WTF? Didn't they just renovate it? And didn't this forum "tell them" it was a waste and they should put something more substantial there?

Yep, and I think they spent $2.3 Million off the top of my head.

Yes, but keep in mind the renovation really only involved putting up new shade structures with solar panels. Also, any new structure wouldn't start to be developed until years down the road so it's not like they'll be tearing up the new shade structures right after they were finished.

Whoever "chooses" to be the occupant of that proposed building where people at the transit station are encouraged to use would have to keep in mind the homeless, mentally-ill and criminal population that is drawn to the transit station along with regular commuters. That's an urban reality that would have to be considered. You wouldn't want law firm workers have to step past someone defecating in the lobby. No one want's to encounter a Cleveland Steamer on their way to work. ;)

I think having full time residents there may actually cut down on transients and bad acts. That being said, I think they'd have to cater to young people and/or students who want an urban environment. You're definitely not going to get suburbanites flocking to live at a bus station.

Someone posted a link to San Fran's Transbay Transit Center plan on the Downtown Devil page. The first phase includes a 5 story transit center (2 underground) but at build-out would include residential and office towers totaling 7 new highrises. Would be nice if Phoenix could get a "mini-Transbay Center".

http://transbaycenter.org/project/program-overview

That parcel is SO important, we have to make sure the ball doesn't get dropped on this or the design fucked up.

While its obviously important to keep Central Station in existence in the short run, in the long run, thats not an appropriate place for it. It's too small, plus more importantly it doesn't have any ability to connect to heavier rail like Union Station does. In the long run it seems obvious the Central Bus Station will be moved to where Union Station is and interact with it in some way.

With that in mind, we can't spend more resources permanently building a transit center on this spot. A flexible design is key.

Considering this is City owned land, they need to bend over backwards with as many sweetheart deals as they can. GPLETs, giveaways, whatever. Van Buren and Central are the 2 streets that could realistically have substantial amounts of retail on them and become Downtown shopping streets.

Does anyone have that handy dandy map with the height restrictions? I always think "I need to save this" but never remember to. That parcel would be a great spot for a new tallest. Again, thats something the City can try to push for with enough sweetheart deals.

I'm pretty certain that lot could be built to 500'+, but just wanted to confirm. Something a bit taller and more slender than Chase would be amazing.

I am mostly agreeing with you, however, the city will maintain the development as a transit center. That wouldn't be hard to do if the building included bus only access and underground "bus stalls". In addition it will remain a light rail station so it would have to incorporate all of these parts into one which would make a fantastic centerpiece for downtown. I can also see Union Station becoming a transit center of its own in the future with more rail options. Central Station won't be going away and it is just too convenient to get rid of it.

Looks like 511' would be the maximum height for that spot (assuming it's 1089' above sea level like most of downtown in that area)

http://i42.tinypic.com/2vwuy4w.jpg

Didn't close but they got an extension, so still possible. Can't believe it's been so hard to get a deal done on that place.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...ther-snag.html

Hotel Monroe sale hits another snag, but bidders look for November close

Mike Sunnucks
Senior Reporter-
Phoenix Business Journal

A deal to sell the long-vacant, historic Hotel Monroe building in downtown Phoenix has been delayed — again. But the current deal is not dead and could still close in November.
A group of buyers from San Diego along with Phoenix infill developer Ed Gorman and his firm, Modus Development, were supposed to close on downtown building late last month. That did not happen but the buyers have paid for an extension.
“The buyer deposited significant non-refundable earnest money in exchange for delaying the closing date to November 22nd. Let’s see if it actually closes this time,” said Mark Winkleman, COO of ML Manager LLC.
That receivership company has been selling off assets held my Mortgages Ltd. The commercial lender filed for bankruptcy protection after its CEO Scott Coles committed suicide in 2008.
ML Manager has owned and has been trying to sell the 82-year-old Monroe building at the corner of Central Avenue and Monroe Street since foreclosing on Grace Communities in 2010.
Grace Communities bought the Art Deco building in 2007 via a $27 million loan from Mortgages Ltd. with plans to development a hotel.
Several other bids to buy the building from ML Manager have also not come to fruition.
The San Diego/Modus bid via a company called Grasshopper One LLC emerged in July with an initial closing date of Sept. 23. Grasshopper One wants to develop the Monroe building into a 150-room boutique hotel
The 13-story 157,000-square foot building was built in 1931 and was long called the Professional Building and was home to Valley Bank & Trust Co. It is on the National Register of Historic Places but has sat empty and exposed to the elements after the Grace foreclosure and some unsuccessful attempts to sell it.

This is a reality in any city center. I think that people who venture downtown pretty much expect transients and a bit of grit, or they should expect it.

You're absolutely right and I too expect those things. Let's hope that it doesn't deter developers who don't have a grand vision of the space.

Does anyone know what the height restriction are north of Fillmore? Could we get a 1000 footer on that lot next too the westward ho? That would be amazing!

Why not a 2000 footer?

It, sensibly, steps down north of Fillmore as that area transitions into neighborhoods. The tallest available height limit is over on Van Buren near 7th Ave so about 611' would be the tallest possible. Unfortunately, we've never seen any demand for buildings being anywhere near any of the height limits.

It'll be a miracle to get a 500', so lets put the wishing for 1000' on hold.

Well I am pretty sure the height limit is higher north of Fillmore! Anyone know for sure?

Like I said, no its not. See here, page 17:

http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/int..._pdf_00344.pdf

There is a 700 foot height limit just north of Fillmore. Proposed Height Regulating Plan would lower it to 483'. Technically, Phoenix and the FAA can still offer variances for taller buildings north of Van Buren, from pg. 12:
Before the Savings and Loan Debacle, a "world's tallest building" was proposed for Central and Roosevelt. It would have been taller than the Willis (Sears) Tower in Chicago.

I highly doubt that a well-funded proposal from a reputable developer would run into the "soft" height limits north of Fillmore outside the domain of the airport if the FAA didn't declare it a hazard.

The problem with supertall construction in Phoenix is that developers in Phoenix typically build structures to be sold not too much later on. A true supertall is a building to own for a long, long time and is a significant investment into a community, not something that can easily be walked away from. These require a whole new caliber of developers that Phoenix hasn't seen since 1971 with the construction of the Valley National Bank/Chase Tower.

People already think Ohlahoma City's skyline looks odd. I'd imagine people thinking ours would be bizarre if we had a supertall chilling all by itself right outside downtown. I'm not saying I'm against the idea or anything though.:D