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Originally Posted by RonnieFoos
Article discussing the AZ Center renovations, AC Hotel and Palm Court Tower. Kind of a rehash of everything we already know...BUT...some news on the AMC theater portion. Apparently a plan is in the works to eliminate half the screens and possibly add more retail and student housing. This is good news. I'm really hopeful they can maybe add an extension of Taylor St. (Mall). Hopefully, we will get more on this soon, but looks like it may be a bar/dining concept similar to Esplanade AMC.
Source: https://chamberbusinessnews.com/2019...rizona-center/
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Yes, people have said forever that the AMC needs to be downsized and is one of the 'easiest' ways to envision a modernized version of the AZC actually working. The retail renovations added absolutely nothing beyond an aesthetic upgrade. No storefront entrances were added to VB, 3rd St, or Fillmore; no larger floorplates were created for larger retailers, and no additional uses or reorientation of the layout makes the Center more attractive to prospective tenants. The AC Hotel and Palmcourt Tower do not even contain retail uses, so the future of the existing Center will continue to cater to those who work (and eventually live) on-site through eateries for the most part.
Cutting through the superblock with an extension of Taylor Street would allow a portion of the site to fill the retail void by connecting the schools and offices of the PBC through Thunderbird, ASU, and Phoenix College. With residential built above, and an entertainment attraction locked in with AMC, there'd be enough population to justify storefronts along 3rd, Taylor, and Fillmore that could be more aligned with what everyone has wanted for AZC. A Trader Joe's at 3rd/Fillmore, An Urgent Care, an LA Fitness, a multi-brand group like Banana Rebublic-GAP-Athleta and/or World Market-BedBathBeyond-Face Values, and large retailer like H&M would do well mixed with gastropubs and other local bars/restaurants, IMO.