First off, I like a lot of your ideas. But i don't think it's an either or for these concepts. It could be a when for both.
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Originally Posted by HooverDam
I'm less worried about neighborhood impact and just over zoning when there's a lack of need and creating more frozen lots.
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Impact to the neighborhoods should be considered first. I still stand by the fact that the revenue building isn't that bad as far as massing and height go. But it's still ugly and I'd rather see it blocked by better looking, taller buildings in the context of a larger plan.
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We can't zone down some of the high rise zoned lots in downtown and they haven't been filled in 40 years, so I just don't want to do that again. If I thought we had leaders capable of luring big firms that would need big buildings, maybe I'd go for it, but I dont see that happening.
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I totally get what you're coming from.
But I wouldn't just knock down the buildings that are there and zone them to rot as has been the history to the east. Almost everything is publically owned and state connected, and the state is broke. A comprehensive plan with the right support (TIF district, gaming district, state legislative action) would get the buildings built. If developers can't send to the development corporation RFP's that work and are financed, nothing happens on the lot.
My thinking is a renewed capitol building to the west, the new green, light rail, a stadium/other sort of destination type site would create its own draw, and then gaming would just be the icing on the cake.
I would start small: build the shorter stuff first. Since those buildings are cheap and lead well to affordable housing, I'd provide matching bonds at low interest to start. I'd condemn the 7th Avenue block make that the initial gateway into the site.
After Adams has established itself, just work up the building heights providing the incentive of free land alongside an affordability requirement. The focus is to keep building the TIF fund. Building this block by block means that that the zoning is the final say on height, not the market. At some point or another, probably 10 - 20 years after dirt starts turning on the lots and westward light rail, developers should be throwing money at the corporation to build stuff down there, especially with gaming.
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I'd like to see the focus on high rise development on the Van Buren corridor where we could see 500'+ towers go.
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West Washington with all the Capitol Mall stuff around it will have upward pressures on height, probably more so than West Van Buren. Both will come in time.
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I just don't see it happening. People freaked when Mayor Gordon suggested allowing Slot Machines in the airport if you'll recall.
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For one, the State has the final say, which is nice. It doesn't take much to sell them out.
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If Phoenix was going to try to give/swamp land with the Tohono O'Odham so they could build some kind of gaming centers in the City Id rather see it in the Southern Edge of the warehouse district to create a really interesting entertainment center down there.
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Where at in the warehouse district?
Gaming hotels are generally pedestrian unfriendly and demand as much as possible in height and lot size. I'm thinking West Madison would basically be a mini Strip. It certainly doesn't preclude gaming outside of the district in the warehouse area, although I would have reservations about the kind of concept lots you're talking about.
As for Wright's plan, I like it. But for the record, if Phoenix were to build a monumental type structure, this is one of the few sites that ultimately work best.
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