[vertex]

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Went downtown on Wednesday to take a few shots, and to check out the progress on a few of the construction projects around Copper Square. Found a broken parking meter on 3rd St., so I abandoned the car, and started walking.

I ended up walking the whole afternoon, from 3rd St. to 1st Ave., and from Washington to Taylor. During my tour, I tried looking for some vantage points that I thought might be unique, especially to this forum.

Started off on 3rd street, between the west and north convention center buildings. The north CC building will be finished by December, along with the Sheraton in the background.

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/2313/img2358smallct2.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/8219/img2360smallif8.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3508/img2364smallsp1.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/1038/img2362smallnf0.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9176/img2371smalldf0.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1189/img2369smallnk1.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/3429/img2367smallll4.jpg


Headed south and around the corner to Washington. I spotted the CC light rail station, nearly complete. The light rail will open by December as well.

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/125/img2372smallzg5.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6089/img2373smallpq7.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/1151/img2374smallon0.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4203/img2377smallfm1.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/9175/img2375smallkq5.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/7097/img2379smallun7.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9900/img2381smallpz8.jpg



Around the corner again, this time north on 2nd st.

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/6158/img2389smalljh7.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/534/img2390smallyr9.jpg


Turning onto Adams...

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1038/img2396smallki5.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/9233/img2397smalljm7.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/8360/img2398smallrq6.jpg


Looking north on 1st St towards mid-town.

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/5159/img2399smallka1.jpg


I decided to duck into the Regency garage, and see if there was anything worth looking at. Looking north up 1st St. again. The Central Park East (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=137527) project is in the foreground.

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3632/img2401smallsl3.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/9273/img2405smallzt4.jpg

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7003/img2410smallfv9.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1820/img2413smallqo7.jpg

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/3696/img2414smallqh2.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4332/img2419smallgx9.jpg


Digging the foundation for the CityScape project (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=117961).

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6704/img2415smalllh9.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6248/img2417smalldd5.jpg


On the south side of the garage.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/8581/img2421smalluy6.jpg

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/9905/img2422smallju8.jpg


What's really nice about the garage is that it backs-up next to the last stand of original Phoenix townsite buildings left, including the Fry building.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/94/img2423smallhl7.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/6566/img2424smallfy4.jpg


This alley is almost like a tiny portal, peering back into the 19th century. This is probably pretty commonplace for your town, but it's a very rare sight for Phoenix.

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/1807/img2426smallkn2.jpg

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/5594/img2427smalldh2.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/544/img2428smallep6.jpg

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/6624/img2433smallye6.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/783/img2431smallso8.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4136/img2434smallob3.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/5742/img2429smalleq3.jpg


On the east side...

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/4084/img2440smallrw5.jpg

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/8061/img2442smallub5.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/3799/img2445smallkr3.jpg


Back out on the street, I walk up to Monroe. Shots include the Monroe Hotel (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=141488) and 44 Monroe (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=98405), which is almost complete.

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/1986/img2447smallqs8.jpg

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/9717/img2467smallbk0.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5471/img2448smallqc2.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4757/img2461smallno8.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/9875/img2464smallvf5.jpg


Sadly, the small building next to the hotel isn't looking so good.

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4623/img2468smallkj7.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9391/img2470smalluv6.jpg

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9089/img2471smallpm6.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4566/img2466smallpa7.jpg


I need a break...

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/3074/img2483smallpd7.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4933/img2494smalltj1.jpg

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/9425/img2493smalles2.jpg


Some more views from the corner of Central and Monroe.

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/506/img2517smallxe5.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2487smallyq9.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/7974/img2506smallvq6.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5958/img2481smallzs2.jpg


Continuing west...

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4355/img2496smallsq2.jpg

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/9633/img2512smalloy1.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7664/img2497smallac5.jpg

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/3963/img2500smallha2.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4173/img2501smallre1.jpg


...then crossing 1st Ave and heading north.

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2041/img2511smallnc6.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/6526/img2516smallle3.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/572/img2520smallfy7.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9555/img2521smallov1.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6457/img2476smallio3.jpg


East again, this time on Van Buren...

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/7500/img2524smallbw7.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2528smallpt7.jpg

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8040/img2525smalloh0.jpg


Old-school transit. Yes, even Phoenix had a trolley back in the day; up thru the late '40's.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2063/trolleypano1smallqq0.jpg

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/952/img2529smalloh8.jpg


Contrast that with the new Kinki Sharyo LRV's to be used later this year...

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2785/img2337smallmh1.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/4850/img2534smallkj0.jpg

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9388/img2541smallxk0.jpg

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/3236/img2556smallch8.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2941/img2557smallqv9.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2679/transitpano1smallbds3.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8397/transitpano1smallsx4.jpg)

:previous: Click to see the larger pano...


ASU downtown (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=132807) construction projects, including the Cronkite journalism school and dorms...

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4831/img2558smallbe7.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1183/img2560smallax9.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/8292/img2559smalluk5.jpg


Ducking into another parking garage, this time the one on the north side of the Sheraton, across from the Arizona center.

I'm kinda diggin' the copper trim, canopies and roofline on the ASU dorms...

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/3414/img2587smallqo2.jpg


Looking north towards mid-town...

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1860/img2585smallsr5.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9108/garagepano2edit2smallqr1.jpg (http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/755/garagepano2edit2vz5.jpg)
:previous: Click to see the larger pano...

http://img92.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2583smallzm7.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/3995/img2584smalljv5.jpg

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9562/img2582smallby5.jpg


Back on 3rd St. again. One of the Valley Metro's NABI 45' Compobus's, running LNG. About half the Valley's fleet is LNG or CNG.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4429/img2598smallxp9.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/6121/img2595smalllj7.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/4554/img2596smallah1.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/3972/img2600smallzk1.jpg

A fine day all around...

[atl2phx]

nice job vertex!

mission accomplished on high quality shots from unique perspectives.

lots of cool, contemporary design featured in the newer and under construction projects.

[Boris]

Great work.

so clear and crisp.

[HooverDam]

Great job, you really got some unique perspectives. All the big projects (ASU Downtown, Light Rail, 44 Monroe, Sheraton, Convention Center, the Summit, etc) are really changing things, its finally all coming together.

[ady26]

So much heat...
I love boulevards with palms, very beautiful!

[PHX31]

My fave shot...

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4757/img2461smallno8.jpg

...time is uncovering the sheath of "progress" and humanity is restoring "glory". I wish all the remaining early 20th or late 19th century buildings could revert back to their original brick facades and glory.

I don't understand the picture below...

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/6566/img2424smallfy4.jpg

...those buildings are either clubs or restaurants in the front, how are the backs subject to graffiti and, more interestingly, broken windows and pigeon roosts/shit? I know it's not abandoned.

again, great shots.

[vertex]

^^^I know there's a bar in this building. You can see in the close-up image below that the window has been boarded up from the inside; not sure why they didn't bother to just fill back up with brick (again).

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1697/img2420windowrh4.jpg



Thanks for the comments folks!

[whatsthepoint13]

interesting thread

[denveraztec]

Great shots!

[Buckeye Native 001]

I was about to sound like an out-of-towner and say "You walked around in the HEAT!?" but then saw that you first posted this on May 31, around the time when we had unusually cool weather.

Great shots, Vertex! Downtown Phoenix looks better and better every time I'm down there :tup: