Aardex  a data-driven, community-minded real estate investment and development firm, partnered with the City of Phoenix this past summer to transform its Jackson Place property at 20 W. Jackson St. into a 24/7 homeless heat relief and navigation center, providing around-the-clock respite and services during the city’s hottest months. On Friday, Nov. 21, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego visited the facility to recognize the program’s success and highlight how continued public-private partnerships will support heat relief efforts again next summer. 

“Opening a 24-hour cooling center requires significant resources, and it’s not as simple as identifying a building,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego at the event. “We must also fund 24-hour staffing, security, increased custodial services, and other resources. We know that saving lives is one of the best investments we can make in our community, but Phoenix cannot do this alone. As we start planning for next summer, I’m once again calling on the county, the state and the federal government to step up and provide the funding, facilities and services necessary to save more lives.” 

Operated by the City of Phoenix, the downtown center offered an accessible, air-conditioned space where people experiencing homelessness could cool down, get water and—crucially—connect to a range of support services, an essential component of the City’s 2025 Heat Response Plan. As Arizona’s only 24/7 heat respite location, Jackson Place played a vital role in this year’s efforts: serving more than 4,000 unduplicated individuals and helping 751 people connect with services to end their homelessness. Based on the program’s demonstrated impact, Aardex and the City shared they will continue working together to use Jackson Place again as a heat relief site during Summer 2026. 

“For us, this was an opportunity to put an underutilized property to work for the community at a time of real need,” said Caleb Hebel, Principal at Aardex. “The City of Phoenix had a strong program in place, and we were able to provide a location that made sense for their team, the surrounding businesses, and most importantly, the people seeking relief and support.” 

Located between Central and First avenues, just blocks from Chase Field and Footprint Center, the Jackson Place site was selected for its proximity to public transit and areas historically impacted by high rates of heat-related illness. The facility supported safe, dignified access for all visitors, helping the City manage high volumes while minimizing impacts on neighboring businesses. 

“At this site, we not only provided a cool place to rest, we provided navigation and case management services, helping people take meaningful steps toward ending their homelessness,” said Rachel Milne, Director of the City of Phoenix’s Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) at the event. “This large, flexible space allowed us to serve a high volume of people while offering dedicated areas for families with children and a separate space for women, ensuring dignity and safety for everyone. And because we know pets are family too, we were grateful to offer a space where guests could bring their pets into the air conditioning and have peace of mind that their companions were safe and cool as well.” 

According to city officials, expanded heat relief efforts like the Jackson Place center contributed to a decline in heat-related deaths in Maricopa County for the first time in a decade and a reduction in heat-related calls to the Phoenix Fire Department. 

“One of Aardex’s core priorities is advancing community-oriented projects in the markets where we invest,” said Evan Strauss, Operations Manager at Aardex. “Jackson Place is a clear example of how we can respond to an urgent public challenge today while working with the City on a long-term vision that benefits residents, businesses and the broader downtown community with this property in the future. We’re proud to be part of a solution that demonstrates how private property owners and public agencies can collaborate quickly and effectively.” 

Purchased by Aardex in 2022, the Jackson Place and Madison Square properties anchor a full-block redevelopment effort within a designated Opportunity Zone. The restoration of the historic Madison Square building—now in its final stages with shell renovations completing in December and tenant discussions underway—helped secure an increased height allowance for the adjacent Jackson Place site, rising from 80 to 140 feet. Once complete, Madison Square will reintroduce a 100-year-old structure as a modern commercial and retail hub with large storefront windows, indoor/outdoor activation, and flexible basement space steps from the light rail. This investment paves the way for Jackson Place, a planned 14-story community with approximately 262 residential units and street-level retail, supported by alley and sidewalk acquisitions that enhance walkability and a new 15-foot public paseo connecting downtown Phoenix to the Warehouse District. The project has qualified for a State of Arizona GPLET agreement and recently received site plan approval, representing a significant win for the city, the surrounding neighborhoods, and future residents. 

“For Aardex, this partnership is a great example of the role that real estate can and should play in supporting community wellbeing,” Hebel added. “We’re grateful to the City of Phoenix, especially the Office of Homeless Solutions, for their collaboration, and we look forward to supporting this work in the season ahead.” 

For more information on Phoenix’s heat relief resources and homelessness services, visit the City of Phoenix website.