I would think the they would want a location near CityScape (perhaps Luhrs) with all the hype about it. Seems like the kind of location HM strives for. It would get much more exposure from CityScape patrons and hotel guests looking to kill time.

In time, I do believe that the Circle's building would be a good location for something (maybe whole foods) as the northern edge of DT/Roosevelt continues to develop and fill in. I think that if something goes in there too soon then it'll flounder and fail.

But aside from the ground floor of Luhrs Building at SWC of Central/Jefferson, I don't think there is any space big enough around Cityscape, is there? And wo knows wha Luhrs is asking for rent vs Circles?

I'm sure it would be cheaper rent in the Circles building. I would think that it's more risky to locate up there over the heart of DT.

They would have to consider the benefits of cheaper rent, lower revenue, or pay a premium to have better exposure and possibly higher revenue. Luhr's may offer incredible deals just to get the ball rolling. I think I remember reading that CS did that? Collier's has empty retail spots, maybe that could work also.

*If* an urban Target does decide to move into the block between CS/Colliers, then this part of DT would become a pedestrian magnate or a major retail center, something I think would be in H&M's interest to be a part of. I think a successful recipe for DT Phx is to cluster retail, restaurants and entertainment.

Since we are on the subject of H&M, perhaps someone can explain to me their ads in the stores mens departments.... creepy as fuck. What is going on here? is this a father/son? is it a daddy/boi? wtf?!

http://www.hm.com/us/department/MEN

Haha... Only guess I've got is that Europeans are huggers, yes including guys. Their touch boundaries are much different than ours. We're very constipated. Just sayin'.

it's not even the touching... the looks on their faces. haha

I would think they would want to be right in Cityscape.

Although I could see them going to the Arizona Center if it got its mojo back, what with the ASU buildings etc.

That ad is definitely a daddy/boi approach targeted at gay customers; however, I agree the old guy is creepy looking and they would have done better with a more handsome and muscular, older dude.

I'm torn on a location for H&M (if there is any truth to a downtown store to begin with)...a location near CityScape would be an ideal spot but the Circle's building does offer great access to both walking customers from the surrounding neighborhoods and ASU AND parking (especially during the weekend and evening hours). There are still plenty of lots that customers can use and street parking that wouldn't compete with other businesses. As the area develops, the store would be established and more downtown housing would replace the "driving" customer with those in the immediate area that can walk to the store.

Sorry, after years of occasionally reading what's going on back in Phoenix, just had to chime in. Are you really disturbed by this? I mean, seriously, it's an ad, not a gay porn. I am gay and I see this ad plastered on 10-story buildings around town, and a dad/son gay relationship is the last thing that came to mind. It's part of a long line of people hugging each other, as a family. Just the cut-out is all you see here. I think you're projecting a lot, that it would even stick in your mind so much so that you'd bring it up here. Even if it is, who gives a rat's ass? Exactly the reason why the people necessary to turn Phoenix into a real metropolis get the hell out of there the first chance they can.

we were on the topic of H&M so I brought it up. The ad is very confusing and I'm not the only one who felt that way in fact I've had the same discussion with other people. I don't care if it is gay, straight, family, whatever, but the looks on their faces and the in your face ad with two men in very differening age brackets make it a tad disturbing to me.

It's not clear what is going on here. It could be two men about the same age looking like pals hugging, or it could be two obviously gay men hugging, but the age difference and the loving glare the young one is giving him makes it weird.

So sue me for having an opinion that it's a very poor ad, and projects to people (like I said others have told me this as well) that H&M is for gay men.

I'm gay and I think it's weird. At least they could've picked a better looking "dad"...

I hadn't seen the H&M ad until I read this thread, but I instantly recognized the "old guy" or "dad" as Bryan Ferry, the lead singer for Roxy Music and an accomplished solo artist. A quick search reveals that the person he is posing with in the ad is his real-life son Tara.

I've never been to an H&M and have a feeling I'm too much of an "old guy" and a dad myself to like the store. Still, having the Circles building put to use once again as a retail space would be a great step forward. I think in some ways it might be better than CityScape because the Cirlces location would be highly visible. At CityScape, the inward focus of the complex hides stores from view.

Now that's adds an interesting wrinkle. I just assumed it was father/son so I didn't attach any gayness, silly me.

No disrespect to older members of the testosterone crowd, but likely the target market is unbothered by the ad. Also urban meccas in contrast to prairie and farm peeps. Can see my Hawkeye friends
being weirded out maybe even though they love their animals (but that's a whole other topic).


Nothing that I'm aware of would lead me to believe H&M would venture away from established traffic as in foot traffic. Since it's their money what "we" would wish for isn't of much use.

Presumably like others I've been frustrated by the inward looking downtown "centers" although CityScape does a better job than the Arizona Center. Originally, I thought maybe being in the desert
this might work better. How would I know compared to high priced planners?

They should have taken a page from newer LifeStyle Centers to have a ground level walk-through area. That would have been cool. That would still be very pedestrian friendly, activate the area.

Reinvent Phoenix will plan light rail corridor
Funding for the city’s plan to build housing and businesses along the light rail east of downtown from 7th Street to 56th street and McDowell Road to Montebello Avenue is moving forward with the award of a federal grant.

The city was given $2.9 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city will kick in an additional $2.8 million in matching funds.

It will take three years to come up with prospective plans for the two neighborhoods. Multiple community partners are involved in the effort, which is called Reinvent Phoenix. They’ve come up with another $1.1 million in private funding for the project.

Those with a stake in the new development include Arizona State University, housing developers such as Gorman and Co., St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Luke’s Medical Center and Maricopa Community Colleges.

The areas in question are impoverished and greatly in need of redevelopment and economic stimulus. The Eastlake neighborhood, for example, has an average resident income of just over $11,000 a year. A quarter of the families there are below the poverty level.

Funds for property acquisition and construction are not supplied by the federal grant, so it may be more than five years before any redevelopment actually starts.

The intent is to place affordable housing within reach of the citizens who need it most, and also offer social support services like health assessment and job training.

Phoenix hopes to begin acting on proposed solutions for housing needs in 2013, which could include financing support or other incentives for developers. The plan for boosting economic development would begin in late 2014.
Link

Arizona Center would be better than the Circles location.

For them? Maybe. For downtown? Circles definitely.

I don't know much about H&M, but I think they have a contemprorary, youthful image. If that's true, a standalone location near the Roosevelt Row art scene might be more fitting than the play-it-safe Arizona Center, which shows its ugly backside to ASU DT and Evans-Churchill and draws a lot of its traffic from convention attendees and sports fans to the south.

Oasis on Grand
 

The Oasis on Grand is open. I was expecting a lot more changes to the exterior appearance of the building. From 15th Ave it looks the same as before except the patio railings are now painted in hideous bright multi-color shades.

I'm glad the building is being used but I was hoping for substantial changes to the exterior. At least it will put people in the neighborhood rather than having an empty old ugly building.

http://oasisongrand.com/

Summit at Copper Square
 

It looks like the 74 units in Copper Square that were recently sold now have a leasing company. They didn't waste any time.

http://www.brewaz.com/content/index_...r%2018,%202011

http://www.igourban.com/summit.html

The prices to me look very reasonable. They are about comparable to the Portland Place Apartments but much higher quality and in a high-rise.