Restaurant Relocation
 

This is good news. I always wondered why the people behind the Breadfruit opened their sandwich shop in the hinterlands of Scottsdale and Shea, but as the article says, "We knew that eventually we would have to come back downtown."

http://www.azcentral.com/story/enter...nix/100287332/

Without the residential tower, Block 23 is essentially a grocery store with 3 levels of office space above. The site plan was already underwhelming; without a single tower, it will turn into a total waste. And, without the residential units there or at Barrister, the location becomes completely disconnected from the major apartment projects.

The Westward Ho had its contract expanded last year; it will be HUD housing for our lifetimes. Rather than in downtown Tempe, imagine ASU constructed its senior housing towers on the PBC, allowing for the City to take ownership and RFP the Ho? I hate that the Westward Ho and Security Building are so underutilized.

Too bad "The Blocks" project didn't take ownership of the abandoned homes scattered along 4th 5th and 6th streets- the home adjacent to Bliss, the Duplex to its southeast, the corners of Garfield and 5th St, and Roosevelt/6th Street. Seeing those activated would have done much more for RR than casting away businesses like GrowHouse. Seeing the much more ambitious arts-related openings on Grand and in Garfield makes it fairly obvious that RR is no longer much of an arts district... it will be a dense, urban neighborhood, but I wish the creative small shops and galleries could have stayed.

There is a hearing for "Portland 4" for the lot on 3rd St/Portland across Continental Apts.

FAA Obstruction Evaluation for 3rd St./Pierce Phase 1 tower lists height as 350 ft. :yes:

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external...desc&pageNum=1

Holy crap can you at least wait until some confirmation before shtting on the whole project? Who has even said that Barrister is dead? Source? Typical Jjs doom & gloom... :koko:

Some of you get pretty worked up over speculating if something will be built or not

lol calm down, no need to get your panties in a bunch. I'm simply stating that it is too early to bemoan/shit on project while we don't have ALL of the pertinent information. If Block 23 residential project is scrapped, then hey I agree with Jjs' opinion that it will be a total waste. Until then, no need for a "sky is falling" rant.

West Elm is opening a store at Uptown Plaza.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/...-plaza-9227943

Chico Malo, the taqueria which was originally planned to open in December at Cityscape, is opening this Friday. Good stuff!

http://www.azcentral.com/story/enter...nix/100311456/

Soft opening has been going on for a couple days. Food there is good!!!

You're right. Just looked like every project hit a snag which sucked. And, I am just not a big fan of the megaproject... Barrister and Derby seem way more exciting for downtown but that is just my opinion.

The only project that hit a snag is the Derby. And for the record, it's not dead yet either.

Barrister is still, and has always been, 8-12 months away from starting construction.


It's ALL good for downtown!

:cheers:

There is a new bar going into the old Downtown Deli. Got a quick peek of the construction, looks cool on the inside. Very narrow/long space - bar all along left side. Exposed brick etc. very intimate feeling.

Central/Monroe area is on fire...

Any word on its name and if it will serve food as well?

I agree about Central / Monroe. I ate at CPC last night and the whole corner seemed bustling.

Yes!! I've seen the divider in front of the old Deli space and was wondering if that meant new retail. Thanks for the confirmation! Come 2 am, that corner is still bustling between Valley Bar, Seamus McCaffrey's, Cornish Pasty, and Melinda's Alley. Any idea what the name of the place will be?

I wish there were a little land there for someone to build a high-rise residential tower with ground floor retail. Then we'd really be in business!

I've drawn up a few possibilities (on slow days) of a mid-rise being built over the existing corner building on Central/Monroe using it for the foundation and retaining the businesses in it. But I severely doubt the possibility of that. I'm sure we'd sooner see wrecking balls. I mean, we're all familiar with the Luhrs Central Building and its inability to support any part of the Marriott, granted, that was a high-rise. .

Update on the project at 3rd St. & Pierce, as well as details on GPLET changes:

http://downtowndevil.com/2017/04/14/...y-secure-gplet

Everyone needs to read this. Good explanations of the GPLET situation. Few key takeaways:


1) A grandfathering provision will allow CA Ventures to secure former GPLET standards if approved. At the formal council meeting next week, Mackay said city staff will recommend the development receive a 20-year GPLET agreement.

2) Development projects that apply for GPLET at the beginning of this year onward, however, will face tighter standards to receive the tax incentive as well as changes to some of its terms. (meaning every project approved prior to Jan 1, is not affected by new GPLET reform bill).

So, what's the gist with Derby then? They applied for and was granted a GPLET last summer. As far as the Barry Goldwater lawsuit, I believe that is against the City of Phoenix and not directly against the Derby developers, so why has Derby stalled?