7th Ave and McDowell
Work is progressing quickly on the building at 7th and McDowell. The gutting appears to be done and they have started putting a facade on the front. I'll get pictures as soon as I can.
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Don't be such wimp, Debbie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu3VTngm1F0 So much good stuff has happened to downtown over the last decade, but they do need one more good push/cycle to create more spillover demand. At this point, they really, really need a couple of more office towers. Downtown Phoenix needs to and can become the financial center for the metro area. I would assert that, if they broke ground tomorrow, there would be ample demand for CBD space. The question, admittedly, is whether that demand would be willing to pay CBD rates, given the mishmash of empty space scattered around the valley. Over time, and not that long, the ability to build to today's/tomorrow's class A standards is what will give downtown the edge. :D :cool::cool::cool: |
Some good news on urban condos/apts...come on RED, make the apts above Palomar happen, the demand is there!
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Make Me a Streetscape....
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I read through all of that, which was interesting. At the risk of being boring, I'll tell ya a story. Denver has reached the "critical mass" in their urban core, that I was alluding to with my previous post. Walkability, streetscapes, bicycle right of ways, retail, the whole nine yards is a big focus. They are currently in the middle of redoing one of the streets. You'd love it, removing one lane to widen the sidewalks, designated bike area, streetscape, bulbouts, great signage, etc. But why choose 14th street? Because in the previous decade the street had seen $1.5 billion in public and private investment. (Like Phoenix) they doubled their convention space and then added a 37 story, 1100 room Hyatt. Then came Hilton Garden Inn of 12 stories, 220 rooms. Then an historical reclamation of a long vacant building into a 5-star boutique hotel. Then a 41 story tower with 500 condos. Then a 17 story, 403 room Embassy Suites. Finally a 45 story, 240 room Four Seasons (plus condos). The challenge with this kind of makeover is that you end up moving utilities. With a complete street rebuild, while your at it, you upgrade drainage utilities etc. as needed. The twelve block redo is costing $14 million. In Denver, when they do this, they have the property owners form an Improvement District which will be responsible for repairs and maintenance. You want you placeholders to "buy in." The property owners then select/decide on the specific streetscape improvements, from basic to exotic. They are putting up $4 million of the $14 million. It took four years of effort to reach the necessary agreements. Here's an excellent link to a construction update which also contains a link to an even better description than I gave. (Click on pics to embiggen) http://denverurbanism.com/2011/08/do...-update-2.html Here's a link to a 3D Animation which provides a bigger, better perspective. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVekBHpPOUM I do agree that Phoenix could benefit from more streescaping. In fact, I've always though, what a terrible oversight to not provide for more shade in various forms. :D :cool::cool::cool: |
Denver is a big city. Totally different animal than Phoenix.
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Speaking of 7th Ave and McDowell, I noticed yesterday that all the trees in front of My Florist have been removed. So while one corner takes a step forward, the other takes a step back. And then we cha-cha.
As for new office space in CBD, every time they build something there (like Cityscape) they only seem to cannabalize from an existing building elsewhere in downtown or in midtown. Until somebody really leans on the corporate headquarters in Scottsdale and N. Phoenix, you are only reshuffling companies between buildings without adding much new. |
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I really think this will help to get this area really moving! Places like Bliss will be.......filled with......bliss (Customers)!!!
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It takes animal instincts
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They've worked really, really hard for over four decades. Their big break or benefit resulted from the impact of Regionalism as the metro area 'decided ' that Denver could be the heart/focus of culture and sports. But just comparing City of Phoenix to City of Denver, Phoenix is 2 1/2 times the size by population. Comparing metro areas, this area has 70% more population. Phoenix/downtown will have to find it's own unique way and niche, but it has awesome potential. It has acquired some good stuff and momentum over the last decade. The big benefit that will accrue to Phoenix is the ever-increasing cost of gas. Fortunately for you Mr. Vicelord, you should be around long enough to see it happen. :D :cool::cool::cool: |
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I hope I'm around long enough to see that happen, but I'm not as young as you think. |
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http://i.azcentral.com/i/sized/A/C/9...652DBB09CA.jpg (Cori Takemoto Williams/Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/...its-doors.html) Meanwhile, in the September issue of Inside Willo, Brad Brauer reports "We're seeing new development along McDowell at 7th Avenue and McDowell with at least two new restaurants slated to go in on the Southeast corner and hopefully some new activity on the Northeast corner as that property has found the right financing to proceed." |
You aren't making an apples to apples comparison here between streets. The discussion was about the 7's, which are major thoroughfares into and out of downtown. 14th Street in Denver isn't and never was anything similar. The 7's or more like Speer Blvd, Colfax, or Broadway. Last time I was in Denver, none of those streets were any less car-oriented than the 7's. The story of 14th Street would be much more applicable to say...Washington Street or even Van Buren.
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WTF...why would they do that?
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Well you're right, to a point. Actually the discussion had been both about the 7's and downtown streets in general, shade, retail, being pedestrian friendly, etc. My response was to indicate, the significant complexities, expense and time involved, so 14th Street worked fine for that purpose. As to Colfax Avenue, they're finishing up an Environmental Impact study as they intend to run a streetcar down this street. After many years er decades of wishing and hoping to improve the street, there are finally many signs of fresh businesses. The hookers and other forms of city gritty are getting competition for their space. As to the 7's, South Broadway is a very good example, and I agree it is not practical to do much with such a car centric corridors. However.... While South Broadway does have more distance, maybe three times as much, before it crosses the equivalent of I-10, so that by the time it crosses I-25, a lot of the commuter traffic has fed onto other arterials.... On what would be the north side of I-10, for 7th street (where in Denver South Broadway becomes two-way traffic), they are in process of a complete rebuild, that installs a median, parallel parking, bike lane, some bulbouts, and nice streetscape. It is a much appreciated improvement for the iconic, funky, antique, local businesses that thrive along this corridor. I certainly do appreciate the goal of phxSUNSfan and given I-17 and the 51, as well as many good east/west streets, it would seem that 7th street could become more neighborhood friendly. :D :cool::cool::cool: |
hrivas-thank you for confirming that I am not insane. I was pretty sure I remembered a pretty decent canopy of trees through there. While not perfect because they were set pretty far back from the sidewalk, it certainly was better than what is there now-concrete, asphalt, and brick.
I wouldn't hold out too much hope for the NE corner turning around any time soon. There have been lots of grand plans floating around for several years. All that has resulted is tearing down everything between My Florist and 5th Ave so we could have yet another unutilized vacant lot. I have also heard that many in Willo are opposed to efforts to redevelop that corner based, in no small part, upon the fact that the owner is not a pleasant person. |
Sorry, guess I hadn't been past there in a while, I usually go through there north-south on 7th Ave. Looks like they grow fast, though, maybe removed in preparation for construction? You're right that there has been some conflict with the neighborhood, I have heard a bit of grousing about traffic and noise in the alley. Still, the bit I put in about the financing being in place came from the Willo association president.
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Thanks for the pictures - My wife and I noticed all of the sudden that you could see the second floor but we didn't specifically recall the trees. On the up side - the second floor windows really look nice. Hopefully the place will be utilized soon.
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The NE corner (including My Florist and the lot all the way to 5th) was in bankruptcy and emerged from it last month. That's why it was inactive for so long. What I've heard is that now that is out of the way, they're weighing options on moving forward. Maybe that's why they removed the trees. Maybe some tree-hating asshole tenant said I'll move in if it can be clearly seen from the street. Win some, lose some, I guess.
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