The proposed 400-foot towers at the southwest corner of Camelback and Central have everything Phoenix needs-- pedestrian orientation, height, and compatibility with the light rail line. The developer, Reid Butler, has a track record of quality downtown projects (Roosevelt Commons and Legacy Bungalows). And, in true Phoenix form, the project is meeting with resistance from the neighbors.
Protesting height is a reasonable argument in areas where the height doesn't yet exist. But Central Avenue is dotted with high-rises and has been for 30 years. Residents already live in the shadow of towers, so their arguments against this development sound weak.
The guy who really needs to get off the fence in this matter is Phoenix councilmember Tom Simplot. Light rail was built to facilitate this kind of development-- and without an ample supply of residents who can walk to its stations, Metro won't be a success. Why should this matter to Simplot? He's on Metro's board.
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