Phoenix Development News (3)
 

Old thread has reached the 10,000 post limit and is now in the Archives.

The Phoenix Development News thread is for discussions regarding projects within the City of Phoenix only. It is for projects primarily affecting the built environment: planning, new buildings, how things could be on a more permanent basis.

Use the Coffee Talk thread if it doesn't fit anywhere else. :)

The mystery behind the Catherine Arms renovation on 4th Ave and Fillmore solved:

http://www.azcentral.com/business/re...edits0921.html

^There goes the neighborhood.

I'm glad it's being renovated, but isn't that somehow discrimination? Do they have an anti-fair-housing statement?

Ya, i've never understood how you can create affordable housing for minorities. Don't white people need affordable housing too? Also, didn't we give indians acres and acres of land??? What do they need apartments in downtown for? I figured they'd all want to live at the Heard Museum stop apartments.

Joke? :shrug:

I'm 99% sure the article got it wrong and they provide housing to everyone.

anyone else gonna go?

Phoenix high-rise set to be imploded Sunday
17 comments by Sadie Jo Smokey - Sept. 25, 2009 08:04 AM
The Arizona Republic
At 10 a.m. Sunday morning, Lisa Kelly, owner of Advanced Explosives Demolition, will push a button. In 4.5 seconds, a bit of history at Third Street and Earll Drive will fall.

Residents and businesses neighboring the site say good riddance. Last spring, workers removed the building's windows, leaving a blighted skeleton of steel and concrete.

In 1972 when it was built, the Mountain Bell Plaza building was one of the first International Style glass-and-steel office high-rises in Phoenix. Designed by local architect Al Beadle, the building was a perfectly rectangular 10-story block of blackened glass. For 30 years, the building was home to Mountain Bell and Qwest Communications. Qwest moved out in 2003, and San Diego developer Joe Pinsonneault bought the building in mid-2004 for $12.5 million.

Jean Switzer lives with her elderly parents on Catalina Drive, one street south of the implosion site. As of Thursday, she said residents were confused and frustrated at the lack of communication and information about the impending implosion.

"I haven't received a flier," Switzer said. "Nothing about how to prepare, what to expect. Should we stay in our homes? Should we seal our windows? These are things that take a long time."

Phoenix spokeswoman Deborah Sedillo Dugan said a reverse 911 call Saturday evening will alert residents of the blast.

Laura Iten lives on Catalina Drive with her husband and 6-month-old son. She said her family will not be watching the demolition from their living-room window.

"I was really surprised that it was so soon and we hadn't heard anything about it," Iten said. "We'd like to, but it's way too close."

Kelly said the family-owned company has 27 years' experience using explosives to bring down high-rise buildings, smokestacks and bridges. The company recently imploded an asbestos plant in Newfoundland.

What to know about the implosion:


• A linear-shaped charge is used to sever steel. None l and Unimax products will be placed in holes drilled in the basement, stairwells and elevator shafts. There will be no adverse effect on utility services. Noise and vibration will be below levels that would cause damage to neighboring structures. "We have zero worries," Kelly said.


• Black geotextile wrapping will be placed from the ground to 30 feet high around the building to contain dust and debris. "The dangers and risks are minimum," Kelly said. "Our biggest concern was the (State Compensation Fund) building across the street." That building will have its own protective fencing installed.


• Maricopa County Air Quality Department said the asbestos abatement has been completed. Kelly said there will be less dust in the single implosion than would be released if the building were demolished one floor at a time, over a period of weeks.


• Kelly said residents can stay in their homes if they choose. Others can watch the implosion from 1,000 feet away.

"We've had up to 100,000 people show up to watch," Kelly said. "Police will have a soft closure on streets 30 minutes before."


• The following intersections will be closed from about 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.: Fifth Street and Verde Lane, Third Street and Verde Lane, Second Street and Catalina Drive, Second Street and Earll Drive, Third Street and Cheery Lynn Road, Fifth Street and Cheery Lynn Road, Seventh Street and Earll Drive.

thats the SE corner, correct?

is anything interesting or infill-like going to go there?

John, I am there. Then I'm going to Fez for brunch. Sounds like a good morning.

I was wondering when they were going to broom that thing. Maybe the SkyscraperPage bunch should pick a viewing spot and hold a memorial service.

Thanks New Times!
 

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/besto...-true-1457812/

Best Street of Dreams Come True
Roosevelt Row
www.rooseveltrow.org

Many years ago, we were driving home at night through the mildly mean streets of Phoenix when we noticed something you never saw back then in these parts. On a non-descript building on then-non-descript Roosevelt Street, we saw tiny, white holiday lights. And it wasn’t even Christmas. We asked around, and learned that someone had opened a music space: Modified Arts. Then some crazy kids bought a building and called it eye lounge, setting the stage for the visual arts. Today, Modified and eye lounge have good company — an entire neighborhood devoted to the arts: more music spaces, galleries, a record store, a bakery. As we type it, we are still shaking our heads in disbelief, but, yes, we have a bona fide arts district and it even has a funky name: Roosevelt Row. True, it doesn’t quite stretch from 16th Street to Grand Avenue, as some claim, but from Seventh Street to Central Avenue, you’ve got a fabulous core of vibrant activity that spills over into neighboring streets and is starting to take off on days other than the first Friday of the month. Sometimes, dreams do come true — and our hearts go out in gratitude to those who dared.

Best of Phoenix 2009 In Photos

I just heard on the news that the developer has plans to build a 21 story "upscale" retirement home. The residents want none of that.

That has been the plan for a long time. I remember Don posted a post a while back on the building...

It looks like the Phoenix Plaza parking garage, whose NE corner is on 2nd St and Catalina will offer the best view.

Youtube video of the implosion

• Video Link

Modern Phoenix has the pics from 2nd and Catalina:

http://www.modernphoenix.net/forums/...p=24536#p24536

Bye Bye Beadle
 

animated gif by me

Beadle Go Boom by scottkag, on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/...d0f00abf_o.gif

Medical-school growth in limbo
Committee has declined to green-light downtown project

3 comments by Jahna Berry - Sept. 28, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Fucking Russell Pearce! Every time some article hints at some knuckle-dragging obstruction, his name pops up.

What is this fucking obsession with making college cheap? College is expensive, get over it! Work your ass off and get a scholarship like I did, this manic obsession with cutting admission cost really harms the ability of our state to have quality education.

VV There's nothing 'excessive' about the prices any of the schools in Arizona are charging, theyre crazy cheap.

Yeah except college tuitions keep increasing every year at a pretty ridiculous rate, it's just excessive.

Mesa is the underwear of Arizona and Russell Pearce is the shit-stain

The city has a new website up about the general plan update for those interested in that:
http://phoenix.gov/citygovernment/pl...phx/index.html

Is anyone planning on attending those meetings? I imagine Id run into at least a few of you there.

Don't know if this is development news, but it's an update on a development. I have noticed quite a few more people mingling about and hanging out at the Civic Space Park this week, 100% thanks to the cooler temps. There were even people (likely ASU kids) playing soccer and catch in the grassy area on the N. side.

Not to gripe, but can one of you guys go out and take some pictures or something? The coffee talk thread seems to be the only one going and the only discussion is about who likes sausage.

Just a thought (I'd do it, but I'm 500 miles away).

http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/...6elchorro.html

• Bernie Kantak's ambitious, five-restaurant project in downtown Phoenix, originally scheduled to launch later this year, has run into delays that have put the venture "ridiculously behind schedule." But the former Cowboy Ciao chef also says he's been meeting with investors "on a daily basis" and that "things are moving forward as planned."

^^^ Nothing out of the norm for DT Phx these days.

Fresh and Easy
 

http://www.azcentral.com/business/co...tesco1007.html



This could be good news. I still hope they bring one closer to downtown.

I'm having trouble finding more info but there is a Luhrs tour next Thursday at like 630pm.

http://www.downtownphoenixjournal.co...g-renovations/

Its at 7:30am not 6:30pm

Does anyone know why the Janet Echelman sculpture is not fully lit up at night? Last Friday during art walk is was barely visable. I had a friend from out of town visiting and I had talked not stop about it for months, so she was really anxious to see it. She knows how it glows (hey, that rhymes!) because she's seen the photos I've sent, but Sh*t, we were so disapointed. The streets were teeming with people, but the park was empty, probably due to the fact that the sculpture was barely lit. It is like that all the time now?

I think its ridiculous too. What theyre doing is only lighting up about 1/8th of the lights at a time and slowly they fade from one set to another. Its way too subtle though and looks like crap. If youre looking down Taylor from the AzCenter you can barely see the piece, its frustrating.

When the lights are on full blast it looks incredible.

I watched a special on Phoenix TV about the lighting and they were boasting how it is so innovative because they can use a combination of different lights to "customize" the lighting. They were really proud of the "dim lighting" and the whole time I was thinking what the fuck? you're proud of this? it's gay!

Just turn the lights on.

I am glad someone else noticed this. I look at that thing every night and I was beginning to think I was crazy. I sort of just thought it was because OCPE was so bright behind it (from my view) and that's why it was looking dim.

I sort of thought they just were conserving energy/bulbs to save money. It still looks okay - just not as awesome as it used to.

I just wrote this email to Downtown Partnership and our downtown councilman.

Good day,

I am writing you with a concern I have regarding the road closures in downtown Phoenix on Diamondbacks, Suns, and any other major stadium/arena event. As a downtown resident living at 7th Street and Monroe, I not only find it inconvenient for myself and neighbors, but also detrimental to downtown Phoenix businesses and contradictory to the revitalization plans in the city and city leaders wishes to make downtown Phoenix a vibrant city.

A fine example I will use is early September when I was at a meeting at Monroe and 1st Avenue in the US Bank Building, and the most logical way for me to get home is to travel east on Monroe to 7th Street, turn left, and my home (along with 350 other people whom live in the complex) is on the left. There was a “road closed” sign in the middle of Monroe street at 5th avenue, forcing me to turn left on 5th avenue, then a no right turn sign at Van Buren, a no right turn sign at Fillmore, and finally I was finally able to turn right at Garfield and backtrack down 7th street only to see a road closed sign southbound at 7th street at Van Buren because of the baseball game. The 5 minute drive was turned into a 25 minute fight through barricades, traffic, and police officers who didn’t seem to care that every avenue to my home was blocked off. The overall attitude is “too bad.”

After speaking with a Phoenix Police officer, I was told this is all part of a plan put in place in the mid 90’s to get people out of downtown after an event. In those days, there weren’t so many people living in the city, and there weren’t any bars, restaurants, and nightclubs people could go to afterward. Nowadays, with the added traffic of residents, bar traffic, trains, and various other activities the cow town attitude of “let’s get people out of here as quickly as possible” is no longer a positive strategy for downtown Phoenix. Not only does this encourage people to leave the city before they spend money at local businesses, but it also encourages those whom are likely intoxicated from the event to immediately enter their vehicle and drive home. With all of the recent public and private dollars pumped into the city, it makes absolutely zero sense to encourage those with discretionary dollars to spend to leave right away. Let’s take the opportunity rope them in let them spend money at local businesses.

I firmly believe that if no barricades or closures existed after events, many people would ride the train to their event, furthering the success of light rail, or wait for traffic to die down before driving, thus spending time and money at the businesses we have worked so hard to attract. If we simply “get them in, get them out” then it will further the stigma that downtown isn’t a place you want to be (we do that when we put the idea in people’s minds that they need to leave right away) and it will forever make it too difficult for people to spend money in our city. Lastly, it alienates the local residents and in many neighborhood meetings, it has been a frequent discussion that has let many homeowners to voice their wishes to move due to the inconviencence which lasts ALL winter.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your reply.

^Let us know what their reply is, Im sure itll be a more politely worded version of 'fuck off, we're the professionals.'

Jon, I must admit, that's probably the most articulate thing you've ever written on this forum (or at least the nicest). Please keep us abreast of the results as you have made some very logical points.

Regarding "Her Secret is Patience" I just talked to "TJ" at the Civic Space park number ((602) 262-7490) and he said theyre 'working on changing' the way the light on the net is. He says theyve realized its not nearly as bright and are going to be going to a new setup where it changes with the seasons. The lights wont be on full bore like they originally were (disappointing) but theyll be much brighter than theyve been recently. Itll be reds in the winter and blues in the summer sort of deal, I guess thats an improvement anyway.

But it cant hurt for other people to call him up and get in his ear about it I do suppose.

you do know I'm not a moron, right?

Thank you, Hoover for calling him. Like you said, dissapointing that it won't look like it did, but the fact that it will be brighter and ever-changing could be a good thing. :yes:

which is exactly what I received.


John,

Good afternoon, thank you for contacting our office with your concerns. I will forward your traffic related issue to Downtown Operations, they will be of further assistance in giving you a final answer to the reasons why the practice is maintained. In regards to the traffic flow issue, the city will maintain its standard in getting individuals out of downtown as quickly as possible after major sporting and other events. By doing this, the city allows the traffic flow exiting the venues access towards the freeways, which will help to get traffic flow back to the normal. If this did not occur, the streets would be grid locked, which may cause accidents and further delays for residents and patrons.

The barricade process helps to move things quickly in order to return to a normal traffic pattern. We apologize for any inconvenience, however, the practice is necessary in giving valley residents adequate access to the major freeways. Most of these individuals choose to go straight home after the events and not hang out in Downtown, due to personal choice. I hope this helps and contact me if you have further questions.

Sincerely,

Stephen Vital
City of Phoenix, District 8
602-262-4832


And my response I just sent:

Stephen,

My point, which I think you missed, is that years ago when this practice was put in place, there were not a significant number of downtown residents. Now that there are a lot of people living in the city, this has become a measure which is based on a decade old policy and needs to be drastically revised. It is making a bold assumption that nobody will be displaced by it, when in fact many of us are.

It’s too bad that there are no individuals who take this complaint (which I’m sure your office has heard before) seriously and gives the quick brush off to anyone whom detests it enough to write on the matter.

-John

VLJ,
Great attempt.

I can't believe this city purposely tries to get people out of DT as fast as possible! That is absolutely crazy. Phoenix is already one of the easiest cities to drive in. DT has freeway access in every direction, its really not that difficult. I don't think we need our police to be tied up in over-time traffic duty before and after DT sporting events.

^ Amen. Thanks a bunch for working at this John...and you too Hoover with the park. john hit the nail on the head with every point, and their dimwitted assistant completely glosses over the point.

With kooks like that pulling the strings it's really a surprise that we've made it this far.

Hi everyone, I have been a long time lurker and thought this would be a good time to post. I moved from Flagstaff to Denver a year ago and wanted to say the traffic management downtown Phoenix after a game doesn't help. By Coors Field, one block is closed directly in from of the will-call window. I cannot recall seeing an accident downtown after a game and if you choose to drive, traffic flows quickly with police directing traffic at busy intersections. There is no need to close other streets. LoDo is a great example of how stadiums can revitalize an area and Phoenix seems to be ignoring the benefits. How can the city expect downtown to be viable if they usher everyone out as soon as possible?

From Downtown Journal:

http://www.downtownphoenixjournal.com/2009/10/09/rumor/

That would be an awesome add for downtown!

Yes but looks like Calabria closed. Too bad it always seems like one places closed and another replaces it, instead of adding to what is already there.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bel...own_lola_c.php

The Hospice of the Valley campus on 16th St and Osborn has a project number attached to it: 08-2043. There's a big ass crane on site and construction is well under way.

2 stories above ground of office and 4 floors below ground for parking? That seems ridiculously overparked right?

Didn't someone call me an asshole a while back regarding the hospice of the valley project?

i seem to recall he identified who owns the parcel, and then asked what was going on. I told him hospice of hte valley offices and he got pissed.

Look waht it is, hospice of hte valley offices.

And wtf is up with that big apartment building on 16th street??? holy out of place, batman!

I was gonna comment on that too. It's like it came out of nowhere. I had no idea it would get to what, 6 stories?

Just like when you called me something to the affect of stupid idiot when I claimed the 44 Monroe crown was going to be scaled back right. You are an asshole, admit it and move on.

I've referred to myself as an asshole a million times. I call things the way they are.

Now you move on.

And yea Sean, wtf? We never had discussion about that project except for maybe one post.