The old canals used to be widely used for swimming and were lined with beautiful huge lush trees. But people thought the trees drank too much of our water so they cut them all down.

http://bit.ly/1O6ITcc

The canals used to be tree lined back in the day and SRP removed most of them because of utility right of way and other development. They made them easy for trucks and utility workers for canal and power access. Plus, they probably saved on tree maintenance and such. Here's a pic I found from 1909. Glad to hear of this proposal. A great asset for the city.

The renderings of the new proposal for Jefferson Place look top-notch! Although I agree it should have been extended to 1st street, I facking love this nevertheless.


http://kjzz.org/sites/default/files/...n%206.1.16.pdf

:slob: Why was the 20th century so awful for urban design

All of the projects in that pdf are nice looking but I actually like the Crescent Bay Holdings proposal best from an aesthetic standpoint.

Here's the presentation at a Phoenix City Council subcommittee meeting yesterday:

https://youtu.be/ImNcX0235mA?t=54m

I also think this is the Crescent Bay Holdings proposal, at least, that was what is alluded to in the video post above. It's an upgrade, in my opinion. Aside from the usual details we look for like retail and parking access, I do appreciate the nod in recreating the original look of the Barrister Building down to the windows and those small balls atop the building's rooftop.

I guess I am confused, there are clearly two different projects in that pdf, one is the same height as the Barrister building and the other is about twice the height, I prefer the shorter one for its detail.

Yeah both projects flank either side of the Barrister Building with new structures. The first one, the one you like, was the original proposal, and the one with the 15 story building is the new renderings by the same company.

I like the new. Is that one a go or is this just a proposal?

Phoenix lands international corporate HQ from Switzerland
 

Pretty good get for Phoenix. It sucks that they will be located in the Camelback corridor vs downtown but I'll take it.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...porate-hq.html

Another article but behind the paywall. It's interesting to note that the Phoenix area is being recognized as a cybersecurity hub.

EXCLUSIVE: How Phoenix's burgeoning cybersecurity cluster (and a bank) helped snag Swiss HQ move

I like the taller version better. The giant blocks in this area need height, not stubby little buildings. Looks like this is 16 stories? What is the Palomar? I'd love to see an even taller residentials go up on the remaining parcels around it.

Talk about a massive change:

Razing the roof: Metrocenter's renovation plan approved

The roof is coming off Metrocenter.

Carlisle Development Group walked out of this week's Phoenix City Council meeting with unanimous approval of its proposed multiple use planned unit development for the aging Metrocenter property.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said it’s the first time in his memory of city council actions that a PUD of this size was approved by every member of the council.

http://bit.ly/1r66XRl



The venerable enclosed mall, once a Valley showcase, now recovering from harder times, is poised to reinvent the idea of a urban center for west Phoenix.

There will no longer be a much of a Metrocenter Mall, though. Carlisle is planning on opening up the project into a urban center complete with a street grid and walkable space to move between retail, office, medical and residential developments.

Walmart’s new story anchors the south end of the property and Dillard's remains anchored on the northeast side of what was once the enclosed mall.

The new design integrates office, shopping, and a major medical clinic. A new cinema complex is planned on the west side of the loop road, across from the residential center.

Metrocenter Mall also integrates a pedestrian pathway from the light rail station on the east side of the mall into the center of the district.

Walmart’s groundbreaking is anticipated during the current year, but Carlisle officials cannot comment on the project, and Walmart has declined to disclose a start date.

Eric covers economic development, banking and finance, infrastructure, transportation and utilities.

Does that say "Dunlop"??

ROFL, poor ol' Mayor John Dunlap is turning in his grave.

Put all the density opposite the mass transportation. how does shit like this occur.:shrug:

/\ Maybe they want people to have to walk through shops and restaurants, and assume people would not want to live right next to the freeway.

It also allows the parking lot to serve light rail commuters who drive to the station. Still, I'd like to see the surface parking eventually converted to garages.

Edit: Never mind. After zooming in on the drawing, I see a separate light rail park-and-ride.

and isn't Castle and Coasters a major part of the SE section not showing buildings?

Speaking of malls, I went to Fiesta Mall this week and it was the saddest sight I've ever seen. The mall is just a shell of it's former self as most of the stores are no more and it's just a huge empty place. It's just like what happened to Tri City. It's a damn shame that the mall doesn't have very much time left. Even the Bank of America logo has been removed from the tower across the street which I assume is because they vacated.