Rent Check PHX. In today’s issue, I’m sharing a story from early this year that’s now feeling bittersweet.

In January, I wrote about how I became friends with my next-door neighbors. What began as an agreement to look out for each other’s packages turned into a really delightful relationship—so much so that their little boys are going to be the ringbearers in my wedding next month.

After three years of living side by side, these neighbors are moving out of state, and I’m super sad to see them to go. Their youngest was born just months after we moved in, and I’ve watched him grow from a newborn into a walking, talking toddler—and that makes it really hard to say goodbye.

Part of me is frustrated with how attached I let myself get, but that feeling is only fleeting. I would much rather choose the sadness over someone leaving than give up all the great memories of spontaneous dessert outings and chasing after the boys on their bikes.

In this edition, we’ll also talk about what’s happening to the YMCA downtown, and we’ll go over key dates for the Nov. 3 election. Hope you enjoy! If you’ve already voted and are tired of hearing about it, send this to a friend who hasn’t yet!

Jessica Swarner

Newsletter Editor, Rent Check PHX

Your thoughts about voting could inspire someone else. Tell us what’s motivating you in a short, selfie-style video, and we may feature it in our newsletter or on social.*

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*Paywalled content noted with 🔒

🛠️ The Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Valley of the Sun YMCA are partnering to build a new $60 million YMCA in downtown Phoenix that will include about 60 units of affordable housing. Earlier this month, I wrote about how the current YMCA’s tenants were evicted from the building. (Press release)

💰 People aged 75 and older are now the wealthiest age group in the US, while those 35 and younger saw a drop in median net worth over the last three years. (The Associated Press)

🎓 Some students in Phoenix are opting out of traditional student housing as apartment complexes with open rooms lure them in with free months of rent. (Bisnow)

🙌 The opportunity to access affordable housing changed these three Valley families’ lives as they faced the brink of homelessness. (AZ Foothills Magazine)

🏠 If you’re interested in how housing policy can also make positive climate impacts, check out this webinar happening Thursday. (Zoom)

🚽 Want to avoid having to put in a maintenance request for a clogged toilet? Here are seven things plumbers wish people would stop doing. (Apartment Therapy)

I became friends with my neighbors to stop porch pirates. Here’s what happened next

graphic of a hand holding a plate of dessert, keys, and two hand holding a package

(Francesca Daly/COURIER)

Is anyone else tired of feeling like they have to schedule hangouts with friends weeks in advance?

I found myself feeling this way a lot in my last living situation, and I realized distance played a big role. Driving from Phoenix to, say, Chandler to see a friend might not seem like a huge hike—but it’s also not something easy to do multiple times a week, especially on weekdays when you’re battling rush hour traffic on the 10.

Distance also makes spontaneity nearly impossible. A half-hour drive on the freeway takes way more energy than knocking on a neighbor’s door or running into someone at the bar down the street.

When I’ve lived in apartment complexes in the past, they felt transient and anonymous, and it didn’t feel worth it to try to form a relationship with neighbors. But when I moved into my current rental in downtown Phoenix, I decided this time was different. I was going to at least try making friends with people who lived close by—and the easiest place to start was next door.

Here’s how I introduced myself

Hey, Phoenix renters! Early voting in Arizona is happening now—and the candidates you choose will influence housing policies and your ability to afford basic needs.

If you want to receive a ballot in the mail and haven’t gotten one already, request it by this Friday, Oct. 23. Drop that ballot back in the mail by next Tuesday, Oct. 27, or take it to a dropbox or voting center by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.

You can also head to a polling location by Oct. 30 if you want to skip the line on Election Day and vote early in person! Just make sure to bring ID. The last chance to vote in person will be Nov. 3 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Check out our Arizona Voter Guide

This is a space to share events that are focused on connecting with community and spending time with neighbors.

If you have an event you’d like to submit, reply to this email or email me!

Here’s what’s coming up:

🍻 Coronado Happy Hour – Member Special!

When: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 5-7 p.m.

Where: The Main Ingredient

“Raise a glass and meet your neighbors! Active CNA members who register for this event will get a drink on us!!!”

🚮 Community Clean-Up – Miracle Mile McDowell

When: Sunday, Oct. 25, 7:30-9 a.m.

Where: The parking lot behind Firecreek Coffee on McDowell Road

“Come clean up our neighborhood with support from District 4 Council candidate Ed Hermes. Wear a hat and sunscreen, and bring gloves and a picker if you have them (though we have some to share)!”

♻️ Valley Alley Swap

When: Sunday, Oct. 25

Where: 112 N. Central Ave., 8 a.m. to noon

“This month, thanks to the @theheardbuilding, we have an Ofrenda for the people we miss. Bring a photo, a candle, a favorite snack of theirs – anything you’d like to leave at the ofrenda. And if you want to share their memory, the story swap is going to be about that.
We’ll have the usuals on top of that:
🧡 The Swap: bring what you don’t need, take what you do
🥫 Overflow Pantry: household supplies + shelf-stable goods
✨ Trinket Swap: random tchotchkes
👕 Closet Swap: bring an outfit, take an outfit
🎭 Costume Swap: bring an old costume, get a new one, just in time for Halloween!
📚 Pocket Library: leave one, take one
🤝 Org Mixer: volunteer opportunities for the holiday season
📌 Announcement Wall: what’s coming up next
🧘 Yoga: 9–10 AM, donation-based, all hearts, all levels welcome
Free. No registration. Just come.”

💰 YMCA Tenants Benefit Show

When: Sunday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m.

Where: Linger Longer Lounge

“We are asking for financial support from our community for organized tenants’ moving costs and future living expenses. Show material support and solidarity for your working class neighbors in Downtown Phoenix.”

Would you recommend this newsletter to your neighbor?

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jessica Swarner and edited by Crystal Niforos.

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