General Phoenix Metro Discussion Thread

[combusean]

This forum has often lamented the sports telecasts never use an updated skyline shot for establishing Phoenix, if they even use one.

Not so with NBC Sports Bay Area's coverage of the Giants/Diamondbacks game today.



Pardon the computer screen photo, it's all I got.

[TJPHXskyscraperfan]

Yeah, again. During the Suns playoffs, it was like a 12 year old day photo and then a night photo during COVID when they had The Sheraton lit up as a heart, SMH. Who the hell directs this stuff!!!

[DesertRay]

Originally Posted by TJPHXskyscraperfan

Yeah, again. During the Suns playoffs, it was like a 12 year old day photo and then a night photo during COVID when they had The Sheraton lit up as a heart, SMH. Who the hell directs this stuff!!!

What--they didn't go with THIS instead??

[combusean]

They should remake this mostly because it's like burned into my brain. I'll even loan out my SGI box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is7jSJ2srpY

[Obadno]

Not sure How I missed it but according to the US Cencus 2022 estimate released yesterday Phoenix MSA has OFFICIALLY hit

5 Million !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Now I think We are undercounted and probably hit 5 million around 2017/2018 but that's just based on my own nonsense.

[CrestedSaguaro]

I thought we were already well over that as of 2020?

[xymox]

Originally Posted by CrestedSaguaro

I thought we were already well over that as of 2020?

Nope. 4.8M as of 2020 officially. Close...

[Obadno]

I think the official 2020 number had the metro at like 4,900,000 or something absurdly close

[Obadno]

Looks like google earth and google maps has FINALLY updated their imagery and 3d buildings it looks like around dec/Jan of this year now instead of 2017

[TJPHXskyscraperfan]

Originally Posted by Obadno

Looks like google earth and google maps has FINALLY updated their imagery and 3d buildings it looks like around dec/Jan of this year now instead of 2017

The last update was late 2020, Adeline was under construction but, yes, finally another update! Yeah looks to be about November 2022, wish it would of been closer to today with Central Station rising but, we’ll have to wait another 2 years when hopefully it’s done with that other big project on Central!

[muertecaza]

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/phoe...cessfully-challenge-2020-census-99703301

Phoenix has become the largest U.S. city to successfully challenge its population count from the 2020 census after claiming that dozens of group homes, jails and drug and alcohol treatment centers were overlooked during the nation’s head count.

The U.S. Census Bureau told Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego last week that the statistical agency had approved its submission claiming that 3,550 people in 192 group quarter facilities were missed during the once-a-decade census. The facilities included drug and alcohol treatment centers, a memory care center for people with Alzheimer's and a residential facility for juveniles needing mental health care.

The count of every U.S. resident determines political representation and how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed for transportation, health and other programs.

The additional figures will be included in future population estimates for Phoenix released each year until the next census in 2030, the bureau said in a letter to the mayor. The census determined that Phoenix was the fastest-growing big city in the U.S. between 2010 and 2020, increasing by 11.2% to 1.6 million residents and making it the fifth most populous U.S. city.

The successful challenge by Phoenix won't change how many congressional seats Arizona got during the apportionment process, or the more detailed numbers used for redrawing political boundaries.

[Sepstein]

Oh on a side note someone should make a list of Phoenix or AZ best top 10 Skyscrapers. I love Top 10 lists lol

[PHX-DUDE-MAN]

Originally Posted by Sepstein

Oh on a side note someone should make a list of Phoenix or AZ best top 10 Skyscrapers. I love Top 10 lists lol

The list would need to be called "Phoenix Top 10 High Rise Buildings", we technically don't have any skyscrapers yet since "they" say a skyscraper needs to be at least 492' and Chase tower is just about there, and probably is actually with the antenna's and communication equipment on top. So Phoenix has 1 skyscraper currently. Here's my list:

1) Old Chase Tower
2) Old US Bank Tower
3) Century Link Tower on Thomas
4) BMO / Viad Tower on Central
5) 44 W. Monroe
6) Alliance Bank Tower at Cityscape
7) Renaissance Center Tower 1
8) 3300 Tower on Central
9) Altura / Link Tower
10) OH Tower 3550 N Central Ave


Honestly this was tough to make a top 10... not a lot of great looking buildings in my opinion and I'm a Phoenix native. I love Phoenix.

[combusean]

Originally Posted by Sepstein

Oh on a side note someone should make a list of Phoenix or AZ best top 10 Skyscrapers. I love Top 10 lists lol

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Phoenix

[PHX31]

Originally Posted by combusean

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Phoenix

I think he meant a subjective list. As PHX-DUDE-MAN said, it's a pretty tough effort finding 10 good skyscrapers in Phoenix. My list would probably be something like:

1. Luhrs Tower (if this counts as a "skyscraper")
2. Westward Ho
3. Chase (I kind of like the slender separate cubic nature of it).
4. City Hall (double the height of it, and it would look amazing).
5. Punchcard building
6. 3300 North Central
7. Old Dial Building
8. ?
9. ?
10. ?

[combusean]

Aha. Here's mine

1. Punchcard Building
2. Westward Ho
3. Phoenix City Hall
4. 3300 Tower
5. 3800 North Central
6. Chase Tower
7. Old Qwest Tower
8. Old Dial Tower
9. Bank of America Tower
10. Alliance Tower

[CrestedSaguaro]

For me, definitely the Punchcard. I had the privilege of working in that building for a few years and I could never get tired of looking at it.

I think my list would be:
1.) Punchcard
2.) Luhrs
3.) Westward Ho (although I do hate the antenna)
4.) 3300 (the most underrated high-rise in Phoenix IMHO)
5.) Alliance
6.) Phoenix City Hall (could been number 1 if it were 100' or so taller)
7.) US Bank
8.) Chase (if only the Davis proposal could happen)
9.) Renaissance
10.) BMO (Dial, Viad or whatever)

Edit: Towers I think may move up into the top 10 when completed: PalmTower, Central Station.

[combusean]

It's quite difficult sticking with my top 10. I've edited it like four times now.

I definitely agree that the 3300 Tower is underrated. It's long been one of my favorite buildings, in fact, for a time it was my favorite but I've grown more fond of other distinctively Phoenix towers.

And Westward Ho needs to keep that antenna.

[CrestedSaguaro]

Honestly when I think about it, the next slew of towers (either under construction or upcoming) are going to be really great looking towers for Phoenix:

PalmTower
Central Station
Realm
Vela
Astra tower 1
Astra tower 2
Saiya (maybe on this one depending on building material quality)

Most of the towers above feature a lot of glass and less generic facades. I hope more towers down the road keep upping the bar for Phoenix.

[combusean]

My initial round of towers didn't include anything built in the 21st century. Alliance got up there as its one of the better designed glass boxes, and Central Park East didn't rank because the window treatments look hideous.

I think my favorite project under construction is Saiya for the historic preservation and overall way it will improve the neighborhood.

I wish Adeline was bigger and had a better crown or Ryan were taller. They're kind of forgettable where they are but at 400' they'd be blockbusters.