I've been reading Karsten and also Scottdale 6. Also, the stretch of McKellips along the former Scottsdale 6 is all of a sudden getting road improvements and what looks like possible widening the last couple of weeks. Kinda makes me go hmmm...

I think one can recognize that 1) downtown has transformed and finally reached a tipping point, largely thanks to the creative class and adaptive reuse projects that attracted residential infill, etc., and 2) the total lack of high-wage jobs being added into downtown really IS a problem.

This boom has no doubt been bigger than 2007 and I don't think there is any risk of downtown returning to weekends of empty streets. But, Phoenix continues to experience 'brain drain' at a rapid pace and those who stay will need to commute to the 'burbs. Unfortunately, Mackay has been obsessed with filling both the WDistrict and Midtown, and has actively persuaded tenants looking for downtown space to locate in one of those instead.

With ASU's presence and downtown's momentum, surely we could get ONE HQ downtown. Just think if there was already a supermarket - a Sprouts at the bottom of its HQ tower; if Civic Space was lined with more highrises for a flagship Best Western, and its HQ + ASU's hospitality program; a PetSmart tower on top of Central Station with a state of the art dog park...

Hopefully, Phoenix can keep competing for tech jobs fleeing CA. As the startups mature, additional employers will help build up the marketplace.

The Block 23 office space really is a waste, though; if it can't pencil out without an anchor tenant, put them under the residential and try a hotel tower. 1 tower + 3 stories of office is a little weak.

Read an article on ASU and UA planning to break ground this year on their properties near 4th St/McKinley, yet still no public plans. With good design, they can integrate the cool neighborhood that has formed, but if it is more of the same, that would really stink.

Someone beat me to it; OCPE = One Central Park East = FreePort McMoran.

According to phoenix.gov, the original plans for the site seem to have been revived. Site plan approval was given for: PROJECT DESCRIPTION OF WORK: DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-LEVEL HIGH RISE BUILDING CONSISTING OF OFFICE, RETAIL, CLASSROOMS
AND RESIDENTIAL USES.

Am still not seeing info on the Hines project on Fillmore. They do great work, so I have high expectations. That parcel could handle 2 residential towers + 1 hotel tower, and a similar project of theirs had tenants like H&M, Target, etc. which would all be great additions.

This has been revived???

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...alParkEast.jpg

Uhhhh.... yes please.

I think I found the Hines project--"Canyon Court".

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: PROPOSED IS AN APARTMENT BUILDING ON THE CURRENT PARKING LOT AT THE NE CORNER OF CENTRAL AVE AND FILLMORE ST, THIS 11 STORY TALL BUILDING IS TO INCLUDE RETAIL AND PARKING ON THE GROUND LEVEL AND PARKING ON LEVELS 2-3, ON THE 4TH LEVEL IS AN AMENITY DECK WITH APARTMENTS UNITS. AND 5 STORIES ABOVE UNITS TOTALING IN 393.

http://pdfsr.com/pdf/planreview2273867.pdf

5 stories of apartments for a total of 393...I'm assuming the building would take up the entire block? :shrug:

Its got to be thick; 300 units is half the size of the Massive ALTA and all the stuff around 3rd street is ~150 each

That would be so sweet if that immense eyesore of an empty lot got developed. Would be awesome for the Public Market and N Central as a whole. Maybe they'll even incorporate the abandoned underground bowling alley (highly unlikely). I'd think 11 stories might be about the height of the Westward Ho.

Updates on MetroWest Developments
 

Ground breaking of McKinley Row is imminent. Project is fully approved and permitted and ready to go.

2nd/3rd Ave & McKinley project is making progress and development agreement w/ city approved.

Nice to see both these infill projects moving forward, should add more bodies to Roosevelt :tup:

Yep, I recall telling you guys this several months ago and being told there's no way. All of the water and electrical was moved a couple of months ago.

Which is the 2nd/3rd Ave one? That can't be the one replacing the building where Forno 301 is now?

what is no way ?

Being told there's no way as in no way it's going to be built. I was told by other members here that the land has been sold to a different developer and Metrowest wouldn't build anything, you guys put too much stock into Ethan's ABI reports which are designed to help create urgency in the market.

I meant which project

McKinley lofts?

Nah that's going to be a different development by Habitat Metro I believe.

The one I'm referring to are the two empty lots on the NE Corner 3rd Ave and McKinley, extending to 2nd Ave. Plans also include improvements to Roosevelt Park

No, I believe this one is the vacant, city-owned land on the north side of McKinley between 2d and 3d ave. Last I saw it discussed here it was planned for 6 townhomes, 94 apartments and retail.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...postcount=8408

yes

6 downtown Phoenix street projects to watch
 

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/...ffic/87256224/

I'm interested to see the long term plan the city has for the bike lanes, I use 3rd Street quite often and while I've never felt at risk riding on it the bike lanes are a welcome addition. My curiosity is piqued though, when I look at the newly painted bike lanes on Indian School and I wonder what the long term plan is for that road, everything seems to be funneling that direction with bike infrastructure and I think I probably speak for many when I say there is not a chance in hell I'm riding my bicycle down Indian School Road with the exception of a day like Christmas when no one is out driving. I'm not a casual cyclist or commuter either, I train just over 10K miles each year so I'm completely used to riding with traffic and I've even spent over a week in a coma from being hit by a car... I guess what I'm trying to say is it takes A LOT to make me nervous about riding a bike and Indian School does it, so what's the plan for Indian School? Is there something bigger in the works to make it more tolerable and safe?

I agree. The new bike lanes on Indian School seem incredibly out of place for a road that busy. Good luck sitting on westbound Indian School at Central where the bike lane suddenly turns into a shared use lane with cars trying to turn right on red. I understand that this mayor is definitely trying to move the central parts of the city away from its auto focused past of the 50s-90s, but it really seems useless without a major overhaul. Simply restriping Indian School and taking away a travel lane for a bike lane isn't enough. I'm glad that Indian School between Central and 7th Ave is no longer 8 travel lanes.