| bwonger06 |
Jan 3, 2011 7:44 AM |
Just made it back from a wild weekend in Chi-town. Some key ideas:
1.) Tall buildings are overrated.
I said this when I went to D.C. and I will say it again. Although Chicago's downtown was alive and popping even when it was Sunday and 15 degrees outside, the big Towers were essentially deserted. The tall buildings generate foot traffic during the work week, but during off times everything was generated by either Michigan Ave and Millennium Park. I don't think downtown Phoenix will ever get a Michigan Ave or Wisconsin Ave (Georgetown) because Scottsdale is the 500lb elephant in the room that will not let anything grow and we need we have some potential in the Civic Space and MTH (Chicago spent over 200 million on Millennium Park for comparisons sake).
2.) This city is seriously lacking in the yuppy department. Thats why I love Seattle, Chicago, and DC because all the bars I go to is full of everyone my age (Mid-20s to late 30s).
Due to several factors, Phoenix is having difficulty building this population. Number one is jobs. Phoenix does not have enough jobs, especially downtown. Number 2, Phoenix has not established an area for yuppies to play. You have Scottsdale which is not for yuppies but your 30k millionaires, cougars and old creepy men. Then you have Tempe which is full of college bros and girls who love to wear their flip flops. Downtown has some potential yuppy areas but it crosses over to gay, hipster, or ghetto fabulous too quickly. And our drinking culture is just totally different than other cities. I have heard it from many out of staters, Phoenix bar/club goers just seem super confrontational.
3.) Phoenix does not focus on community enough. Our closest knit community might feel the most urban (Roosevelt area and Melrose). Go to other big cities and you easily see many cool and hip areas built around a community (Lincoln Park, Wigleyville, Wicker Park, Foggy Bottom, Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, etc.). But for some reason, Phoenix just does not get building around these neighborhoods are the key to urban revival.
Things Phoenix is doing right:
1.) Downtown ASU... Huge because this will help generate the needed foot traffic. I remember going a to DT about a month ago and couldnt believe the amount of ASU students walking the street. ASU and Phoenix need to keep pushing this.
2.) LR. This is a huge requirement. Mass transportation is extremely important in building a vibrant downtown.
3.) DT Biomedical campus... Jobs, Jobs Jobs.
Things Phoenix flopped on:
1.) Prop 207. Essentially makes it impossible the neighborhoods especially after many places were up-zoned during the boom and flipped. I thought it was absolutely outrageous when we have 200-300 foot buildings around the Roosevelt area. I think the area should top out around 5 stories at most.
2.) Failure to provide necessary amenities to help improve communities (i.e. dog parks, suicide lanes, etc.)
Going forward, Phoenix needs to re-focus on building the communities. Cityscape is never going to be successful with residents in the area. Build-up what we have and go from there and stop getting in the way when there is a good thing.
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