Some part of me wonders just how much Downtown Phoenix's development was frozen in time, waiting to be thawed again.

The Jet appears "back". Desert Troon still owns the land at 2nd Avenue north of Van Buren. Downscaled and overparked somewhat, it's a two-tower 22 and 19 floor mixed use project. 280' and 229'. Not bad...

http://emvis.net/~sean/ssp/projects/...t/new/jet1.jpg

http://emvis.net/~sean/ssp/projects/...t/new/jet2.jpg

http://emvis.net/~sean/ssp/projects/...t/new/jet3.jpg

http://emvis.net/~sean/ssp/projects/...t/new/jet5.jpg

http://desert-troon.com/the-jet

Southwest Development Group still owns the land across from Lynwood on Central Avenue south of McDowell. Still have a corporate multiparty answering system picking up the phone. There website has not been updated.

http://www.soave.com/core/realestate_museum.php

Mostly old renderings at: http://emvis.net/~sean/ssp/projects/swdg_twin_towers/

Wow, I didn't even get a response. I didn't think it was THAT lame of an idea...

Well there's lame then there's just gay. Haha just kidding. While the idea isn't bad, would be right above the path of the lightrail? If so that works because not only do people get the view of downtown and Midtown, they get shade(as well as the people on the ground), they have very easy access to the stations, plus it'd add to the pedstrian traffic during the summer thus, like you said spurs buisness along the corridor. Although walking DT Phoenix 2 weeks ago I did see quite a lot of people walking the streets on that 113 degree day. If they built that I'd use it whenever I was DT or Midtown.

When did this project first die? So your saying it came back?

Sorry, I wrote a response, then my internet browser crashed and I was too lazy to retype it!

My basic thought would be, I like your idea of trying to connect Downtown and Midtown more, thats a good thought. But skywalks aren't the way to do it. They pull people away from the street and decrease pedestrian activity and vitality that we all associate with a healthy city. What we need more of is firstly shade trees, second man made shade structures, and third many more misters.

Additionally a key thing is having vastly more street facing retail along central. When its 115 outside and you walk by shops with doors opening and closing and their cool AC spilling out onto the street that helps a lot. Additionally you're going to be more likely to pop into a book store or whatever just to browse and get some relief from the heat.

While Im thrilled at them updating the site and hopeful that anything replaces a dirty lot, I'm a bit confused by one line on their site. It says:

Does this means they plan the rental apartments to be priced similarly to the mortgage on a starter home? Doesn't Downtown need a lot more apartments that are priced at $1 per square foot per month or less rather than luxury rentals that cost as much as owning a home? These luxury projects whether they be condos or apartments seem misguided to me. The majority of urban pioneers are going to be young, creative, poor types.

Obviously due to Phoenix's lack of historic large building stock that can be retrofitted into multi story loft buildings its going to be harder to create large scale affordable housing projects. But developers if they were smart should be trying to fill that market. I know many people (myself included) that would love a place between the 7s, the I-10 and the tracks but end up finding mostly either dumps or 'luxury' apartments with not much in the way of affordable quality in between.

Why build elevated structures over LRT? If this is the case, they should've just built elevated rail with elevated walkways to the sidewalks and buildings.

Or elevated rail with a nice green shaded walkway underneath...that would at least create shade, walkability, and urban transportation. Too bad it would cost like 4x as much as the LRT line.

Besides the fact that unless you ran the elevated line down the sides of the road instead of the center, no one is going to want to walk down the middle of Central underneath train tracks. That would really, really ramp up cost lol!

Go to Paris where the metro line 2 runs elevated down the center of the street, people do not walk underneath the tracks.

I think here people would love to walk underneath the tracks. I know I would in the summertime. Underneath the tracks = shade!

There are plenty of places where walkways are used effectively underneath the tracks in the center of the road. I think it's a bad idea in Phoenix both because walkways are effective underneath elevated tracks, which Phoenix doesn't have (they're on the way up or down from the trains and stations, not out of the way for people to get up to them above everything else) and Phoenix doesn't have enough street life as it is, we don't need to cannibalize what little street life we have by diverting it away from the sidewalks and storefronts (or potential storefronts) and up above the middle of the road.

Bangkok for example has a large elevated walkway underneath a significant portion of the BTS train. It connects directly into the upper levels of nearby buildings and it has room for vendors and shops (coffee/doughnut shops, newsstands, currency exchanges, etc.) along the walkway. My pics.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_c4WshzEPoNs/SF...4Go-LE/026.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_c4WshzEPoNs/SG...s4Hbuc/114.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_c4WshzEPoNs/SG...tNT7gA/118.JPG

Like I said though, the walkway is easily accessible and underneath the train, and the sidewalks are so thoroughly congested with people and street vendors that having elevated walkways increases mobility without cannibalizing the street life.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_c4WshzEPoNs/SG...cVlf0s/055.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_c4WshzEPoNs/SK...7mDPMI/013.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_c4WshzEPoNs/SK...XYAMEE/017.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_c4WshzEPoNs/SK...uH5YCQ/018.JPG

There's an even better idea for central. I love all the street vendors out 24/7 in places like Bangkok, Amsterdam, or Santa Fe. They really enhance street life, they encourage people to be out and walking, they allow a street to be continuously walkable even if there aren't storefronts along sections of the road, etc. Let's create a street vendor district along central along the light rail to connect midtown and downtown. Food, books, cds, trinkets, whatever, it would be great.

Why not add a completely seperate district inbetween there with the street vendors and the walkway. Something say like a Chinatown or Koreatown; Little Italy. Emercing ones culture into downtown would not only attract international and Arizonian people there but it would increase pedistrian, auto, and light rail traffic. Plus I think it would be cool if they added the street vendors in the alley ways making it like a walkthrough outdoor mall like in Honolulu, if you've been there. That way people can shop on the streets then cut through an alleyway market to get to the next street over.

A friend of mine was invited to a soft opening for Nobuo in The Teeter House and LOVED IT! In the paper today...

Nobuo in downtown Phoenix open for dinner
by Howard Seftel -Republic restaurant critic

After three lunch-only weeks, James Beard Award-winner Nobuo Fukuda feels comfortable enough to ramp up dinner at his new downtown Phoenix restaurant. Dinner at Nobuo at Teeter House starts Tuesday, Aug. 3.

Fukuda received national acclaim at Sea Saw, his closed Scottsdale restaurant known for exquisite modern Japanese small plates. His new restaurant is modeled after Japanese taverns called izakayas, causal, affordable spots where people come to nibble and drink.

Sea Saw regulars will recognize several dishes. Among them: tuna tataki with beet puree ($10); fluke with homemade focaccia ($10); a trio of octopus, mozzarella and tomato (mp); coconut curry grilled lamb ($12); soft shell crab with green papaya slaw ($10) and parchment-baked sea bass with mushrooms (mp).

What's new? I'm looking forward to pork belly buns ($8), steamed clam with cabbage and bacon ($10) and most of all to okonomiyaki ($8). It's a sizzled Japanese pancake, generally mixed with a scrumptious combination of seafood or pork, cabbage and vegetables, and a dab of Japanese mayo. Then, it's finished with a sprinkle of bonito and seaweed flakes, and drizzled with distinctively thick, slightly sweet sauce.

Details: Lunch and dinner Tuesdays-Sundays. 623 E. Adams St. (Heritage Square), Phoenix, 602-254-0600,

Unfortunately, one of the most substantial ethnic communities Phoenix actually has is under a good deal of scrutiny at the moment (and likely won't be creating any new vibrant districts downtown in the near future). It's a damn shame, too, because AZ cities could be truly uniquely recognized for celebrating Hispanic and Native American cultures more visibly in our built environment.

Other cities that have the Little Tokyos, the Chinatowns, etc... developed those organically after immigrants settled close to friends and family. I've never seen an example of a city "wanting" a Chinatown and shipping in thousands of Chinese just to make that a reality. Sounds more like something China would do, actually. Any volunteers for "Americatown"? Tokyo's got one!

BTW - in response to Nobuo opening downtown: YES. I've been searching for a place to eat okonomiyaki for over two years. It's a delicious Osaka tradition, and great to see some different Japanese foods come to the valley after the wave of Americanized sushi.

I'm probably going to try it tonight.

You are right about Phoenix not having enough pedestrian traffic along Central; however, Phoenix is not a typical large city either. With the status quo, I just do not foresee Phoenix having a bunch of pedestrian traffic along Central Ave to downtown even with the lightrail moving along the middle. The sidewalks are narrow in some parts, wide in other parts, there is alot of empty space along Central in areas, not enough shade, etc. There needs to be something to actually draw more people to that area that would help to tie the midtown area with the downtown area, and I just don't foresee with the ways things are now (at least during the long hot summers) alot of pedestrian traffic moving along Central or even wanting to walk in the heat along Central all the way to downtown. A skywalk, however, could keep people cooled, allow for great views and for pedestrians to actually take time to see what is actually along Central (without worrying about hurrying to the next destination because it is so hot), and have plenty of points in it where people COULD get to street level. The idea isn't to take people away from street-level, it's actually to get more people to go along Central and downtown and see what is actually (or could potentially be) down there.

yes it's hot now, it's late summer, however, what's the reason people aren't walking down central in December? It ain't the heat. It's the build environment.

20+ story buildings are admirable, but the soul of the city is in the 1-2-3 story buildings where "joe shmo" can afford the lease to open up shop. What must be recognized is that for Phoenix, this pretty much means strip malls, existing ones and future ones. This means auto-centric, this means embracing the thing most city dwellers disdain the most.

Come again? You think the reason we don't have street life on central in december is because we need more strip malls and we need to be more auto-centric? :koko:

^^^ I think I know what he was trying to say...we don't have pedestrian activity year 'round bc its just not convenient for anything but autos.

Even though midtown Central is lined with numerous high/mid rises that creates a nice skyline, they are suburban in nature, designed for the automobile even in the heart of the city. Every high rise has its own parking structure, usually behind the building. One may not even have to drive on Central to get to work! The buildings themselves, are set back from the sidewalk with ample open space (just think Viad or any other mid-town office building).

It would be nice if someday the open space surrounding these "towers" were allowed to be developed into 3-5 story apartments, condos, shops (for Joe Schmo) that front Central with connectivity to LRT and office towers.

How do you get office workers out of their car if it is just too easy to park in the garage and take the elevator up to the office? Parking should be limited and expensive, right now, it is just too convenient and cheap for commuters to drive into work from outer residential districts.

Parking is so cheap in these garages (I know of one that is $16/month unlimited parking for employees, some might be free) that nobody parks at meters for $1.50/hour.

Agreed completely. Making it more walkable means putting more shops directly on central with residential above and shade over the sidewalk, and it means making the area less auto-centric by making parking more expensive and road dieting, especially now that we have the LRT right up central.

I think we just won't have street life on central, possibly ever, unless you think a bunch of builders are going to start building dozens of 2-3 story brick buildings up to the sidewalk with retail on the ground and housing/offices above.

Additionally, things would be much better if strip malls were moved to the sidewalk and parking was in back, but even that seems like too much to ask. I guess, what I'm trying to say is that we shouldn't look down on a place just because it's in a strip mall, not in this city anyway.

:previous: Good point. Also, don't forget shade trees(and I don't mean palms) planted at regular intervals along the whole length. That softens the urban boundary at the sidewalk and makes it inviting. Furthermore, Central is far too wide to really encourage walking or strolling. I think you would have to remove a lane and make the sidewalks far wider, then creating a line of good palo verdo or mesquite, then it might not look so auto-centric. Maybe then Jane Suburb might be tempted to take a walk down it instead of Joe Shopping Cart.

Hopefully someone with deep pockets can come in and bring that beautiful building back from it's current situation. Fingers crossed.

ML Managers takes over Ten Wine Lofts, Hotel Monroe

Phoenix Business Journal - by Jan Buchholz


ML Managers LLC has taken possession of the Hotel Monroe in downtown Phoenix and Ten Wine Lofts in Scottsdale, both busted projects that the now defunct Grace Communities had partially developed.

The announcement was made Friday by Mark Winkleman, chief operating officer of ML Managers, the firm created to administer commercial real estate loans made by Mortgages Ltd. That company was forced into Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy after its sole shareholder, Scott Coles, committed suicide in June 2008.

Mortgages Ltd. had been one of the largest lenders in the state for construction and land acquisition loans since the mid-2000s.

Winkleman said Ten Wine Lofts, a luxury condominium project near Scottsdale and Osborn roads in Old Town Scottsdale, is being aggressively marketed by Mark Forrester, a partner at Hendricks & Partners.

“It’s about 95 percent finished. Pretty darn close,” Winkleman said.

The Hotel Monroe historic redevelopment project was barely off the ground when the economy tanked in late 2008. Interiors of the property at the southeast corner of Central and Monroe avenues in downtown Phoenix had been stripped in preparation for new construction of a boutique hotel and have remained untouched but exposed to the elements for about two years. Winkleman said that property will be put on the market shortly.

Another property acquired by Grace Communities via a Mortgages Ltd. loan also has been repossessed: A 9.7 acre vacant parcel near Highland Avenue and Scottsdale Road, north of Scottsdale Fashion Square. Winkleman said that property also will go on the market soon.

In all, Grace Communities borrowed about $121 million from Mortgages Ltd. Grace Communities has not been a viable company for several months, according to information provided in May by Ryan Zeleznak, one of its principals.

In addition to acquiring the properties through foreclosure sales, Winkleman said he negotiated settlements with Zeleznak, his father Don Zeleznak and Jonathon Vento, the three partners in Grace Communities. Specifics of those settlements are confidential, Winkleman said.

ML Partners has been busy in recent weeks. The company also repossessed Los Arcos Crossing, a former Bashas’ anchored strip mall east of Scottsdale and McDowell roads. The borrower on that property was Phoenix-based PDG America, which had planned to build a mixed-use development that would complement the nearby SkySong ASU Innovation Center.

The Los Arcos project never got off the ground, but Winkleman expects strong interest in the property given that the city of Scottsdale plans more significant redevelopment in the area.

Oh, that's the old Helen K Mason Center for the Performing Arts, former home of the Black Theatre Troupe. Originally it was built (early 50s?) as a Synagogue, to which Steven Spielberg belonged. And it's on Portland St, midblock betw 3rd and 4th streets. Would love to see that restored as an arthouse or performance place or something.

815 N. 2nd St is south of Roosevelt, between Garfield & McKinley. It is not on Portland between 3rd & 4th streets. Unless I'm mis-understanding what you're posting. The link that John posted shows an address of 815 N. 2nd St on the top left of the page, but the building in the picture is at 322 E. Portland.

The KML project on 3rd St and Roosevelt, lingering for a while, is officially dead. I noticed the for sale sign for 3 acres including the "gateway" block and the east half of the block to the south. Together they are Downtown Phoenix's largest undeveloped privately owned assemblage.

http://emvis.net/~sean/ssp/projects/...trendering.jpg

Right. He mentioned an old theatre, which is the one i noted being on Portland St.

Right. I looked up the address to prove it wasnt "just north of matts" and got sidetracked.

I must have woke up unbalanced yesterday because I decided to walk the Phoenix streets like a low class hooker to take some pictures of general "improvements" to city. Needless to say it was hot and void of actually people or activity.

Work has begun on Central Station "Refurbishments"
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3003.jpg

The trolley cars have been removed
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3001.jpg

Building tore down on the north side of the station
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_2998.jpg

Biomedical Center. Looks like ASU isn't on the banner. So I guess they are officially out.
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_2990.jpg

SW Corner of Fillmore and 7th where the Biomedical Center is going.
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_2981.jpg

Looks like we get some more great surface parking :yuck:
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_2985.jpg

Updated picture of the hotel entrance on Freeport.
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_2997.jpg
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_2993.jpg

Photos of where the 12 News Studio will be located.
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3016.jpg
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_2992.jpg
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3015.jpg

Herberger Updates
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3011.jpg
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3010.jpg
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3012.jpg
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3013.jpg
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3017.jpg

Chase tower Plaza improvements.
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3004.jpg
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3006.jpg

Shade structures
http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3008.jpg

http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/a...x/IMG_3007.jpg

Those Chase Tower 'improvements' are such a gigantic waste. You cant plant a few new trees and hope people are going to want to walk around a castle wall and down into a ravine to hang out, or have a good urban experience. Just knock the wall out and put in some retail, even if its of the cart/truck food variety.

E: VVV Thats good news. Im glad public-private partnerships are being discussed, theyre whats really needed to make it a great park.

Officials taking new look at old plans for Deck Park

by Connie Cone Sexton - Aug. 15, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Work is under way to pump new life into a 32-acre park that floats above the Deck Park Tunnel near downtown Phoenix.

City officials are dusting off the late 1980s original master plan and hope one day to find the money to see envisioned projects become real.

Twenty years ago this month, Valley residents flocked to the opening of the tunnel, a marvel of transportation engineering that cut a hole through a half-mile of central Phoenix real estate.

Then and now: Deck Park Tunnel/Hance Park

It was the final puzzle piece to finish Interstate 10 and create an unbroken 2,400-mile-plus stretch between California and Florida.

But the tunnel was also one of the biggest bonanzas for the city of Phoenix: a chance to create a park atop the portion of the Papago Freeway between Third Avenue and Third Street, just south of McDowell Road.

Thousands of homes had already been cleared when initial plans called for the highway segment to be aboveground.

Officials and area residents had grand plans for a sort of mini Central Park: Visitors to the Deck Park would be able to stroll through a grassy picnic area, pass through a grove of trees into a bustling urban plaza, snap a few pictures by the park's fountains and carousel, then head for a concert at the outdoor amphitheater.

Since opening in 1992 as the renamed Margaret T. Hance Park, the site offers several amenities, including the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Irish Cultural Center and large expanses of grass, but it lacks the allure that city leaders hoped to see.

Downturns in the economy and constraints on the Phoenix budget kept the city from adding features like the amphitheater and carrousel. Although a handful of festivals are held outside the Burton Barr Central Library, which sits on the northern midpoint of the park, more are needed, observers say.

But with a resurgence of interest and activity in downtown Phoenix and new residents moving into surrounding historic homes, the time is right to take another look at the park, said Tom Byrne, a landscape architect for the city.

The potential for the site is great, he said, adding: "It has good bones but not a lot of attractions or things in the park to stimulate activity."

A task force reviewing the park and neighbors say they'd like to see better lighting, maybe a dog park, coordination among the cultural groups to expand activities, a bike-rental shop, food vendors and canopies of shade.

Joan Kelchner, a member of the neighborhood Roosevelt Action Association, is excited that the city is starting what she calls "a very aggressive attempt to update the park."

Kelchner, who moved into the Roosevelt Historic District adjacent to the park in 1984, hopes the new visioning of the park will spur the preservation of the city-owned Winship House, a historic building on the west side of the park.

She believes it will take private-public partnerships to truly ignite the master plan for Hance Park. Kelchner suggests a public outdoor market for the site and for artists' lofts to be developed, much like what the original plan envisioned.

"There has been progress at the park, but it's been spotty," she said.

Steve Weiss, secretary of the Downtown Voices Coalition, wishes Hance Park were used more frequently. "The sad thing about some of the Phoenix parks is that they're either ignored or loved to death. Hance Park is falling into the former category."

Jim Burke, Phoenix assistant parks director, is encouraged by the activity he does see.

"There are a lot of folks who jog through or use it as passive recreation," he said. "But it's probably a little underutilized."

Jonathan Davis, a former landscape architect for Howard Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff, who was the project coordinator for the deck, said the park and the tunnel came about when the city was coming of age.

The tunnel and park project is an "incredible engineering marvel," said Davis, now president of SEMI North America. "It was a fantastic project that had a real hope to serve as a catalyst for growth."

He said the park was a terrific solution for easing an old wound after the homes had been leveled to make room for the freeway. Instead of a divide that separated neighborhoods, the park, he said, "could be the bridge."

Interesting photos from azcentral.com
Then and Now:Deck Park Tunnel/Hance Park

http://www.azcentral.com/photo/News/...15832#phototop

I like Reid Butler and I hope these empty lots get developed, but I just don't get why on Earth he thinks 400' makes sense there. The M&I Bank building across the street is 164' and Landmark on Central is 176', clearly 200' would be a much more acceptable ceiling in that area.

Further even if there were already taller buildings in that area, why should be zoning for more? Phoenix is already vastly over zone height wise and we need to try to keep 350'+ towers in Downtown, they just don't fit in Uptown. Even when the market does recover I just don't see the demand for building what would be the 3rd tallest building in Phoenix that far North.

I don't know if it was a once-in-a-while thing, a one-time thing, or if it has to do with the renovation of the Chase Tower Plaza so it will be an every-night thing, but I noticed the whole white part of the Chase Tower was lit up last night. I saw it from the airport, and it looked really good.

Its been like that a couple months

Every night? I guess I just haven't noticed.

I assume every night. I noticed it for a while then it just became part of the landscape. Maybe if it was off id noitce it? I dunno.

old pic

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...G_3005copy.jpg

How old is this? '01-'05?

^^^ wait Dodge theatre is there so '04-'05. How old is Dodge Theatre???

no idea, but I think it was when I was still in high school so before 2003?

Central Phoenix (which I think is what most people mean when they say "Downtown") desperately needs a skate park. I hope they consider either Encanto Park or Steele Indian School Park for this project. If not either of those spots then somewhere between the 7s, Camelback and the railroad tracks.

EDIT: VV True maybe that can be part of Deck Parks redesign. My one concern would be that Deck Park is a fairly small park, so I wouldn't want the skate park taking over too much of it. My hope has always been for Deck Park to be redesigned into an urban park like Chicagos Millenium Park. But maybe some of those underutilized dirt lots or parking lots could be bought up by the city and the park could be expanded and the skatepark could go there.

I feel that deck park would be a logical option for it. There is plenty of room, its an underutilized park, and its close to a train station.

IIRC, I've got construction photos from the Dodge from the winter of 2001. I think it opened in 2002. I think Jerry Seinfeld was the first show.

Post them up if you can :) I'm a sucker for old Phoenix pics.

What I have scanned or available is here:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=153447

Looks like they restaurant where Nine 05 used to be. We'll see how long it lasts.

From AZ Central.
http://blissonfourth.com/

May go try it out tonight.

I was going to go last night but went to Lucky Strike instead. It should last a while I would assume. The Fez/Switch/Ticoz people have quite a following.

^I heard he sold his stake in Fez & Ticoz to finance this place. Not sure if that's true but that's what Thomas was telling me.

Cool article I read in downtown voices.
I think we need more street food in downtown. It would definatley give downtown a unique feature and plus I love street food. :notacrook: