Damn, I've been too busy, but has anyone made any progress in getting that one building saved? Or rustling up opposition? How can the neighborhood be OK with convenience stores and gas stations all over that intersection?

Can you share the details on the developments with the Cornish Pasty Downtown location? I've seen no progress at the site for weeks.

I haven't heard anything but I know it will be a topic of conversation at the meeting.

I read it on twitter. Some guy was saying that they talked to the management and said they were holding back on their expansion at the downtown location for a few months, possibily 5 or 6.

Yup. That translates to them realizing it'd be a poor use of resources. Cornish pasty would do well on Roosevelt, not Monroe.

Good point, they'd be a nice fit in the Canvas bldg with the other eateries apparently going in there. Though Monroe does have potential, Seamus and ghost Lounge are generally pretty busy by downtown Phx standards.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/b...expansion.html

Potbelly is also going in at 7th Ave and McDowell. How did we not see this coming...

I wonder which corner. I'm kind of hoping for the northeast corner. More parking and it's a more unique building.

I would think it would do much better on Monroe than Roosevelt. They could tap in to the much bigger lunch rush downtown, and maybe help make Monroe even more of a night spot (or at least get some business at night). On Roosevelt it would mostly be a night place with much less lunch rush.

hipsters = lunch/midday/and nighttime.
downtown workers = lunch.

"maybe help make monroe even more of a night spot" isn't a sentence that encourages a your average business owner to open up shop, it's too "what if" to sink a bunch of money into. Besides, it's not like Monroe currently is a nightlife spot, there's one dive bar, and whatever you call that crap in San Carlos Hotel. Roosevelt has more residents in the neighborhood, there is more neighborhood synergy, and it's not a freaking dead zone at night on the weekdays.

I would frequent it before games and concerts if it were on Monroe. Not so much on Roosevelt.

A reliable source relaying first-hand information has informed me that The Vig has shown interest in opening up in the Cavness House, former home to Tara's Garden, Palette, and Local Breeze at 606 N 4th Ave.

Lots of info on a few downtown projects here. The first, on the office tower on the empty block between Collier's and Cityscape, talks about a new 400,000 sq ft office tower with maybe a small residential or retail component. A bit underwhelming at only 400,000 sq ft seeing how the Cityscape tower is 568,000 sq ft, so this would be roughtly 2/3 of the size.
They also want to have a big portion of it leased before they even start construction so who knows what the timing on this is.

Second part is a bit confusing...says Luhrs had plans for an office tower on the side "just west of US Airways Center"...do they mean the empty parking lot? Then it says they are moving forward with plans for a Courtyard by Marriott on the same site...so they are no longer demolishing the Luhrs Central Building to build it on that block? Plans for the office tower have been cancelled it seems (the cool new tallest that was to go between the Luhrs Building and Luhrs Tower).

/\Some good information. Nothing too exciting, because it's all speculative or planning info, which means either years of planning, or nothing will come out of it. But at least there is talk.

Regarding the lots west of the US Airways Center. This hopefully only includes the empty block still occupied by the barrister building. That other block just to the south still houses those old buildings (a hotel and the white stuccoed old building) on Madison. Those guys are desperately in need of TLC, or they're going to be razed quicker than a speculator can put pen to paper.

I read the "Images of America - Downtown Phoenix" book last night, which had quite a bit of interesting information in it. The white stuccoed building (seen below) was built in 1909 in a Victorian brick style. With a little facade rehab and some renovations, it would be an AMAZING building... one of the very few remaining in downtown Phoenix, and a true asset to the city. Of course, this means nothing and it will likely be destroyed. But, it has to be saved. Buildings like that are a dime a dozen in many cities, but here not many are left.

You can see the tall arched windows and the brick work "cornice" or "lip" on the top of the building. Imagine if it were brought back to being brick and renovated... it would be awesome!

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i265/phxrep/mad1.jpg

It would make some awesome lofts if renovated, or, I can imagine a startup or some architectural design firm occupying the building. From the side you can see the brick work as it is only painted white. The front has the layer of stucco.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i265/phxrep/mad3.jpg

The hotel is decent too... albeit not quite as old as 1909... but the best thing is look how far back on the lot it goes.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i265/phxrep/mad2.jpg

EDIT: Looks like the owner of these lots is "Suns Legacy Properties". Maybe that's good (or bad?).

/\ You can see what a little TLC, hard work, and money can do. This is the warehouse immediately south across the alley from the above buildings on Madison. Restored and occupied by Dudley Ventures.

http://www.dudleyventures.com/22_e_jackson.php

Interesting. The challenge for every restaurant operating at the Cavness House has been the small kitchen. The Vig, however, probably has the resources to invest in expanding it. The place already has a bocce court, just like the two existing Vigs.

There are signs in the windows on the north side of chase field that read "mountainside fitness - opening fall 2012"

Good to see news on the lot east of CityScape even if it is speculation. I would prefer condos and/or an urban Target over an office tower, but a 27 floor office building would be a great addition to the area.

There are signs inside as well, this was announced towards the end of last season. The space has been used for kids games, video arcade, etc. over the years.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...n-new-gym.html

I don't do baseball.... so I'd never seen it.