This month's issue of Contact Magazine (now, curiously, going by the Germanic-sounding name of "kontakt") is out, and it contains an article about the massive CityScape project being built on three prime blocks in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Among other things, the article contains several renderings of the project.
As I've said before, CityScape continues to look like a slightly-modernized Arizona Center. The renderings betray the suburban developer's inward focus-- every one of the renderings depicts the project's interior or one of the "gateways" into the project (think Arizona Center at Third Street and Van Buren by the row of flags and Hooters).
And where the streetscape is shown, one can see blank walls facing outward, or, in the case of the AJ's, a window facing the street, but of course no doors.
The bottom line is that I'm happy for the tall buildings and hip hotels that CityScape will bring to Phoenix. But the real action in any city is on the street. And, while I'd love to be mistaken, it looks like one more Phoenix development is going to get this wrong.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sunday Updates
Some random updates on things happening in downtown Phoenix:
* Gateway on Grand. The Grand Avenue neighbors have reached a compromise with the developer/investor who proposed a nine-story building on the parcel where the old Desert Sun Hotel sits. The compromise gives the developer/investor the midrise zoning originally sought, but puts a deed restriction on the parcel that would limit the site to a maximum height of 56 feet (four-five stories). This is a great solution as it allows more height than what was originally on the site and makes it more likely that the property will be developed-- it keeps the land's value from being artificially inflated by midrise zoning and makes realistic the construction of a cheaper, wood-frame building (which can still look pretty nice-- see Artisan Lofts on Central). It's great to see a divisive battle avoided and see everyone get something.
* Lido on Roosevelt. Supposedly the parcel at Fourth Street and Roosevelt, once targeted for a 19-story apartment tower, was flipped again. The sign advertising "Lido" has been removed and the property is fenced off. Unfortunately the fence is probably just a deterrent to overflow parking from Modified Arts and not a sign of any impending development.
* Restaurants. Fate's new tapas bar, Next Door, headlines the recent openings downtown. I haven't had a chance to check out the new place-- and I leave the restaurant reviews to Silverbear on his excellent Railfood blog-- but it was mobbed during the November First Fridays. Other openings include Thai Hut on First Street and McDowell (an upgrade from the truck-stop-esque Marvin's Garden that used to occupy that building), middle eastern restaurant Nile Cafe (at Artisan Village near Seventh Street), and a wine bar called Silver at Second Street and Washington. Silver's appearance is especially promising for downtown Phoenix as the upscale wine bar replaces an adult bookstore.
* Coming Soon. A coffee shop is slated to open in the corner storefront at the recently restored Bragg's Pies factory building at Grand Avenue and approximately Thirteenth Avenue. One of the vendors from the Downtown Phoenix Public Market is going to open a full-time enterprise in the spot, which has very cool floor-to-ceiling windows that face toward the downtown skyline. I hope it has wireless...
* Gateway on Grand. The Grand Avenue neighbors have reached a compromise with the developer/investor who proposed a nine-story building on the parcel where the old Desert Sun Hotel sits. The compromise gives the developer/investor the midrise zoning originally sought, but puts a deed restriction on the parcel that would limit the site to a maximum height of 56 feet (four-five stories). This is a great solution as it allows more height than what was originally on the site and makes it more likely that the property will be developed-- it keeps the land's value from being artificially inflated by midrise zoning and makes realistic the construction of a cheaper, wood-frame building (which can still look pretty nice-- see Artisan Lofts on Central). It's great to see a divisive battle avoided and see everyone get something.
* Lido on Roosevelt. Supposedly the parcel at Fourth Street and Roosevelt, once targeted for a 19-story apartment tower, was flipped again. The sign advertising "Lido" has been removed and the property is fenced off. Unfortunately the fence is probably just a deterrent to overflow parking from Modified Arts and not a sign of any impending development.
* Restaurants. Fate's new tapas bar, Next Door, headlines the recent openings downtown. I haven't had a chance to check out the new place-- and I leave the restaurant reviews to Silverbear on his excellent Railfood blog-- but it was mobbed during the November First Fridays. Other openings include Thai Hut on First Street and McDowell (an upgrade from the truck-stop-esque Marvin's Garden that used to occupy that building), middle eastern restaurant Nile Cafe (at Artisan Village near Seventh Street), and a wine bar called Silver at Second Street and Washington. Silver's appearance is especially promising for downtown Phoenix as the upscale wine bar replaces an adult bookstore.
* Coming Soon. A coffee shop is slated to open in the corner storefront at the recently restored Bragg's Pies factory building at Grand Avenue and approximately Thirteenth Avenue. One of the vendors from the Downtown Phoenix Public Market is going to open a full-time enterprise in the spot, which has very cool floor-to-ceiling windows that face toward the downtown skyline. I hope it has wireless...
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Copper Square: Put a fork in it
Downtown Phoenix finally got its name back this week after Phil Gordon announced that the city would eliminate the "Copper Square" brand name.
Hooray!
The ridiculous nickname, foisted upon downtown Phoenix by a marketing team, had no historical basis and was rarely used by anyone who wasn't paid to repeat the term. While I actually think downtown could benefit by naming some of its districts (e.g., Roosevelt Row), it was silly to try to call downtown Phoenix by anything besides its real name.
So how is that for good news? Number two in my "Five Worst Things to Happen Downtown in the Last Decade" has been corrected. And number one (the continued destruction of historic buildings) has been staved off temporarily with the Sun Mercantile decision. Good times, indeed.
Hooray!
The ridiculous nickname, foisted upon downtown Phoenix by a marketing team, had no historical basis and was rarely used by anyone who wasn't paid to repeat the term. While I actually think downtown could benefit by naming some of its districts (e.g., Roosevelt Row), it was silly to try to call downtown Phoenix by anything besides its real name.
So how is that for good news? Number two in my "Five Worst Things to Happen Downtown in the Last Decade" has been corrected. And number one (the continued destruction of historic buildings) has been staved off temporarily with the Sun Mercantile decision. Good times, indeed.
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