160 replies to this topic

[MJLO]

hotel rooms hotel rooms hotel rooms!~

[loftguy]

Well- The Sheraton of course, and a W hotel if you keep your fingers and toes crossed at night.

[MJLO]

what is this hotel you speak of Joel?

[loftguy]

The W hotel is slated for development on top of the Sun- Merc building (Downtown warehouse district). -There is a lawsuit right now over the plans- but I imagine this will get ironed out eventually- I am very much hoping this will happen because I love W hotels and we need one (Scottsdale is getting one why can't Phx?)
As for The Sheraton- the city is building this to help aid the Convention center guests... You posted of it (32 stories)

[MJLO]

From what i've seen of the sheraton, the design looks kind of old Vegas and boring.   It seems rather uninspired.  Although I'd imagine, that might be in part to the fact that we are in the desert, and boring looking structures run much more efficiently.  I'm going to wait for the finished product before I start conveying judgement.  One thing I know is that it's pretty much going to tower over the AZ center.  Those buildings are alot shorter than I thought they would be.

[MJLO]

looks like your w hotel is a little closer to being built Joel

[colin]

I'm not sure where the freeway stuff should be put, but I found this article very interesting:
Team to fix fissure in freeway path

It seems a little counter-intuitive to knowlingly build a major highway over a fissure, which is certain to move over time.

[shrek05]

Heh, MJLO dunno if you still need more details about what Biltmore is ccause no one really gave a great description but heres a relative synopsis.

The Biltmore area is the most famous neighborhood region of Phoenix (ever since the past). It was named after the Arizona Biltmore Hotel (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright). Back in the 50s it was a celebrity hot spot (a favorite by Marilyn Monroe). Many presidents stayed there (actaully every president for the last 60 years or so). So clearly, it became a natural luxury region. Biltmore Fashion Park was the first luxury shopping destination in the Phoenix area. When Fashion Square was still a regular nothing mall, the Biltmore had I. Magnin (an luxury department store). Today it is one of the most successful malls in the nation, with some really famous brands there (Saks, Macys, Cartier, Ralph Lauren, etc.)

Its also popular business area (Esplanade towers in the region are the most prized business buildings). Best Western, Petsmart and U-haul all locate here (haha thats from wikipedia). THe area has also sprouted many famed local eateries. Many celebrity chefs opened restaurants in the area back in the early 90s. There was once a Wolfgang Puck restaurant there (but the brand eventually did poorly and was abandoned).

Along with the Biltmore Hotel theres also the Ritz Carlton in the area. the Phoenician isnt too far down the road.

THe neighborhood is the "old money" of Phoenix. All three Arizona billionaires live here. However, recently more young people are moving in. Harry Morton (CEO of Pink Taco, President of Hard Rock) bought a house here. Amare Stoudemire recently bought a home here. Charles Barkley lives here. The band Korn once owned a winter getaway here. Brandy Norwood lived here.

Edited by shrek05, 26 July 2006 - 03:54 PM.

[MJLO]

I work at Sky harbor.  From the parking ramp on T4 I can see three distinct skylines in Phoenix, Downtown. Uptown and the third one which is dense in appearance, but doesnt have a midrise over 200ft.  I believe that to be Biltmore.  Is that a correct assumption?

[loftguy]

MJLO, on Jul 26 2006, 09:42 PM, said:

I work at Sky harbor.  From the parking ramp on T4 I can see three distinct skylines in Phoenix, Downtown. Uptown and the third one which is dense in appearance, but doesnt have a midrise over 200ft.  I believe that to be Biltmore.  Is that a correct assumption?

I don't think it is any dender than Downtown- current height limit seems to be 15 stories in the Biltmore area. Lots and lots of NIMBY's!
It is the "classy" area of Phoenix... Although Old Town is making a push for that it seems. (Arguably)

[shrek05]

Yes that third area is Biltmore. It should be right under/hugging Camelback Mountain. THere are maybe 5 or 6 buildings that break the forested area

[MJLO]

cool link I found from azcentral, actually I borrowed it from loftguys site.  kind of a development wrap up
you might enjoy.  Recent article talks about the proposed W hotel, how it won't  be an obstruction for incoming air traffic.  There are some other hurdles for it.  Anyone in the know?

[shrek05]

its currently contested because of the historic Sun Mercantile Building it wants to cantilever over.

[loftguy]

MJLO, on Aug 2 2006, 09:46 PM, said:

cool link I found from azcentral, actually I borrowed it from loftguys site.  kind of a development wrap up
you might enjoy.  Recent article talks about the proposed W hotel, how it won't  be an obstruction for incoming air traffic.  There are some other hurdles for it.  Anyone in the know?

http://www.phxloftne...topic.php?t=255
^ I have a thread on the issue...

[MJLO]

Interesting headline in the republic.  Cranes Taking Phoenix Higher  It's pretty interesting.  There are a number of high rise projects actually going up right now Downtown.  Also the new monster Air Traffic tower at Sky Harbor, one of the tallest in the country.  To the highrise boom in Tempe.  Cough,  I mean midrise boom since the city leadership decided that tall buildings would make them snooty.   That doesnt account for the numerous projects that are proposed, or planned.  As to how many of them will actually start construction I am skeptical for.   It also talk about how there has been a construction drought after the 1980's real estate collapse.  Was that a Phoenix thing or country wide?
I have long thought it odd, that Phoenix for it's explosive population and economic growth, has struggled so hard to make it's city center stand out.  Something not common for other boomtowns.

[colin]

Scottsdale condos go for cool $1.6M
I'll have to look at buying one also

It's great that Downtown Scottsdale has emerged as such a popular area, well known for its "amenities".

[MJLO]

What I dislike is how places like Downtown Scottsdale, and Downtown Tempe, pull attention away from Downtown Phoenix.  Although you have to give those city leaders credit for pulling off what seems like decades of Phoenix leadership could not.

[HX_Guy]

A few update pictures taken 10/13/06...

Summit at Copper Square








Sheraton Downtown Phoenix Hotel






A shot showing both the Sheraton and Summit...




Finally...new rendering of CityScape...

[convulso]

nice pics. cool to see a rendering.

[colin]

Impact fees increasing dramatically in Phoenix suburbs

Notice that Gilbert is not on the list.
I say it's about time, and it makes sense that Ahwatukee is the largest increase as they seem to be the most strapped on developable land.