Phoenix Development News (3)

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by combusean

No parking is required for projects in the Downtown Core area.

Is that really in effect? I spoke with a developer that had shown interest on the property in the past, and he mentioned that the lack of parking was what prevented this building from becoming a hotel or apartments.

[phxSUNSfan]

Originally Posted by Arquitect

Is that really in effect? I spoke with a developer that had shown interest on the property in the past, and he mentioned that the lack of parking was what prevented this building from becoming a hotel or apartments.

No, the lack of parking is not what prevented the building from becoming a hotel or an apartment building...it was the lack of money to rehab the building. Orpheum Lofts residents do not have any parking onsite anymore. Residents either had to find their own parking arrangements or go without a car.

[Vicelord John]

There's a lot of shit going on around 40th and Campbell. Besides LGO's burger shop on the corner, there's an office building that was torn down just north of there and something going in with what appears to be an elevator core. Apartments? bigger office building? Another block north, there's a single family home that was demo'd almost overnight, not sure what they are doing, but something is going up.

This is, of course, in addition to the huge rat cage apartment building going up on 36th street... that neighborhood is going bat shit crazy.

[westbev93]

If anyone told you lack of parking was the problem, they probably meant that, practically speaking, the building is less marketable to any commercial or residential user without parking. As noted by many others, there are no parking requirements Downtown. But even without the requirement, many tenants are going to want parking to go into the building. The banks know this, so it probably was difficult to find funding to rehab a building without guaranteed parking (also, there wasn't a lot of funding to do much of anything over the past 5 years or so). As noted, Orpheum has no parking (and there was eventually a lawsuit over the parking issue, the residents lost, and they have no parking). The residents there were mostly parking across the street in either Renaissance or the Wells Fargo building. The management of those buildings finally figured out what was going on and significantly increased the fees to rent spaces on a monthly basis.

[gymratmanaz]

40th and Campbell will be another office building, replacing the previous one.

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by westbev93

If anyone told you lack of parking was the problem, they probably meant that, practically speaking, the building is less marketable to any commercial or residential user without parking. As noted by many others, there are no parking requirements Downtown. But even without the requirement, many tenants are going to want parking to go into the building. The banks know this, so it probably was difficult to find funding to rehab a building without guaranteed parking (also, there wasn't a lot of funding to do much of anything over the past 5 years or so). As noted, Orpheum has no parking (and there was eventually a lawsuit over the parking issue, the residents lost, and they have no parking). The residents there were mostly parking across the street in either Renaissance or the Wells Fargo building. The management of those buildings finally figured out what was going on and significantly increased the fees to rent spaces on a monthly basis.

That makes a lot of sense. I'm actually glad to hear that the city got rid of parking restrictions in the urban core. What is the area encompassed by this measure? Does it spread from 7th St to 7th Ave?

[phxSUNSfan]

Originally Posted by Arquitect

That makes a lot of sense. I'm actually glad to hear that the city got rid of parking restrictions in the urban core. What is the area encompassed by this measure? Does it spread from 7th St to 7th Ave?

It encompasses all of downtown; from the 7's and from McDowell to Buckeye Rd.

The Urban Form Project includes an area approximately one mile wide and two miles long, encompassing 1,500 acres (Figure 1-1). Downtown is the geographic “heart” of the region for business and government, and contains large-scale convention, cultural and entertainment facilities. This boundary is based on the boundary of the Redevelopment Area and was expanded to include the neighborhoods south of Downtown that are not part of the Redevelopment Area but are impacted by development in Downtown.

http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/interne...cuments/web_content/pdd_pz_pdf_00339.pdf

[PHX31]

Short Leash Dogs is opening up a "brick and mortar" location, to go along with their food truck, on Roosevelt and 1st St... right next to the Nash and where that shady tequileria place was not too long ago. Roosevelt is getting even closer to its tipping point. Now we just need a couple empty lots filled.

http://downtowndevil.com/2013/04/04/43003/short-leash-hot-dogs-permanent-location-roosevelt/

[nickw252]

Signage was installed on the east and west sides of the Lofts on Thomas.

[RichTempe]

Took some pictures of the remodeling being done at the former Phoenix Public Market store. The company name on the application is Cannon Crockery 2, LLC. No idea when it will open, but it looks like they're building a bar on the inside.

[PHX31]

Awesome! I like the improvements... that would be cool if it became a microbrewery.

[Jjs5056]

Yes we need some diversity in the club/bar offerings downtown. There are a couple of gay ones in that immediate area (and I have ranted before that there needs to be 1-2 two along Roosevelt to give it that alternative scene vibe), and then some more "urban" clubs (now sure how to describe Palazzo and such). A microbrewery would bring in a nice mix of visitors and might help that area take off as more of nightlife district- hopefully getting some late night eateries along the way).

I do still old out hope for the Warehouse district, which might be a better fit for something like microbrewery, but maybe by that time, we could support both?

[RichTempe]

They're finally starting remodeling work on the old Channel 12/NBC building on the NEC of Central & Portland. It will be the new location for the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. I haven't seen any renderings of the finished product, but it has to be better looking than the fortress that NBC was.

[N830MH]

Originally Posted by RichTempe

They're finally starting remodeling work on the old Channel 12/NBC building on the NEC of Central & Portland. It will be the new location for the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. I haven't seen any renderings of the finished product, but it has to be better looking than the fortress that NBC was.

Wow! I didn't even know that. I didn't realize know where the old NBC News station are. I haven't check this out yet. What is closer the light rail station is? I tried to lookup the Google Earth Map, but it does not exist.

[RichTempe]

Originally Posted by N830MH

Wow! I didn't even know that. I didn't realize know where the old NBC News station are. I haven't check this out yet. What is closer the light rail station is? I tried to lookup the Google Earth Map, but it does not exist.

It's just north of the Roosevelt & Central LRT station on the east side of Central Ave.

[nickw252]

Originally Posted by N830MH

Wow! I didn't even know that. I didn't realize know where the old NBC News station are. I haven't check this out yet. What is closer the light rail station is? I tried to lookup the Google Earth Map, but it does not exist.

Due south of the Burton Barr Library and Margret Hance Deck Park. You can see the library in the bottom picture.

The building was terrible before. The only good thing going for it was that it was built up to the sidewalk. Hopefully they leverage that one good aspect of the building.

[Jjs5056]

If demolished, would there be a clear view and entry into Hance Park from that perspective?

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

If demolished, would there be a clear view and entry into Hance Park from that perspective?

I wouldn't recommend demolishing it. The building looks a bit uninviting at the moment, but it has some great features, and someone could do a really awesome addition to it. Taking into consideration that this is private land and not public land, demolishing it would only cause a large empty lot right next to the park, not a great entrance.

As mentioned above, the building is right up to the street, and with a little work it could open up to central.

[RichTempe]

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

If demolished, would there be a clear view and entry into Hance Park from that perspective?

As I mentioned before this is going to be the new location for the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS so even if the old building was demolished, there would be a new one to take its place. However, from what I understand, the old building will be rehabbed and updated to make it fit in better with the neighborhood. I haven't seen any renderings.

[Jjs5056]

Woah... I wasn't recommending demolition or suggesting that it was a realistic option. Obviously, the conversation on this very page is centered on its renovation; I'm well aware that it isn't going anywhere.

I was just asking because I literally have no clue what that park looks like, where to enter it, etc. and was just trying to get some sense of orientation.

As for being built up to the sidewalk, is there really any benefit if there aren't streetside entrances (another question I'm asking because I really just don't know)? At that point, I would think that it's almost better to throw a small parking lot in front and have the building open up to the street so there would at least be some sign of life around the building. I have a similar issue with the building on Roosevelt and Central; built to the sidewalk, but all we see are huge walls of black glass since the entrance is on the opposite side.