Better get your girlfriend a damn nice gift Vicelord!!!!! :) :) :)

Anybody know what the building they dug an absolutely massive hole under on the SW corner of 16th St. and Osborn is going to end up looking like?

Hey guys. I ran into a friend of mine and found out she is working, among other things, to make sure the civic park is promoted and used among the community. I told her I would forward any information about upcoming events to people I knew who may be interested. Below is the schedule of events for Jan/Feb. They want as many people as possible to attend (obviously).

Also, the park has a Facebook page that is unrelated to these events but does advertise other things. If you didn't already know, that web address is http://www.facebook.com/civicspace

Edit: Totally unrelated and I hope I'm not breaking a forum rule but I am desperately searching for someone to rent a room in my house. 16th Ave and McDowell in Fairview Place neighborhood. It is reasonably priced and drama free. PM me if you or someone you know might be interested.


Name of Event: Civic Space Jam – Downtown DJs in the Park
Description: Civic Space Jam is a “park jam” in the Downtown Civic Space Park on the third Sunday of each month. Join local DJs and other beat oriented artists in the park for music, dancing and more!
Location: Downtown Civic Space Park, 424 N Central Avenue
Ticket prices: FREE
Day and time of the event: Sunday, January 17, 2010; 4:00-9:00 p.m.
Total of Attendees:
Names of sponsoring organizations:
Public contact information (Phone Website): Laci Lester laci@azfairtrade.com 602-496-1268


Name of Event: Film @ Civic Space Park – MLK Celebration
Description: In partnership with HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Karuna Village Fair Trade, City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, ASU College of Public Programs, and The Fair Trade Store hosts the ITVS Community Cinema presentation of the film Garbage Dreams.

Welcome to the world's largest garbage village located on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. The Zaballeen (Arabic for garbage people) recycle 80 percent of the trash they collect - far more than other recycling initiatives. But now a multi-national corporation threatens their livelihood. Follow three teenage boys born into the business who are forced to make choices that will impact the survival of their community. Stick around after the film for a discussion about social and environmental justice topics including poverty, fair trade, recycling, and more. View the trailer: http://www.garbagedreams.com
Location: A.E. England Building 424 N Central Avenue
Ticket prices: Free
Day and time of the event: January 16, 2010; 5:30 p.m.
Total of Attendees: 275
Names of sponsoring organizations: HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Karuna Village Fair Trade, City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, ASU College of Public Programs, KAET Ei8ht
Public contact information (Phone Website): http://handsonphoenix.org, 602-973-2212


Name of Event: Lunch Unplugged @ Civic Space Park
Description: “Lunch Unplugged” would is a weekly music showcase in the Civic Space Park featuring a variety of local Metro Phoenix musicians playing acoustic and rhythmic music during lunch.
Location: Downtown Civic Space Park outdoor stage, 424. N Central Avenue
Ticket prices: Free
Day and time of the event: Thursdays, Beginning January 28, 2010 – April 29, 2010
Total of Attendees:
Names of sponsoring organizations: City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, The Fair Trade Store, Radio Phoenix
Public contact information (Phone Website): Laci Lester, laci@azfairtrade.com, 602-496-1268

Name of Event: Community Yoga Project
Description: The Community Yoga Project is a seva (sanskrit for free/ giving back) presented by teachers from all parts of the Metro Phoenix Area. Join this practice in the beautiful Civic Space Park. This class is perfect for those who want to try yoga for the first time or those who want to expand their practice into the flourishing urban setting of Downtown Phoenix. Participants should bring their own yoga mat, towel or blanket.
Location: Downtown Civic Space Park, 424 N Central Avenue
Ticket prices: Free
Day and time of the event: Saturdays, 10:00- 11:00 a.m.
Total of Attendees: 50
Names of sponsoring organizations: The Fair Trade Store, City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, ASU College of Public Programs,
Public contact information (Phone Website): Laci Lester, laci@azfairtrade.com, 602-496-1268

Civic Space would be a hell of a place to throw a rave.

the colors man... the colors.... they are going to get me!

Happy 3,000 John. Missed it by 1, but happy 3,001!!! :)

hmmmmm

thanks.... I was going to do a full downtown photo shoot for 3,000... I guess I'll have to wait a bit.

I will though post a shoot when I get my new toy this week.

Merry Christmas camera?????

no I have a nice enough body....

I'm going W I D E !

Large and in charge!!!

HAHAHA!

I just re-read this.

caught your own unintentional funny?!!! :)

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoen...8/daily51.html

So it sounds like we won't be seeing much development on that parcel for a while. :(

EDIT: Do we not have a special biomed campus thread? I looked, didn't see one. Maybe we need one but as slow as its been, probably not. Hmmm.

An artical on the downtownphoenixjournal.com website about the 7th Ave and McDowell; mentions the SEC building being redone by Viking Properties.

http://www.downtownphoenixjournal.co...-ave-mcdowell/

The timing of the smashburger site seems right based on what I have heard about issues getting the financing together to purchase the building; a friend mentioned the Antique store staying until at least May...

Did anyone else notice they built a new culvers at 8st and camelback? It showed up overnight.

They have good custard lol not crazy about their burgers though to small

Staff requests the Downtown, Aviation and Economy Subcommittee recommend City Council authorization for the City to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) and to negotiate business terms for the private development of a laboratory and research facility and/or development of an approximately 1,000 space parking structure on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus (PBC).



THE ISSUE



Due to the success of the tenants in the TGen facility, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix in partnership with Arizona State University, the Arizona Biomedical Collaborative I (ABC I) projects, and the planned development of the Health Science Education Building (HSEB) and Arizona Biomedical Collaborative II (ABC II) facility, significant demand has been created for development of a research facility and a parking structure. The Comprehensive Master Development Plan adopted by City Council in 2007, calls for more than six million square feet (SF) of academic, clinical and research space on the PBC.



The City-owned TGen facility, which opened in 2005, took less than three years to become 100 percent occupied. Due to interest from the private sector and demand for additional research space by the universities and tenants within the TGen facility, staff is requesting authorization for the issuance of a RFP for a research laboratory facility for institutional, academic and private biomedical users. Staff has identified the approximately 25,000 SF site located between the TGen and ABC I facilities along 5th Street for this development opportunity. The RFP will include language stating preference will be given to proposals that incorporate ground level retail and below grade parking.



With planned development underway for HSEB and ABC II, current surface parking on the PBC is insufficient to accommodate additional users. The RFP will also seek proposals for the development of a 1,000 space parking structure which maximizes development of the site by incorporating active uses other than parking and addresses all four sides of the structure by upholstery development, structural screening, ground floor retail or other pedestrian active uses or a combination thereof.



Potential proposers will have the option to propose on either of the development opportunities. The RFP criteria will include requirements for a non-refundable performance deposit and language addressing performance benchmarks to ensure timely completion of the proposed projects.



RECOMMENDATION:



Staff requests the Downtown, Aviation and Economy Subcommittee recommend City Council authorization for the department to issue a joint Request for Proposals (RFP) and to negotiate business terms for the private development of a laboratory and research facility and/or development of an approximately 1,000 space parking structure on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus (PBC).

a big parking structure on that parcel could prove to be a nice picture location. :)

This is very encouraging!

Why only 25K square feet? If they plan on putting 6M sf in this small biomedical campus parcel, they had better start building (and thinking) much bigger- and plan for the future.
TGEN has proven the biomedical demand DT, and was filled in 3 years. Phoenix needs to do better that to keep adding new 2 story buildings on valuable DT property (ala Cityscape retail). Large tracts of open land are becoming scarcer DT. Where is the "visionary development" we heard so much about when the Mayor visited Dubai?
When the economy rebounds, folks will be wishing they were laying the groundwork now and thinking bigger and better!:shrug:

^It's a 25,000SF site, not building...

It doesn't mention how large the site for the parking garage would be. An efficient garage is about 375SF per space. A 1,000 car garage could easily be 8-10 stories on a constrained site.

For clarification, because I missed it too.

So basically they've identified a 25,000 sqft building site with its own parking below grade. The garage site is separate.

Since there is never an RFP without a developer already favored, I'd like to think something good and real will come out of this soon.

^Exactly. I had to read it about three times as well to figure out that they were talking about two separate projects.

Some more information about the Bio-Med campus...

so put it in lehman's terms. What are they going to build on the NEC of 7/VB??

More parking to DT Phx, just what this city needs.

The Joint Committee on Capital Review has been scheduled to hear it forever. The Giant Douchemonger from Mesa Russsel Pearce chairs it, and hates ASU and anything related to spending money for it.

I'd give about a 10% chance of this project moving forward.

More bad news for Phx.

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/business/ar...ldata0111.html

Long Wait Ahead
 

Unfortunately, it's going to be a very, very long time before any new projects pop up. Nobody will be proposing or building for several years, if not longer.

I'll try and look at this as a positive. If you are a large business paying high rents in a place like LA...why wouldn't you move your business to Phoenix where you could get primo real estate for a fraction of the cost? In other words, take the principles that dictated people from CA moving here to buy homes and apply it to the commercial market. I'd argue that if the city could market itself properly, they might be able to sway a fair amount of large businesses to either open new branches here or to relocate. Labor sure is cheaper here.

While good to remain optimistic, I wouldn't hold your breath. The companies with the money are going to stay in CA. Just like NYC, there isn't an exodus to Pittsburgh because NY is expensive.

Sadly I think a lack of civic leadership (both private and public) will severely limit the chances of this happening.

Actually a lot of financial institutions moved to Pittsburgh for that very reason. I think when you are comparing NYC to PIT you are talking about completely different leagues than when you compare LA and PHX. While we don't have a the massive culture that LA does, we share things like being car-friendly and having a large international airport. I'm not sure but I don't think you can fly to London direct from Pittsburgh but I think you can get to Japan from Phx without making a stop. Maybe I'm wrong. It seems to me the movie industry has started to do a lot more out here because it is cheaper and because of the short commute between LA and Phx. I don't know, I don't own a big business and have no idea how to run it. But Hoover is probably right - we lack the civic leadership to get anything like that done.

oh my god, two large cities that both have an international airport? Get the fuck out.....

Incase you didn't notice, that was sarcasm. Nobody is going to leave Houston for Abeline, either.

Working in said industry, its actually been horribly slow this past year. We've had some TV shows, commercials, et al but in feature films New Mexico is absolutely kicking our asses, a lot of stuff gets shot there. They have much more aggressive public leadership in regards to getting the film business to come there and more support for their tax credit. Sadly Arizona should have natural advantages over them, being closer to LA, a more diverse climate (means you can shoot almost anything but a beach centric movie here), and a bigger population (means more crew, extras, et al).

Just in the past few years they've shot all 3 High School Musicals, Emplyee of the Month, Did you Hear about the Morgans?, Little Miss Sunshine, The Hills Have Eyes, Observe and Report, 2010, 3:10 To Yuma (set in Yuma, Arizona!), The Book of Eli, Brothers, No Country for Old Men, Jarhead, The Longest Yard, Hamlet 2 (set in Tucson, Arizona!), Gamer, Rent, The Spy Next Door, Terminator Salvation, both Transformers movies, Wild Hogs and Year One either partially or totally in New Mexico.

All of those films employ hundreds of local workers who then buy local products (and pay sales tax), buy property (and pay tax), etc. Plus its good for the tourism industry (something Arizona should want) and is a non polluting/'green' industry. All of those flicks could've been shot in AZ, there's no reason they had to be in New Mexico other than their leaders are aggressively pursuing them.

You can't. London is the only city outside of North America with non-stop service to Phoenix. US Airways is contemplating a route to Tokyo though.

Downtown PHX zoning meeting schedule.
 

Pulled from downtownvoices.org...

Phoenix seeks public input on Downtown Code[Source: City of Phoenix] – The city of Phoenix Planning Department is seeking input on the city’s proposed Downtown Code. The Downtown Code, which is part of the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance, addresses design that impacts the public by establishing standards and guidelines that will allow projects to develop over time. It does not dictate architectural style. The code will be presented at the following locales:

6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, Central City Village Planning Committee, Emerson Court, 1817 N. Seventh St., School District Board Room;
6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, Planning Commission, Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.;
4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, Historic Preservation Commission, Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., assembly room A;
3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Phoenix City Council Formal Meeting, Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.
The remapping of the area to change the zoning to the proposed Character Areas will follow in March 2010.

The Downtown Code implements the vision, goals, and policies of the Downtown Phoenix Plan and establishes the physical environment to create a pedestrian-oriented center. The code applies to all land uses, subdivisions, and development within the area generally bounded by McDowell Road, Seventh Street, Buckeye Road, and Seventh Avenue. The code can be downloaded here: http://phoenix.gov/urbanformproject/dtcode.html.

Comments can be submitted by contacting Planning Manager Carol Johnson at 602-261-8289.

http://downtownvoices.org/2010/01/09...downtown-code/

^I've been going to those, I really hope you'll all show up, I need more people to help me fight the good fight. This is your chance to talk with city planners and give them the ole what for (and Carol Johnson is a super nice lady who actually listens) and hopefully make some positive changes. Come to the meeting and say hi, Ill be the loud Ron Howard lookin' feller.

Related...Downtown Voices is having a big event this weekend Im going to attend and you all should too:

http://downtownvoices.org/2010/01/08...nce-jan-15-16/

You left out the descriptive words "tasteless" and "arrogant" before "sarcasm." Don't worry, I caught the mistake.

While I think it's wrong to think there will be a mass exodus from LA, I don't think it's absurd to think some businesses may trickle over if city officials can get a little more strategic with tax breaks and incentives. For those businesses that don't need to travel internationally on a regular basis with nonstops across the Pacific, Phoenix might be a good place to relocate a business struggling to keep up with lease payments or looking to expand.

I know being a douche is the way you like to operate, but it's really not lunacy to suggest some businesses might consider relocation from LA to Phoenix.

The business I'm in moved from downtown San Francisco to Oakland, then moved most of the Oakland people to Phoenix, specifically because it was cheaper to do business here. And APL left a prominent location in Oakland and moved to Scottsdale. I realize this is all anecdotal evidence, but it is evidence that companies do relocate to Phoenix for economic reasons.

I think you're confusing "douche" with "rational."

go suns!!!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...a/DSC_2500.jpg

Just a reminder, the Downtown Phx Voice Coalition 5 year visioning update is tomorrow at the AE England building. Its from 10AM-3pm I believe, or whenever it finishes/you have to leave to go watch the Cardinals. I really hope some of you from here go, I know at times it can seem like so much pissing in the wind but it is at least slightly more effective than us bitching to each other here. Planners and people from the city will be there and they do end up looking at whatever plan is drafted. More importantly its a great way to network and maybe actually get involved in some projects that can actually make a difference downtown. At the very least its nice to be around other Downtown lovers, perhaps it'll lift your spirits or whatever.

If you decide to come tomorrow Ill be wearing a maroon ASU hat and I look something like this, come by and say hi:

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3...3668607161.jpg

And yes, I was recently elected Mayor of Handsometown, USA. Thank you for remembering.

Oh and some actual news:

I'd rather have a Democratic convention just because it would attract more blatant hippie weirdos who would be fun to watch on the streets of downtown. The Right wing weirdos aren't nearly as fun to people watch. Either way, it would be a great thing for Phx.


EDIT: VVV Does that post have any meaning?

Ugh.

Let's have both. Has any city ever had both conventions??

And let's have them both at the same time :)

I'd love to be a bystander for that!

I dunno if I wanna be anywhere near downtown when a political convention is going on. A friend of a friend complained constantly of the mini police state Denver became when the 2008 Democratic convention went on. I would be curious however to see how many closet cases show up at Amsterdam and related venues up and down the LRT route.

If your implying just because the Democratic Convention would be here that the gays or "closet cases" would take over then that's a pretty stereotypical and ignorant comment to make.