Location killed it.

Huh? How can location kill something in that corner of downtown when all the vacant lots make it totally visible to the better traveled streets?

Agree, that was a huge part. Totally un-noticable.

Other factors were the arrogant owner and grossly overpriced food.

My friends took me for my birthday a couple years back and I loved it. Unfortunately I'm a teacher and I can't drop $25-$30 that often. I think downtown restaurant owners need to recognize the economic reality of the people who come downtown. Or maybe I'm just jealous because I can't eat with the high rollers (I can't imagine if I ever went to a REALLY expensive restaurant).

I say location killed it because, it's in downtown, yet it's surrounded by nothing. I guess the economy could also be blamed because numerous residential projects in that area failed to break ground. I'm sure if there were more permanent residents they may have been more successful.

Sure it made it visible, but totally uninviting to visit. There was nothing else around it for one and two, it just felt weird walking into the place. I think it would have done a lot better if it was in the place of Sens or Turf or another place downtown were it was actually on the street.

Exactly.

It wasn't what I would call visible. The only sign they had pointed awkwardly to the north at Fillmore Street, yet was hard to see from Fillmore because it was half a block off the street. There was no other signage to be found. The restrooms were in the same weird hallway which you had to walk down to find the restaurant, and the whole space juat should not be a dining establishment. They made a very poor choice of location, and nevermind the fact the ownder, Nick, was completely full of himself and his servers had bad attitides. I feel like the place survived two years only because they continually threw money at it.

How the hell can the City of Phoenix fuck up such a great building as the Monroe School (Phoenix Children's Museum) with a fucking chain link fence? Seriously? I mean seriously?! Why in the world did they not make the main building entrance off of 7th St like it was designed? And say they couldn't for some reason...they really can't raise enough money from corporate donations or something to put up a proper wrought iron fence? I mean chain link? It looks like it's abandoned with that fence.

I know it has some stupid green/purple thing draped on the fence now as this is an older picture but it really looks the same...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1100/...6be8e8e5_b.jpg

They really have to find a way to make that area much more attractive. I had a couple friends go to the Childrens Museum a couple weeks back and they had a blast. With the Science center and Heritage Park located across the street, they should look at finding a way to connect everything together and make things more pedestrian friendly. I know everyone hates the Mercado but maybe put in a museum celebrate hispanic heritage on the east end next to the street. Also that part of 7th street doesn't seemed to be utilized as much and maybe a median with trees can help the area.

The Children's Museum of Phoenix is a great institution. We have a membership and take our kids at least once a month. Nevertheless, you are completely right: The decision to ignore the historic street-facing entrance and emphasize the back entrance facing the parking lot was misguided. It assumes everyone will arrive by car and penalizes those who arrive on foot. There is a gate in the chain link fence, but half the time I find it locked.

Unfortunately, the architectural mistake with the entrances is not easily remedied, but the chain link fence could be. Even if the main entrance must face the parking lot instead of the street, at least install a more attractive fence out front and have a clear path for pedestrian access.

How did the city fuck it up? They dont own it.

... Actually they do along with Heritage and AZ Science.

http://maricopa.gov/Assessor/ParcelA...?ID=116-34-254

There should be NO fence. That would look the best. It shouldn't cost any money for replacement (just a bit to take out the existing crap chain link).

yah i thought the same thing!
Maybe something will pop up in the future?

Under the current setup, some sort of fence is needed because the building's front yard is part of the museum. There are often exhibits and play areas there for children. The fence keeps people with no business being at a children's museum from getting to the kids and keeps the kids from running into 7th Street traffic.

That being said, they could have attractively fenced off areas on both sides of the historic entrance while still leaving a clear path for pedestrian entry. Alternatively, they could have put the museum's outdoor component in the back or off to the side where some of the parking spaces are now located.

They own the property, not the museum. The museum is leased from the coty and run by a npo. Thats like saying since the city owns heritage square, they own Nobuo and Pizzeria Bianco.

what the hell........?

http://www.carfreephoenix.com/index.html

Uhh...where exactly is that map trying to show it's located?

I think it is next to Cielo, Brophy Tower, and the Toll Brothers towers.

The reason that the original front entrance won't/can't be the front entrance now is because it is not handicap accessible. In order to make it handicap accessible would require very unsightly ramps running along the front of the building. The landing is extremely high, so the ramps would be extensive. Take a look at the Grace Court School at 8th Ave and Adams. Same problem except the landing was probably 5 feet lower than the Monroe School. The accessible access in in the rear. Also, there is no fence, wrought iron or chain link, at the Grace Court School and it looks great. I don't know why there is a fence at the Monroe School but it looks very bad.