PHOENIX | Project Rundown

[combusean]

Originally Posted by MagnumMike

I'm wondering about the plans to expand the Hotel San Carlos, where the heck are they going to put the tower? If they were to put up the high-rise, it would have to be on Monroe, which would be blocked.

There are basically two alternatives the Mellikans (sp?) were floating.

One involved construction of a tower on the roughly P-shaped western 1/3rd of the property that is not under any historic preservation ordinance, the shorter part where Seamus McCaffrey's (excellent, excellent food) is now. It would be very, very close to the massing of 44 Monroe. I believe this part was constructed in 1955.

The other alternative would be an addition on top of the hotel itself in either a modern architectural style or essentially bring the Italian Renaissance look of the current building to substantial height. This will require a "Certificate of Appropriateness" from the city HP committee, and we all know how fun that will be.

There is an excellent write-up of the hotel's history on http://www.hotelsancarlos.com/history.html--it is remarkably well preserved, especially for Phoenix. I am not a structural engineer, but I assume plopping a tower on top would require significant changes to the interior, which altho are not generally covered under the ordinance, it would piss off any number of anti's and preservationists. Tho who knows--they simply built buildings better back in 1927. Adding height might not be so difficult.

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

This is a great looking tower, but the parking base is awful. If they could put some glass around those voids, then vent the thing it would look ten times better.

[JimInCal]

I agree c-monkee. The parking podium dominates the street scene, being the first 10-11 floors. If this gets built, I hope they rethink the parking structure.

[HX_Guy]

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the original 1931 Valley National Bank building, Grace Communities is renovating this historic landmark and reopening the doors as the Hotel Monroe. When completed, this chic newly renovated boutique hotel will be located in downtown Phoenix in the center of Copper Square at the intersection of Central Avenue and Monroe Street, arguably one of the finest locations in the valley. The Hotel Monroe provides approximately 144 rooms ranging from standard, junior suites and one and two bedroom suites. The eleventh floor of the hotel will be designated as the concierge floor featuring several unique suites & penthouses. The twelfth floor will feature a unique nightclub with sunset views of downtown and the valley. Hotel guests will enjoy a variety of cuisine options and entertainment venues including a five star restaurant and lounge, wine bar, night clubs and a barista café. Executive boardrooms and meeting rooms will be abundant. The boutique hotel's accommodating amenities are sure to please every discriminating taste-just a few examples are 24 hour room service, full service spa with saunas and whirlpool, a state of the art fitness center, yoga room and outdoor sundecks with cabanas.

The building as it stands today, with the ground floor completely unused and boarded up.

[JimInCal]

There are so many things I like about the reuse of this old bank building as a small hotel. The amenities it will bring to the area are substantial, with a 5-star restaurant, wine bar and night club on the top floor. It's great to add more hotel rooms to support the convention center expansion as well. It's on the light rail line and across the street from a major new condo tower, 44 Monroe. This will give the residents of 44 Monroe some nice night-life options right outside their front door.

This reminds me of a hotel I stayed in near Union Square in San Francisco. Quaint, classic 30's architecture with a history and a personality. The high visability, grandios projects are great but it's these smaller, quieter projects that add texture, interest and soulfulness to a city. Well done Grace.

[JimInCal]

HXGuy, what happened to the rendering of the Hotel Monroe? It has disappeared from the post here and on the Phx Devel thread as well.

[HX_Guy]

January 08, 2007 Updates


44 Monroe - 34 Stories - 411 ft.



Sheraton Downtown Hotel - 31 Stories - 360 ft.

January 08, 2007







Summit at Copper Square - 23 Stories - 253 ft.

[sundevilgrad]

Nice pics HX. SCS looks tall from the warehouse district doesn't it?

[BANKofMANHATTAN]

I'm sorry, but those are hideous.

I don't care for the style, they remind me of the Crescent City Residences in New Orleans (which they're overhauling to update it - thank god.)



[/QUOTE]

[JimInCal]

Originally Posted by JimInCal

HXGuy, what happened to the rendering of the Hotel Monroe? It has disappeared from the post here and on the Phx Devel thread as well.

The rendering has mysteriously reappeared. Maybe it was my computer at work having a bad day...home has the pic...NEVERMIND

[kenc]

Originally Posted by BANKofMANHATTAN

I'm sorry, but those are hideous.

I don't care for the style, they remind me of the Crescent City Residences in New Orleans (which they're overhauling to update it - thank god.)

[/QUOTE]

I agree. Really ugly buildings, and we deserve better. More than any other city in America, because Phoenix is is so brand new; 21st century architecture will be norm. Shanghai in the desert. I like the rail system, but I wish the money was there for a heavy rail subway beneath Central ave., and Phoenix would become a linear dense city a la Las Vegas.
Get some Casinos.

[sundevilgrad]

The Light Rail runs along central and will definitely help bridge the gap between midtown and downtown. Investment money is already pouring in along the rail routes and if it continues to follow the trends of Dallas, Denver and Salt Lake I bet we will see midtown and downtown merger within a decade. Heavy rail subway would not work in this city, not to mention that it is extremely cost prohibitive. Street level light rail was the right choice, although it would've been nice if they mixed in some elevated sections in the most congested areas.

As for the design of Cielo, it doesn't do much for me either. I think they should scrap the big, blank billboard facades on the top and go with nice crown of some sorts. The buildings themselves are somewhat slender, so I don't think the model does them justice. Once built I think they will look sleek and not appear as boxy as they do in the model.

[soleri]

Originally Posted by sundevilgrad

The Light Rail runs along central and will definitely help bridge the gap between midtown and downtown. Investment money is already pouring in along the rail routes and if it continues to follow the trends of Dallas, Denver and Salt Lake I bet we will see midtown and downtown merger within a decade. Heavy rail subway would not work in this city, not to mention that it is extremely cost prohibitive. Street level light rail was the right choice, although it would've been nice if they mixed in some elevated sections in the most congested areas.

Light rail will play a somewhat different role here than it does in other cities. Phoenix has a very low employment hub downtown and midtown. In contrast, the downtowns in Dallas and SLC are genuine regional centers. What Phoenix is hoping for is extra urban growth where the impetus is otherwise lackluster. This will necessitate some patience since density along the route is the anticipation, not the current reality.

I still think the Val-Trans model was the correct one (modeled after Vancouver's Sky Train). Downtown would have been the hub and five spokes would have radiated outward. It was very expensive (paid for by property taxes!) but it would have addressed some of the systematic problems with a sprawl-based city. It would have made downtown functional and connected it to the Camelback Corridor. It lost because Phoenix has a perpetual vision problem outside of cheap fixes like freeways.

[NorthScottsdale]

Here are a few of Will Bruder's renderings of the W downtown phoenix hotel that is proposed to go right next to US Airways Center. I absolutely love this design and i hope it works out and gets built to look like this!!!!
This first one is a scale.

And a view looking southeast

A view looking east towards Chase field

And finally an overhead shot


I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!
I hope that the hotel gets approved and goes ahead with construction. and i hope that they use this design for the building. it would look great

[phillyskyline]

I love the colors of the new W but it looks a bit wide for my taste.

[sundevilgrad]

Here are a few of Will Bruder's renderings of the W downtown phoenix hotel that is proposed to go right next to US Airways Center. I absolutely love this design and i hope it works out and gets built to look like this!!!!
This first one is a scale.

From what I know the Bruder design was not the design that was selected. That is part of the reason that the building is going through such a tough time getting approved. The design they chose requires removing the roof of a historic warehouse that part of Phoenix's old China town. The Bruder design, from what I've heard, would not affect the historic building and would be easier to get approved.

[PHX602]

Here is the final design for the W.

[NorthScottsdale]

I think Bruder's design would look a lot better in the skyline. just my personal opinion... if anybody cares

[oliveurban]

^ We care .

Most of us tend to agree--at least I do--that Bruder's overall design was better, and more exciting.

But, I think at this point just getting the damn thing built at all (and soon) is more important than the ultimate design.

[nbrindley]

yeah, I think the general consensus is that the Bruder design is much more attractive. I think the white version is a bit goofy looking, but as long as it gets built, I don't mind.