/\ I totally agree. It would be nice if the dirt lots of Phoenix were much smaller. It would allow for smaller developments and much better infill (row houses, 3-4 story apartment or condo buildings with retail, etc.) all which are unique from each other. As it is now, will the superblocks of downtown ever get developed? And if so, will it be anything more than monolith after monolith with half of the block likely a parking lot creating no type of cohesion? Or, will it be any better than the huge Artisan Villiage - which would be cool if it was about 1/8 the size, surrounded by simililarly-sized, but unique developments?

Very good points. Speaking of super-blocks, when i was looking at the updated google maps, it is very evident that the entire east side of DT consists of these super blocks, not really pedestrian oriented even in the heart of our DT.

I also noticed that Garfield neighborhood continues to open up. Just take a look at how many vacant dirt lots are there, it has gone from bad to worse. This is a great opportunity for the city of phx to re-develop this area into dense urban living, one small project at a time. How about tax incentives for developers in Garfield?? We don't need massive Alta style projects right now, but we could still continue to add residents in Central Phx.

I think the city has shot itself in the foot twice. First, by allowing the destruction of many of these older homes and apartments and neighborhoods through the years... that's a given. Second, they they spent years buying up and tying together lots into huge superblocks which will never amount to anything.

But oh well, at least we have pockets left here and there and imaginations.

I was browsing SSC the other day and came across this post. I know it's probably not fair to dredge up old posts, but I just find the night and day differences in tone and attitide shocking.

Three guesses who wrote this in July 2006 in a thread predicting what Phoenix would look like in 2009.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...3&postcount=44

Here's to hoping that some day we can all return to this kind of optimism :cheers:

^ I was wrong, and I'm man enough to admit that. Never again will I be suckered in...

--don

The little engine that could turned into Chicken Little in four years.

The Urban Form project addresses this issue. They also noticed the blocks are too long North-South wise, and are looking to create a pedestrian paseo through there roughly lining up w/ Taylor St.

Please do this in another thread.

I never said or implied that. I bitch about stuff all the time, I hate on ABOR, I hate on our visionless leaders, I hate on people I meet in planning and parks departments, I hate on people who show up at public meetings, etc. Everyone I know in real life thinks Im fairly negative and complainy, so if you're out doing me on it, its probably a bit much is all. I don't mind bitching and now is certainly the time to, but lets sprinkle in some optimism too.

Phoenix is still a great place to live, its getting better all the time and has oodles of potential, lets not lose sight of that.

Would the paseo terminate at 3rd St, AMC/AZ Ctr? That would be great if it did.

Yes, it already does. The paseo would just be an extension of the Taylor St mall on the West side of the Civic Space Park. Like Ive said before, I wish they'd reorient AMCs entrance to face Taylor street, that would be nice.

Here's a drawing from Urban Form:
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1156/taylorst.png

^^^

Ok, I'm confused as to the wording of "paseo", I was thinking that they would turn it into a pedestrian corridor, eliminating vehicle traffic.

Whats the dark green lines and dotted red lines indicate on the map?

And what thread would that be? A number of the stats I posted pertain directly to Phoenix development. I could put it in my signature block...heh.

--don

You might as well, you repeat the same garbage enough.

^ Quit yer kvetching...

Since this is supposed to be a thread about news (whether good or bad) and not about bashing people, a piece of positive news:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/p...sts-trend.html

Prices luring more visitors, reversing downward trend

Room deals and freebies are the spring-season staples at Phoenix-area hotels and resorts again this year. To lure Cactus League fans, sun seekers and golfers in a still-sluggish economy, value is a must, even in this peak month of the peak tourism season, hoteliers say.

The good news: The specials appear to be drawing guests in droves, a welcome sign after nearly a year and a half of double-digit declines in occupancy rates because of the recession, increased competition and other factors.
Hotel occupancy rates have been on the rise in greater Phoenix this year, up 1.7 percent in January and an estimated 5 percent in February, according to Smith Travel Research. Hotel-industry executives say early signs are for an even stronger March because of the gradual return of business meetings, an increase in vacation travel and continuing deals.

--don

This is interesting:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/p...ng-zoning.html

Mariposa Street residents seek reversal of zoning for parking

Residents in east Phoenix are fighting to prevent a parking structure from being built in their neighborhood. They filed two lawsuits against the city to make certain city leaders won't permit a parking structure based on a zoning stipulation that expired more than 20 years ago. In this case, no one is proposing a new development or use for three properties on Mariposa Street, but neighbors say they are taking the necessary steps now to protect their home values.

In the 1980s, a developer rezoned three residential properties near 32nd Street and Camelback Road for structure parking as part of a proposed commercial office development. Development faltered and the project changed, but the owner-occupied residential properties kept the zoning for a parking structure.

In 2007, following a developer's attempt to use the expired zoning for parking to support a parking project on Mariposa Street, neighbors sued the city to strip the zoning classification....

--don

None of your stats point to a specific project proposed or under construction in the City of Phoenix or anything remotely related to development.

Seriously go create an Economy Thread next time you feel like posting bad news.

Never mind, it's not worth it. I get it...

On another note, since I'm clearly too negative, I'm not going to maintain this thread:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=74733

...any longer. If there is a Phoenix forumer who wants to take it over, knock yourself out. I'll give you my info but I am going to remove the photos and whatnot from my website.

--don

/\TSK TSK. Now it sounds like you're going to leave and then come back again. j/k. What was your original screen name? don85028?

If there's nothing going on, it shouldn't be too hard to keep it up.

People are just asking nicely that you 1. post stuff in the proper forum and 2. don't post the same sort of stuff over and over. There's no reason to over react and leave. You're a terrific photographer and very knowledgeable poster, Im sure we'd all (though I cant speak for Vicelord) hate to lose you :D

^ Guys, I'm not planning on leaving (sorry Vicelord!) this site, I just don't have time to maintain that thread anymore. The fact that it has been pounded into my head by more than one person here that I'm "too negative" has made me think that perhaps I'm not the right one to keep it going. I'm also going to replace that folder of images with something more appropriate for my website. There's enough drama in this thread...don't need any more.

Moving on...

--don

I don't think that thread will need to be updated for quite awhile.

It's been too long since a post here....


http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...a/DSC_3306.jpg

nice pic, where did you take it from? Camelback Corridor?

32/Lincoln

Great shot! Looks like 44 monroe has more lights on??

I was wondering if I saw more furnature on balconies too. Anyone know a count for 44 Monroe?

some of the lights on the north side of 44monroe I feel could be reflections. There are not that many occupied units, though there are more than before.

Most of those look like balcony lights.

I can't go to this (damn day job) but its an invite from ASU to talk with people from the community. I know there are going to be people there talking about adaptive reuses of the Ramada Inn instead of turning it into a parking lot. If you haven't already, you should email the City Council and let them know how foolish their decision is.


The Communities Connect Dialogues are a series of presentations, workshops, conversations, and celebrations that bring ASU students, faculty, staff, and community members together to build more connected, vibrant communities.

Join us as an Attendee in the Dialogues and you can:

SHARE your thoughts about improving our local communities
LEARN about resources at ASU and in the community that can support your efforts
FIND potential partners through multiple networking opportunities

Join us as a Presenter in the Dialogues and you can:

Enjoy all of the above and...
Showcase your community-based efforts by delivering a dynamic 10-minute presentation (there are opportunities to present on all four campuses, as indicated by the word SHARE below)

Individuals who are interested in presenting should contact Jacqueline Smith for guidelines and more information at Jacqueline.V.Smith@asu.edu. All presentations will be video recorded and made available at ASU Community Connect <http://maildogmanager.com/link.html?url=451&client=ui&campaign=95&email=nan.ellin@asu.edu>. Presentations and topics will also be included in an upcoming publication featuring the many varied ways ASU and our communities work together for positive impact. Copies will be provided to all presenters and distributed widely throughout the university and beyond.

Downtown Phoenix Campus
Thursday, April 1, Civic Space Park, A.E. England Building
Join us for presentations and interactive workshops about setting up internships and finding community partners.

SHARE: presentations begin at 9 a.m.
Other opportunities include: morning networking over coffee, lunchtime samplings from local restaurants, and workshops about internship development and more.

Continue the conversation on Friday, April 2, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at action, advocacy, arts <http://maildogmanager.com/link.html?url=493&client=ui&campaign=95&email=nan.ellin@asu.edu> , University Center, 411 N. Central Ave.

Phxpavilion.... No. Trust me those are reflections. I just looked at the full size.

I don't know this restaurant, so I can't qualify this as being "bad news" or "no one really cares news":

http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/...05-closes.html

In a blow to the downtown Phoenix restaurant scene, Matt Carter's eight-month-old Nine 05 suddenly shut down Monday afternoon. But according to Carter, the closure had very little to do with the vibrancy of the Fourth Street and Roosevelt area. Instead, it had everything to do with tight money.

"My back was against the wall," he said in an interview Wednesday night...

--don

I didn't know it was the same guy that also owned the Mission in Old Town, I freaking love that place!

Sounds like according to the article it wasn't that it was slow... but other deciding factors. That little strip is pretty cool, something will be back. Does that mean the bar is also closed?

It blew. The concept and managment were shit.

Broken into 20 times since they opened? Who would want to even risk a new investment there?

A lot of people dont like matt, and there are a lot of hipsters around there

New York Times article.
 

Not so good press for Phoenix, but does compliment the efforts downtown.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/re...ce=patrick.net

Also: First Friday's downtown from the NYT

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/01/31...surfacing.html

That's so cool! I didn't realize this. I haven't lived in Phx since over 7 years ago, and haven't been in the last 5 years...definitely need to visit :D

Phoenix Real Estate News
 

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate...ousing-markets

Construction ready to roll on $187M health sciences building

Phoenix Business Journal - by Angela Gonzales

The Arizona Board of Regents now can begin construction on a $187 million research and education building on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, which will create 2,000 construction jobs.

The Joint Committee on Capital Review met to review the project on March 23, the only step holding up construction. The 268,000-square-foot Health Sciences Education Building, part of the planned expansion of The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partnership with Arizona State University, is supported by future Arizona Lottery revenue through a financing plan that begins in 2016. The universities will issue bonds immediately and make interest-only payments on them for five years to get the project underway.

Dr. Stuart Flynn, dean of the medical school’s Phoenix campus, said he is ecstatic.

“If I could do a cartwheel, I would do one,” he said. “Now we know we’re over a huge hurdle and it’s just going to be very difficult to slow this momentum down at this point. It’s been a long journey and tomorrow we go to work on keeping the campus moving forward with a new building now in sight.”

Now that the JCCR has reviewed the project and as bond proceeds become available, construction on the building could begin as early as April, creating 2,000 construction jobs.

Overall expansion plans for the Phoenix Biomedical Campus is expected to generate $2.1 billion in economic impact each year.

The Arizona Board of Regents endorsed the expansion plan in December, allowing the medical school to expand its class size to at least 110 students per year from its existing 48 medical students in Phoenix. Also in that building will be students from the ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation as well as other health-related programs from Northern Arizona University.

------------------------------------------
The 2.1 billion in economic impact per year seems really high, but hey what I know...

how bout the picture they used for that article? Hello 1990's

At least it's not a bad shot.

Haha true, look at the old B of A tower...has the old logo and everything.

Not a construction development but for all of you iPhone users out there, there is a new free AZCentral app out. Its not bad.

oh great - more douchiness on AZCentral.

Thats what I thought too, but you can't post on the iphone app. :tup:

Well, fuckin' a. If I can get one under $500,000 I may jump.




Phoenix's cluster of brick minimansions called Chateaux on Central has a new owner. Wisconsin-based MSI West Investments paid $7 million for the 21 homes with elevators and rooftop terraces.

The high-profile project was started during the housing boom. Then, plans called for the homes, some with turrets and wine cellars, to each sell for $2.8 million and higher. The current deal breaks down to less than $350,000 a home.


Chateaux on Central, at Central Avenue and Palm Lane, has been tied up in Mortgages Ltd.'s financial problems for the past few years. When the original lender, Desert Hills Bank, filed to foreclose in 2007, Mortgages Ltd. took over with a $65 million financing deal. Then, Mortgages Ltd. was forced into bankruptcy by its creditors and investors in June 2008, and Chateaux on Central had been stalled ever since.

Chateaux's new owner intends to unveil its plans for the development soon. Central Phoenix neighbors of the project, including many office tenants on Central Avenue, will be happy to see the homes completed.

"We are very aware that the eyes of the community have been focused on this project for quite some time and that, with the acquisition, comes a tremendous responsibility to provide a top-quality development," said Bill Schmitz, president of MSI West Investments, which paid cash for Chateaux on Central.

MSI West Investments is a division of the food-industry firm Main Street Ingredients of La Crosse, Wis. Joe Morales of Arizona Realty ONE Group has been hired by MSI West to market and sell the homes.

Chateaux on Central is so high profile that it was featured in last year's New York Time's list of "Ruins of the Second Gilded Age."


Mortgage-fraud summit

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will be in Phoenix on Thursday for a mortgage-fraud summit. The event is part of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force formed by President Barack Obama last year.

The Phoenix event will be the second summit for the task force. The first was held in Miami in February.

Mortgage fraud began to plague Phoenix's housing market during the boom, when illegal cash-back deals were happening in almost every neighborhood. Now, most fraud schemes in the Valley involve foreclosures.

A diverse group of Arizona market watchers, fraud experts, state and federal regulators and prosecutors as well as real-estate leaders have been invited to Phoenix's mortgage-fraud event.

Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com.