March 13, 2017
ROOSEVELT GROWHOUSE
by Kelly Placke
From 2008 to 2016 Roosevelt Growhouse garden and GROWop boutique on 6th St. in Phoenix were a staple of the Roosevelt Row arts district. Founded by artists Kenny Barrett and Kelly Placke, and co-owned by Joshua Hahn, Placke's sunflower-inspired painting hung on the back of the boutique for several years and it quickly became a favorite backdrop for visitors' snapshots. With the city's approval of a new adaptive development Growhouse faced several months of uncertainty about the future until early 2017 when the city council gave permission for temporary use of land less than a half-mile away around a home damaged by a 2010 arson fire. Here's hoping that Placke's sunflower was able to be saved and makes another appearance to be appreciated by future visitors. @growopboutique