I apologize if I've asked this before, but I don't recall the answer...

Was the West block designed so that towers could eventually be built on top of the existing retail (albeit with modification)? I mean structurally were portions of the west block designed to allow for future vertical development, or would they essentially have to come down?

The west block was not designed so that a tower could be built above it in the future.

The original plans called for the retail building to have a few floors of apartments above the retail. Adding the residential above the existing retail now I s probably out of the question.

You can hope all you want. I understand the west area you were discussing. There were many flaws in how that was designed as a compromise for eliminating the park. However, it's not going anywhere anytime soon so it's a moot point. To wish for demolition after 7 or so years seems premature.

Because I know jack shit about engineering or architecture, how hard would it be (taking necessity of such a project out of the equation) to renovate so that the western part of Cityscape so that it's more "street friendly"?

I had heard once that western portion was limited due to a view easement related to the Renaissance properties to the north

Blocks of Roosevelt Row
 

Some (vague) news about restaurants that will be part of the Blocks of Roosevelt Row project:

http://www.theblocksroosevelt.com/20...roosevelt-row/

Interesting coverage of an architecture firm's submission to an AIA Phoenix Metro competition: a giant rug propped up on stilts over 1st Ave, which would facilitate turning the street into a strictly pedestrian/public transportation "Jacaranda Avenue."

http://www.curbed.com/2017/1/5/14179...climate-change

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uM8...9/stringio.jpg


http://aia-phoenixmetro.org/competition-1/

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...g?format=1000w

http://www.blankspaces.net/jacaranda...mjdmk0f4nii8mf

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...pg?format=750w

I'm sure this will get started just as soon as the Pin is topped out ;)

^More shade is great, but closing streets to car traffic is usually a bad idea. The idea sounds appealing in theory but usually ends up draining all the life from the street. For every success like the 16th Street Mall in Denver, there are a dozen cases nationwide in which cities have made a downtown street into a pedestrian mall only to find themselves reversing that action a few years later. It would be far better for Phoenix to put its efforts into complete streets where cars, bicycles, and pedestrians are given equal priority. Did the Phoenix chapter of AIA learn nothing from hosting Jeff Speck's visit to Phoenix? He literally wrote the book on walkable cities, and even he sees the folly of pedestrian malls.

Half of block 23 is fenced off along 1st and they are digging and breaking up the lot where the Fry's is supposed to be. So is this the official groundbreaking for this? The underground garage on 2nd st is still open along with parking in the lot.

Do we have official renderings yet for this project? Not just speculative "this is what it could look like" hodgepodge, but something we can actually expect to see?

There were some from a while back. Pretty conclusive

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/1645...-Rendering.jpg

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/53d2...-Rendering.jpg

https://arizonadailyindependent.com/...ctive-View.png

http://dtphx.org/wp-content/uploads/...1-1024x663.png

This is interesting, its a massing with a bigger office building! maybe we can hope

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Chut8CEUUAQtiuH.jpg

^which one will it be? I'm confused which office rendering to expect.

the top 4

the bottom one is the only one that stands out bu the plan from the get go was for a shorter office building with high ceilings and open floorplates to attract tech companies.

Aren't the holes they are digging usually for utility relocation or soil testing? Usually a very early sign of construction?

Well no use I guess in complaining for a fuller or better project. Is there at least the possibility of a taller building being built atop of Fry's? Like the bottom rendering?

I remember reading an article a while ago where a RED Executive said that they are building the office building/portion in such a way where additional floor/height can be added later or even during the construction phase if the demand were to exist. He referenced the Hotel Palomar being built in a similar fashion and adding the apartments on top shortly after.

Cityscape update: Ahipoki Bowl going into the old Verizon space. From the PBJ article, "Cityscape has been revamping its shops here and there, taking out underperforming businesses and replacing them with more promising ones. Once the Verizon store is gone, Urban Outfitters and CVS Pharmacy will be the only remaining retail stores at CityScape."

Here are a couple pics of block 23 I took on my lunch.

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...pstq8ndmrs.jpg

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/...psophkynek.jpg

That's all new. I was at the Suns/Cavs game last night and didn't see it.