Mesa is the underwear of Arizona and Russell Pearce is the shit-stain

The city has a new website up about the general plan update for those interested in that:
http://phoenix.gov/citygovernment/pl...phx/index.html

Is anyone planning on attending those meetings? I imagine Id run into at least a few of you there.

Don't know if this is development news, but it's an update on a development. I have noticed quite a few more people mingling about and hanging out at the Civic Space Park this week, 100% thanks to the cooler temps. There were even people (likely ASU kids) playing soccer and catch in the grassy area on the N. side.

Not to gripe, but can one of you guys go out and take some pictures or something? The coffee talk thread seems to be the only one going and the only discussion is about who likes sausage.

Just a thought (I'd do it, but I'm 500 miles away).

http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/...6elchorro.html

• Bernie Kantak's ambitious, five-restaurant project in downtown Phoenix, originally scheduled to launch later this year, has run into delays that have put the venture "ridiculously behind schedule." But the former Cowboy Ciao chef also says he's been meeting with investors "on a daily basis" and that "things are moving forward as planned."

^^^ Nothing out of the norm for DT Phx these days.

Fresh and Easy
 

http://www.azcentral.com/business/co...tesco1007.html



This could be good news. I still hope they bring one closer to downtown.

I'm having trouble finding more info but there is a Luhrs tour next Thursday at like 630pm.

http://www.downtownphoenixjournal.co...g-renovations/

Its at 7:30am not 6:30pm

Does anyone know why the Janet Echelman sculpture is not fully lit up at night? Last Friday during art walk is was barely visable. I had a friend from out of town visiting and I had talked not stop about it for months, so she was really anxious to see it. She knows how it glows (hey, that rhymes!) because she's seen the photos I've sent, but Sh*t, we were so disapointed. The streets were teeming with people, but the park was empty, probably due to the fact that the sculpture was barely lit. It is like that all the time now?

I think its ridiculous too. What theyre doing is only lighting up about 1/8th of the lights at a time and slowly they fade from one set to another. Its way too subtle though and looks like crap. If youre looking down Taylor from the AzCenter you can barely see the piece, its frustrating.

When the lights are on full blast it looks incredible.

I watched a special on Phoenix TV about the lighting and they were boasting how it is so innovative because they can use a combination of different lights to "customize" the lighting. They were really proud of the "dim lighting" and the whole time I was thinking what the fuck? you're proud of this? it's gay!

Just turn the lights on.

I am glad someone else noticed this. I look at that thing every night and I was beginning to think I was crazy. I sort of just thought it was because OCPE was so bright behind it (from my view) and that's why it was looking dim.

I sort of thought they just were conserving energy/bulbs to save money. It still looks okay - just not as awesome as it used to.

I just wrote this email to Downtown Partnership and our downtown councilman.

Good day,

I am writing you with a concern I have regarding the road closures in downtown Phoenix on Diamondbacks, Suns, and any other major stadium/arena event. As a downtown resident living at 7th Street and Monroe, I not only find it inconvenient for myself and neighbors, but also detrimental to downtown Phoenix businesses and contradictory to the revitalization plans in the city and city leaders wishes to make downtown Phoenix a vibrant city.

A fine example I will use is early September when I was at a meeting at Monroe and 1st Avenue in the US Bank Building, and the most logical way for me to get home is to travel east on Monroe to 7th Street, turn left, and my home (along with 350 other people whom live in the complex) is on the left. There was a “road closed” sign in the middle of Monroe street at 5th avenue, forcing me to turn left on 5th avenue, then a no right turn sign at Van Buren, a no right turn sign at Fillmore, and finally I was finally able to turn right at Garfield and backtrack down 7th street only to see a road closed sign southbound at 7th street at Van Buren because of the baseball game. The 5 minute drive was turned into a 25 minute fight through barricades, traffic, and police officers who didn’t seem to care that every avenue to my home was blocked off. The overall attitude is “too bad.”

After speaking with a Phoenix Police officer, I was told this is all part of a plan put in place in the mid 90’s to get people out of downtown after an event. In those days, there weren’t so many people living in the city, and there weren’t any bars, restaurants, and nightclubs people could go to afterward. Nowadays, with the added traffic of residents, bar traffic, trains, and various other activities the cow town attitude of “let’s get people out of here as quickly as possible” is no longer a positive strategy for downtown Phoenix. Not only does this encourage people to leave the city before they spend money at local businesses, but it also encourages those whom are likely intoxicated from the event to immediately enter their vehicle and drive home. With all of the recent public and private dollars pumped into the city, it makes absolutely zero sense to encourage those with discretionary dollars to spend to leave right away. Let’s take the opportunity rope them in let them spend money at local businesses.

I firmly believe that if no barricades or closures existed after events, many people would ride the train to their event, furthering the success of light rail, or wait for traffic to die down before driving, thus spending time and money at the businesses we have worked so hard to attract. If we simply “get them in, get them out” then it will further the stigma that downtown isn’t a place you want to be (we do that when we put the idea in people’s minds that they need to leave right away) and it will forever make it too difficult for people to spend money in our city. Lastly, it alienates the local residents and in many neighborhood meetings, it has been a frequent discussion that has let many homeowners to voice their wishes to move due to the inconviencence which lasts ALL winter.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your reply.

^Let us know what their reply is, Im sure itll be a more politely worded version of 'fuck off, we're the professionals.'

Jon, I must admit, that's probably the most articulate thing you've ever written on this forum (or at least the nicest). Please keep us abreast of the results as you have made some very logical points.

Regarding "Her Secret is Patience" I just talked to "TJ" at the Civic Space park number ((602) 262-7490) and he said theyre 'working on changing' the way the light on the net is. He says theyve realized its not nearly as bright and are going to be going to a new setup where it changes with the seasons. The lights wont be on full bore like they originally were (disappointing) but theyll be much brighter than theyve been recently. Itll be reds in the winter and blues in the summer sort of deal, I guess thats an improvement anyway.

But it cant hurt for other people to call him up and get in his ear about it I do suppose.

you do know I'm not a moron, right?

Thank you, Hoover for calling him. Like you said, dissapointing that it won't look like it did, but the fact that it will be brighter and ever-changing could be a good thing. :yes:

which is exactly what I received.


John,

Good afternoon, thank you for contacting our office with your concerns. I will forward your traffic related issue to Downtown Operations, they will be of further assistance in giving you a final answer to the reasons why the practice is maintained. In regards to the traffic flow issue, the city will maintain its standard in getting individuals out of downtown as quickly as possible after major sporting and other events. By doing this, the city allows the traffic flow exiting the venues access towards the freeways, which will help to get traffic flow back to the normal. If this did not occur, the streets would be grid locked, which may cause accidents and further delays for residents and patrons.

The barricade process helps to move things quickly in order to return to a normal traffic pattern. We apologize for any inconvenience, however, the practice is necessary in giving valley residents adequate access to the major freeways. Most of these individuals choose to go straight home after the events and not hang out in Downtown, due to personal choice. I hope this helps and contact me if you have further questions.

Sincerely,

Stephen Vital
City of Phoenix, District 8
602-262-4832


And my response I just sent:

Stephen,

My point, which I think you missed, is that years ago when this practice was put in place, there were not a significant number of downtown residents. Now that there are a lot of people living in the city, this has become a measure which is based on a decade old policy and needs to be drastically revised. It is making a bold assumption that nobody will be displaced by it, when in fact many of us are.

It’s too bad that there are no individuals who take this complaint (which I’m sure your office has heard before) seriously and gives the quick brush off to anyone whom detests it enough to write on the matter.

-John