27 replies to this topic

[HX_Guy]

How's this for an exciting project that we should all keep our eyes on and hope all the pieces fall into place...

Jackson Street Entertianment District - Central Ave to 4th St on Jackson St.










Pictures are from this month's Contact Magazine.

Edited by HX_Guy, 03 March 2007 - 06:48 PM.

[convulso]

HX_Guy, on Mar 3 2007, 07:48 PM, said:

How's this for an exciting project that we should all keep our eyes on and hope all the pieces fall into place...

Pictures are from this month's Contact Magazine.

very cool - that inset photo of the existing site tells the real story. it'd be huge infill - and, from the look of the renderings, quality.

is there any mention of where the project stands?

[HX_Guy]

convulso, on Mar 3 2007, 11:30 PM, said:

very cool - that inset photo of the existing site tells the real story. it'd be huge infill - and, from the look of the renderings, quality.

is there any mention of where the project stands?

Here is the full article...

http://www.contact-m...e6/feature1.htm

[MJLO]

HX_Guy you rock!   When I was downtown this week I was trying to figure out where and how it would look.  If they did something to that scale, Downtown would explode!  That's friggen amazing, that would be the catalyst to put us over the edge and into that "cool city" catagory.  Really, all it is, is Westgate but in an actual urban environment downtown Phoenix.  I hope they have the $ so they can bring it to life!!!!!  Feasably though, do these developers have the clout to do this easily?  You'll have to forgive me, I come from a land of big dreams and little action.


I think this stretch on Jefferson would be part of it too, I know that pretty much right now, the Hard Rock constitutes our "entertainment district".

[convulso]

MJLO, on Mar 4 2007, 11:48 AM, said:

HX_Guy you rock!   When I was downtown this week I was trying to figure out where and how it would look.  If they did something to that scale, Downtown would explode!

the more i look at this, the more i think it's the biggest excitement in the big phx developments (including cityscape). i'm not counting on it happening yet, but it needs to happen. the 'connect the dots' philosophy espoused by the architect is precisely what phoenix needs in town.

we were tooling around in downtown phoenix a couple of saturday nights ago, and it struck me that, from a physical point of view, downtown phoenix is good things waiting to happen - because nothing permanently bad has overwhelmed the downtown yet (just a lack of interest in urban life in phoenix, and that's something that could change over time). there's just nothing there right now, but in the long run, that can be a good thing.

[MJLO]

is there a time line on this?  I couldn't specifically find one.  I know they are in the initial stages with it, and have all the public hoops to go thru first.  I just want to know what the tentative time frame is.

[convulso]

MJLO, on Mar 5 2007, 12:37 PM, said:

is there a time line on this?  I couldn't specifically find one.  I know they are in the initial stages with it, and have all the public hoops to go thru first.  I just want to know what the tentative time frame is.

from what i remember reading the article, the (totally speculative) time frame is two or three years. there was no mention of where it stands in terms of zoning, city approval, public opinion / opposition, etc. i'd say it's early for anything concrete, but i hope that changes.

[HX_Guy]

convulso, on Mar 5 2007, 02:28 PM, said:

from what i remember reading the article, the (totally speculative) time frame is two or three years. there was no mention of where it stands in terms of zoning, city approval, public opinion / opposition, etc. i'd say it's early for anything concrete, but i hope that changes.

It's very early.

Currently the city is working on rezoning the area and incentives for preservation of old buildings.

I believe they already passed new zoning which will allow buildings up to 250' and now they are working on giving land to property owners if they restore an old building. Here is what Mayor Phil Gordon said in a recent blog...

"Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. the City Council will consider a new Warehouse District ordinance that will provide property owners incentives to preserve historic warehouses — for each warehouse that is preserved, a developer could take a vacant lot and build a mid-rise office or condo project. This program will allow the Jackson Street entertainment project to move forward, and I encourage you to attend the meeting and show your support."

Not a bad deal right? Now I don't know if "could take a vacent lot" means they could take a city owned lot for free or exactly what it the specifics are, but it's awesome to see the city actively trying to preseve old warehouses instead of tearing them down...God knows we have enough empty lots that can be developed instead of demolishing more historic buildings.

[MJLO]

well and too, I think the city can afford to do that, something in place there will definately give them more revenue in the long run.  And the long term implications of it are huge, especially if it could bring downtown to life.  The city will benefit greatly from being a national vacation destination.

One thing I remember hearing is that developers have been silently aquiring the property they need in the area, and it's pretty much all secure.

[nuplanner]

Thanks for the pics. I tried to get them from the paper, but they said I had to pay for them.  I think they have a great idea of making downtown phx a place to be.  The elements are coming together to make this a great place.  Its exciting

[MJLO]

it is exciting, I'll be ecstatic when I see wheels in motion and things actually happening, until then i'm cautiously optimistic.

[MJLO]

hey HX, or anyone in the know.  What's the status of this?  Is it still on track, or will it derail as a pipe dream?

[nuplanner]

My wifes company is working with them for the phx grand prx race in downtown this coming fall.  What she has been told is that they are still on tract to do the project.  I am hoping to get some good contacts and down the road, apply for a job for this project.

[nuplanner]

Grand prix is not happening now, but has anyone heard anything about this proposal?

[MJLO]

it's still in it's beginning stages, it'd take a ton of money and dedication from alot of people, it's a huge undertaking.  Does anyone think it'll survive?  Who's in the know?

[clarebear]

dt phx just seems to be to young still. jackson street ent. is one of those things that people from all over the valley are suppost to come to. but people in the west valley have westgate. and people in the east valley have the riverview megaplex. thats what i think anyway.

[MJLO]

this would be something completely different.  This if built has the potential to be a national desitination with House of Blues, it'd be more a nightclub/ entertainment district where people could also live and shop.  The others are more manufactured, regoinal shopping centers.  There is no comparison

[nuplanner]

Clarebear brings up a good point.  I think the difference is this is downtown.  Riverview is more of a strip mall, same with tempe marketplace.  Westgate seems to be more of a facade of a small downtown, a strip mall on steroids set as an urban center, anchored by two sports complexes..  The difference is it is not downtown, the heart of the valley.  It is the center of the valley, and there are a tone of jobs in the area, and other attractions.  Same with ASU downtown.  There are more elements in this area that can, and will help it thrive as a whole.  Its got the bones, the makeup to become a great place.  Same with the phx urban form project which is a first of its kind in the state, and more.  All of these elements come together to make this thrive and work.  That’s the difference from the Riverview and westgate areas.

However, the proposed developer of this site has the power (money) to get it done IMO.  I think the market has to bottom out and start to go up again for this place to go ahead.  I think that is with a lot of projects that are not happening, but have been proposed in the valley.

But, what I think will be downtowns biggest competition is the Rio Salado/Salt River corridor between Tempe and Mesa.  This area is, and has the potential to be a huge destination for the whole valley and tourist who visit.  From Alma School rd to Rural rd, on both sides of the river/lake, there will be so much to do.  But, small areas will thrive too because of the large population here in the valley.

[nuplanner]

Some updated info on the project.  Looks like it is moving forward.  At the end of the article, there is a link to the document of the proposal to the city and more details then what has been provided in this topic.

http://www.downtownp...-moving-forward


Good to hear this is moving forward.  Since the economy is not good right now, it would be a good move when they are done that the economy should be picking up for the opening of this development.  I think it would be a critical element to moving Downtown into a 24 hour city, or at least something to do and place to be.

thoughts if anyone is out there?

Edited by nuplanner, 21 October 2008 - 04:01 PM.

[cueball1914]

nuplanner, on Oct 21 2008, 02:57 PM, said:

Some updated info on the project. Looks like it is moving forward. At the end of the article, there is a link to the document of the proposal to the city and more details then what has been provided in this topic.

http://www.downtownp...-moving-forward


Good to hear this is moving forward. Since the economy is not good right now, it would be a good move when they are done that the economy should be picking up for the opening of this development. I think it would be a critical element to moving Downtown into a 24 hour city, or at least something to do and place to be.

thoughts if anyone is out there?

I know it's been real slow here lately, I keep looking for updates, but.....Anyway, nice to see things crawling along again, but it's still real slow out here, what with the economy so bad, it's been a real struggle to keep thinking positive. We are in for a tough, tough year in 09. Just keeping a job will be a challenge if you are in anything dependent on construction (that's most everyone in PHX). How's things down at the planning dept?