Market Creek Plaza is a community vision, effort, and mission that has come to life. Once the site of the 20-acre abandoned factory at the heart of the Diamond Neighborhoods, Market Creek Plaza is now a diverse community focal point, incorporating cultural traditions, arts and entertainment, with necessary products and services.

Since 1998, the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (JCNI) has partnered with residents of the community to bring the Plaza to life. Resident working teams worked with Jacobs Center staff to plan, design, build, lease, and now operate the Plaza.

Planning for the Plaza began with 800 neighborhood surveys that assessed what the community needed. Top on the list was a major chain grocery store, followed by restaurants, entertainment, living wage jobs, and more. From those surveys, a top 10 list was developed, and the Plaza fulfills six of those 10 requests.

The economic, environmental, and cultural impacts of Market Creek Plaza are evident today. Many of the 200 jobs at the Plaza are held by local residents. The restoration of Chollas Creek with natural vegetation and walking paths is complete. And a 500-seat outdoor amphitheater is ready to host multicultural arts and entertainment.

To learn more about how the unique community partnership that brought the Plaza to life, visit www.marketcreekplaza.com.