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Originally Posted by Freeway
Panic-induced? Far, far from it. I have honestly developed such low expectations for any major projects in the Phoenix metro area to move into any phase resembling construction, that I honestly don't expect this to get built. I know the developer provided some excuse several months back about why this project hasn't moved forward like expected, but there still hasn't been any visible forward momentum since that announcement with no news provided. Just down the street on the Luhrs block, we were expecting movement with that area for a hotel, starting with a demolition, and there has been no update on that either. The Pin was supposed to be some grandiose development to lift off the ground any day last year. That was a bust. The Union apartments over on Roosevelt were supposed to start construction months ago. Again, nothing has happened. Over in Tempe, we heard of all the fanfare tied to the USA Basketball development. No movement on that either. Ballpark Apartments? Nothing. Sounds like the Knipe proposal is now dead as well.
Ben Bethel, owner of the Clarendon, hinted several months ago at a soon to be unveiled surprise development in the Midtown area. Nothing. He hinted at an upcoming "surprise" proposal of four-25 story residential towers downtown. Nothing. I assume that as the owner of a prominent hotel that what he shares has some credibility and is not just based off of his imagination.
It's hard to believe anything that developers say when their high profile developments show no signs of going anywhere. Yet people keep talking about them like they're imminent even though week after week month after month go by with nothing to show.
It really is a shame how Phoenix, which was once a hotbed of a development, just completely fell off during the recession. A lot of us had reason to believe that the proposals pre-2008 would occur but the recession really dragged Phoenix through the mud and back and we're clearly not doing much better now.
I have a coworker who is finally giving up on the dream of Downtown Phoenix moving in a positive direction. She is moving from Skyline in Downtown Phoenix to a rental house in Avondale next month, where she can pay the same amount for almost triple the space and not have to drive for 20+ minutes to reach basic amenities like a Target or a Fry's.
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Your handle and previous posts have all indicated that you've never had any 'hope' for downtown Phoenix to begin with. If not panic-induced, then certainly panic-inducing as you continue to question and doom projects that are still absolutely going to happen.
As mentioned, the Hilton Garden Inn is moving forward- they were waiting on tax breaks that the City wasn't able to give themselves and so they had to go to through other routes to receive a GPLET. The site plan has already been reviewed and approved, and work should begin soon. Case closed. Will it be ready for the Super Bowl? No. But, it's moving forward and will be completed. The biggest road block for restoring this building was purchasing it and that has been cleared.
The Union, again as has been mentioned MANY times, is also a done deal. Trades are being hired currently to begin work. I've heard the project has even grown by a floor. The developer lives in the neighborhood and has a vested interest in making downtown succeed. His firm just completed the restoration of two homes on 2nd St, not that you'd care. The delay on The Union has been due to both the City and APS giving MetroWest grief on various items. But, those should be covered and work should be starting shortly. This one, too, is a DONE DEAL.
The Luhrs hotel is also as close to being a done deal as possible. I don't have any real info, but they've moved forward with permitting and have been quoted as recently as last week regarding the design.
Ballpark Apartments completed 1/3 of their work by restoring an old warehouse on Lincoln/3rd. Sorry that's not enough for you, but these small infill and restoration projects mean just as much as "24 story projects" which none of us here have heard of so either Ben was BSing you or you're making crap up to defend your negative-as-always ranting.
And, lastly, USA BASKETBALL IS NOT DEAD. What don't you understand about that? It's pushed back by a year because they divided the loan into separate financing pieces. This means there's a greater chance that at least certain phases are actually built, rather than the whole huge project going bust.
Read and learn things. And, best of luck to your friend in Avondale. I'd rather slit... nevermind. For the record, Safeway at McDowell/7th is about 5 minutes during off-peak hours from Skyline and Phoenix is certainly not alone in lacking a City Target. Your friend was certainly welcome to take the city's light rail to the Target Uptown, though.
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Since I have been gone Tempe exploded with developments and Phoenix is slowly chugging along. I hope that changes soon. It would have been nice if Union, Monroe Hilton and The Row/Knipe House renovations had already begun.
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