[PHXguyinOKC]

wow, I've only been gone or a year and the place is different! Can't wait till I come home for Christmas to get to see all this in person.

[HX_Guy]

September 21, 2007.

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/16.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/3.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/1.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/2.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/6.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/7.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/5.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/8.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/9.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/11.jpg

Alta Phoenix

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/12.jpg

Phoenix Bio-Science High School

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/13.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/14.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTSept21/15.jpg

[UrbaniDesDev]

I was just in Phoenix. I was also there about a year ago. My God, how are business surviving with that lite rail project. It doesn't seem to be progressing very quickly. Are there any major projects being developed along the Central Avenue line that are due specifically to the line?

[MagnumMike]

I was just in Phoenix. I was also there about a year ago. My God, how are business surviving with that lite rail project. It doesn't seem to be progressing very quickly. Are there any major projects being developed along the Central Avenue line that are due specifically to the line?

Many smaller businesses have closed or moved away from downtown because of the construction mess.

My thoughts exactly on the slow progress on the light rail; I believe the downtown stretches of the light rail are supposed to be done sometime in late 2008.

On the Central Ave projects, we hear of many, Toll Bros Towers on Central & Thomas, and Ciello Towers on Central & Columbus, among many others, but nothing solid has taken place yet. I have a feeling they're holding off on those major projects until the light rail project is done to avoid making things worse than they already are.

[MagnumMike]

I walked around downtown Phoenix on Sunday afternoon to check out what's going on.

Central Park East building on 1st Street and Van Buren, looks like it's moving along. :cheers:
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/1stSt-VanBuren.jpg

City Scape - They had the ground-breaking ceremonies over a month ago, but not much work has been done since then. I saw a sign on the fence about some Variance Hearing scheduled on November 27th, not for the FAA's tower height concerns, but for the building setback from the street.
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/CityScape3.jpg

They took the crane down from 44-Monroe a week earlier.
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/44-Monroe.jpg

A little further north on 4th Ave & Filmore, there's a glimmer of hope, at least they got the sign up! :D Hopefully it'll come soon enough in our lifetime! :D
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/CopperPoint1.jpg

Further north on Central Avenue, the Cielo Towers site - Still an empty lot with the sales office, but hopefully that'll change soon.
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/Cielo-Site3.jpg

And finally on Central and Highland, looks like another disappointment - They took the advertising signs from the dirt lot, where 50-story Brophy Tower was planned. I'm not sure what happened, but like others said, the builder might have backed out, so it looks like it's going to be a dirt lot for a while longer. :( :rolleyes:
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/Central-Highland3.jpg

[MagnumMike]

I'd like to get everyone's opinions on some of the eye sores in downtown Phoenix and north Central, which I think need to be replaced with something that looks better.

Just to the southeast of US Bank Tower in downtown, The Heard Building on the left side of the picture is definitely an eye sore. About the only thing it has going for it is the large mural of Copper Square on the south wall of the building.
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/US-Bank-Tower1.jpg

Formerly the Western Savings building. If you drive on Osborn approaching Central from either east or west, you'll see why I think this building is a big eye sore! Along with that upside down pyramid of a building! I think somebody was on drugs when they designed these 2 buildings! :P
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/UglyBuildings.jpg

[MagnumMike]

And just for kicks, the YMCA building in downtown Phoenix, which is another old eye sore. Hmmm what if... I guess we can fantasize can't we? :D :P

Now:
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/What-If1.jpg

Let's replace it with the Sears Tower! :D
http://www.members.cox.net/mss294/What-If1M.jpg

[Sekkle]

A little further north on 4th Ave & Filmore, there's a glimmer of hope, at least they got the sign up! :D Hopefully it'll come soon enough in our lifetime! :D

Pretty sure copper pointe is dead. I think it's going to be a 5-story "boutique hotel" now.

[MagnumMike]

Pretty sure copper pointe is dead. I think it's going to be a 5-story "boutique hotel" now.

What? ... I didn't hear about that.

[MagnumMike]

I think the "Boutique Hotel" you were talking about is this: http://urbanliving360.com/propertyDetail.php?propertyId=32&catId=10&initial=0&display_row=10&next=2&total=13

I think it's part of the CopperPoint project, the condo towers are seperate.

Incidentally, I made a mistake in a message and said 4th Ave & Filmore. :happysad:

[sundevilgrad]

Copper Pointe has been redesigned and will only be 5 stories... The sign has been on that lot for about two years now...

[PHXguyinOKC]

what's the news with Omega??

[andrewkfromaz]

No news. I think they're just taking their time in a soft market. No need to rush. Just dust everything off once in a while and maybe get updated bids every few months for certain items. I think this project has a chance of happening, but not any time in the immediate future, totally dependent on market conditions.

[neworleans]

i found this really cool vid on central ave. u guys have probably seen in but if not here it is. u can see all the light rail construction. im thinking its gonna cause a heck of a lot of accidents when it's done cuz it runs so quiet.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7322987224062070367&q=phoenix+arizona&total=9419&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2

[Don B.]

^ Have not seen that video. Very cool. This needs exposure. :)

--don

[sundevilgrad]

Very cool video!

In other news the tower crane is now up for One Central Park East.

Here it is going up (photo courtesy of Archdevil):

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc36/cjessip/ocpe.jpg


Here's the impact it should have on the skyline (rendition courtesy of HX Guy):
http://nitnelav.com/CPESkyline2.jpg

[combusean]

As this thread could use a bump anyway, there's a 2007 Year In Review superpost compilation thread/development timeline in the Mountain West subforum.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=143765

[AZRAM]

Here's some great news: FAA gives go-ahead to CityScape project
Jahna Berry
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 7, 2008 06:17 PM

Federal officials have cleared the $900 million CityScape high-rise project for takeoff.

On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration ruled that the three-square block downtown Phoenix project poses no risk to aircraft that fly in and out of nearby Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport."It's what we expected all along," said John Bacon, spokesman for Scottsdale-based RED Development. "This was within the guidelines that the city established," he said referring to downtown height rules the city adopted in 2006.

The developer scaled back initial plans for four planned CityScape towers, one over 500 feet; they are now slated to be around 400 feet.But those heights could change, Bacon added. Monday's FAA ruling helps clear the way for one building, with hotel rooms and condos, to rise as high as 510 feet.





It was a high stakes issue. If the FAA said the project was too tall, the city would have denied cityscape's building permit.

City leaders have touted CityScape, which broke ground in October, as a crucial downtown development. It's supported by more than $120 million in incentives from Phoenix. The hub of shops, hotels and offices, extends from First Avenue to Second Street, and from Washington to Jefferson streets.Demolition and other site work is underway and the first phase could open as early as 2009.

"We initially issued a Notice of Presumed Hazard because the structure heights exceeded several FAA obstruction standards," said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.

After further review, the agency concluded that the projects "punches up" into an airspace buffer, but doesn't have a negative effect on flights, he added.

Over the years tall projects in both Phoenix and Tempe projects have fallen under FAA scrutiny. Each development is evaluated on its own merits and by how it would impact the airport, the FAA says.

[neworleans]

new 22 story "Centerpoint Condominiums" going up near tempe's ASU campus.
taken from the 202 east

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2182795652_3c3e7494cc_b.jpg

light rail station on central ave

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2182006037_f43cc7c41f_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2079/2181975989_409d571474_b.jpg

New ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism going up in downtown phoenix

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2182004941_81d255b5a3_b.jpg

new ASU dorms going up in downtown phoenix

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2293/2182792242_399daa700e_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2182007523_b1c77f0898_b.jpg

New Renaissance Hotel at westgate in glendale

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2182762024_3202eab023_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2182761020_c0c7373f01_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/2181972889_718c22dd57_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2236/2182757216_d9bd7b31ef_b.jpg

New Hampton Inn & Suites at westgate. opening in time for the superbowl

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2181972469_98f0a86e66_b.jpg

University of Phoenix Stadium at the westgate. I hate the name because it makes it sound like a college stadium, even though it's our perfesional football team that plays there.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2182758538_1b77e86523_b.jpg

Jobing.com arena at the westgate. home to the NHL's "Phoenix Coyotes"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2182755510_2de01bd1f5_b.jpg

[Patrick]

I was in Downtown Today, got some pics of 44 Monroe and the Shearaton :yes:

http://i5.tinypic.com/6nv9qia.jpg http://i4.tinypic.com/71fkn69.jpg http://i1.tinypic.com/8brnfch.jpg

http://i15.tinypic.com/6ug7t42.jpg

[neworleans]

Here's the impact it should have on the skyline (rendition courtesy of HX Guy):
http://nitnelav.com/CPESkyline2.jpg

man, the 44 monroe is taking forever in finish it's exterior. it was topped off long before the sheraton was and the sheraton is almost finished.

[Spocket]

I've never been able to understand how a city the size of Phoenix with such a booming population and economy (generally speaking) could have such a dismal skyline. Frankly, it's a complete mystery to me why a city like Phoenix isn't kicking ass in the skyline department. I understand that Sky Harbor presents some difficulties with building heights but even with that, there are so few towers in downtown Phoenix when compared to many cities that are much smaller.

Thank god Phoenix is finally appearing to get it's well-deserved skyline. Congratulations on the boom !

[neworleans]

i think it's because phoenix was not consedered a big enough city during the era of the skyscraper boom. we didn't become a big enough city until after the skyscraper boom slowed down. it is because of our fast growth that we have become as big as we are.

skyscraper growth will never be like it was in the early and mid 1900's, where all the cities got their skyscrapers. so phoenix skyline is growing but it will take some time before we're finally up to the amount of skyscrapers a city of our size should have.

[admdavid]

Well, then there's also the issue of the proximity of Sky Harbor Int'l Airport to downtown. There are limits to height that have hindered the growth up.

[neworleans]

true that sky harbor restricts the downtown from being as tall as other cities. but the amount of skyscrapers in the downtown area (not meaing they have to be tall, but more of a large cluster of skyscrapers) is nothing compared to the amount of skyscrapes in other cities.

for instance, in seattle there are hundreds of skyscrapers. you can walk for miles and see nothing but highrise buildings.

[SunDevil]

There is also Uptown to consider, not that all of those building would have been built if they had to be downtown but most of them probably would have and that would add another, 10?, high rises to downtown.

[PHX31]

I've never been able to understand how a city the size of Phoenix with such a booming population and economy (generally speaking) could have such a dismal skyline. Frankly, it's a complete mystery to me why a city like Phoenix isn't kicking ass in the skyline department. I understand that Sky Harbor presents some difficulties with building heights but even with that, there are so few towers in downtown Phoenix when compared to many cities that are much smaller.

Thank god Phoenix is finally appearing to get it's well-deserved skyline. Congratulations on the boom !

Like sundevil mentioned, there is also the midtown section of the Phoenix skyline, separated from the downtown skyline. It is up Central Ave.

Here is a picture by don that shows them together. I think we all wish Central Ave was never planned to become a high-rise area in the city, rather, keeping downtown the main area for high-rises. It would have made downtown much more "impressive".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/IMG_3380copy.jpg

[neworleans]

there are some good reasons for having a lot of tall buildings on central ave though.

for instance, the light rail. i think it will be cool to ride the train all the way up and down central ave heading to and from downtown. also, most of the highrise buildings have large parking lots behind them, something u wouldn't see in downtown.

and thirdly, when the downtown does finally develop to even bigger, we will still have all the highrises on central. Oh and it also relieves some of the traffic downtown.

[oliveurban]

.

[Loveithigh]

One of the main reasons that Phoenix for its population size does not have mid rise or supertall high rise buildings is the availability of wide expanses of cheap land. Why build a high rise when building a 2 to 4 story structure over a large area is so much cheaper? I don't comment a great deal on these threads but one thing that is interesting to me is that I perceive many folks on these pages thinks that a particular city, ie Phoenix, is dull because of the lack of a beautiful skyline. Does anyone consider how many millions of dollars it costs to even design these structures let alone the cost of construction. Companies just don't build high rises just for the heck of it. There has to be a need and there needs to be tenants. The horrible urban sprawl of Phoenix is finally making many companies thinking that perhaps it is more cost effective to build high rises in the various Phoenix city centers. People are finally realizing that commuting to work 45 minutes to an hour and a half everyday is not a great lifestyle. Many people are now thinking that living close to work is a better option. Regardless, the sprawl of Phoenix continues and I for one would like to know how we are going to maintain the high cost of the infrastructure as time goes on?

[Don B.]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/Phoenixstallesttable.jpg

As of May, 2008 - NOT May 2007 as noted in the image - that is an error on my part.

--don

[PHX31]

/\should it be May, 2008?

[JDRCRASH]

Right now, my belief is that Phoenix has not overbuilt itself like Miami and Las Vegas, contrary to what news articles claim.

[Don B.]

/\should it be May, 2008?

It is. I'm just a schmuck and didn't catch my error prior to "j-pegging" it.

--don

[HX_Guy]

Construction updates: May 1st, 2008.


Convention Center bridge.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/2.jpg

One Central Park East - Four floors done and core up to #8.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/3.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/9.jpg

44 Monroe looking dense.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/4.jpg

Exterior finishing up.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/5.jpg

This looks much more massive in person - Cityscape excavation.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/6.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/7.jpg

ASU Dorms with cladding.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/8.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/14.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/13.jpg

Cronkite School exterior finishing up.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/12.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/10.jpg

Every building, except one, is brand new. Pretty amazing.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/11.jpg

Digging has started for the ASU Nursing II building.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/15.jpg

Alta Phoenix picking up speed.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/16.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/17.jpg

Sheraton Downtown Hotel finally finishing up the exterior with shade awnings.
http://nitnelav.com/DTMay12008/1.jpg

[Don B.]

Revised first post in thread and updated.

--don

[CHAPINM1]

Don B. and HX GUY, I want to thank you both personally for all your hard work and time for keeping us well informed about the activity going on there in Phoenix. I for one and very interested in all the projects going up there. I know Phoenix is finally beginning to grow up and hopefully will get past that 483 foot curse, lol...

[Don B.]

^ Thanks. It's good to know our efforts are appreciated. :)

--don

[Don B.]

Revised and updated first post in thread.

--don

[Don B.]

New Sheraton:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/Rainbows%20Festival%202008/IMG_9090.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/Rainbows%20Festival%202008/IMG_9154.jpg

You can see the newly completed 44 Monroe on the left, and One Central Park East going up on the right in this image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/Rainbows%20Festival%202008/IMG_9119.jpg

44 Monroe looms in the back:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/Rainbows%20Festival%202008/IMG_9126.jpg

OCPE looms:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/Rainbows%20Festival%202008/IMG_9146.jpg

The new 161-foot, 13-story downtown ASU dorms:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/Rainbows%20Festival%202008/IMG_9149.jpg

The new 110-foot, six-story Cronkite ASU building:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/Rainbows%20Festival%202008/IMG_9150.jpg

Cityscape gets underway:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/Phoenix/Rainbows%20Festival%202008/IMG_9137.jpg

--don

[ThreeHundred]

Oh how I wish Chase was as tall as it appears in that pic. I wish we had some of that stuff going on in Tucson. =\

[Don B.]

^ Thanks.

For people viewing this thread, don't forget to click on the first post of this thread to see the updated skyscraper list.

--don

[ZeroHour]

Your list on the front page Don, what do the colors mean next to the building names? I see some of them are mixed and others are full on yellow or orange, etcetera.

[Don B.]

Orange - never built and/or cancelled
Yellow - vision (not necessarily a real project)
Green - built
Green/Gray - under reconstruction
Green/Blue - under construction
Green/Orange - approved
Red - demolished

--don

[ZeroHour]

Is there somewhere I can go to get more information on why some of those projects were canceled? It's disappointing that so many of those skyscrapers and supertalls never broke ground.

[Don B.]

^ Here you go (I created this today just for you):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/Thestoriesbehindcancelledskyscraper.jpg

--don

[ZeroHour]

Goddamn is that depressing. =( Thanks for making the post though!

I assumed it was NIMBYs who were the main culprits behind a lot of these canceled projects but I could never find anything solid to vindicate that.

[Don B.]

^ Well, be thankful for what we did get out of the ground on this last development cycle (2004-2009) just in downtown Phoenix:

Cityscape, Tower 2, Palomar, 415' and 36 stories
Cityscape, Tower 1, Wachovia Tower, 385' and 26 stories
One Central Park East, 383' and 26 stories
44 Monroe, 380' and 34 stories
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 360' and 32 stories
Criminal Courts Tower, 280' and 16 stories
Summit at Copper Square, 250' and 22 stories
Taylor Place I, 161' and 13 stories
Taylor Place II, 161' and 13 stories

This does not include all of the projects in the Biltmore, Scottsdale and Tempe.

A lot of cities would love to have this type of activity in their downtown core.

--don

[delts145]

Very true Don, Too many people act as if this current down cycle is the end of the world. Downtown Pheonix, Salt Lake and Denver have all seen an incredible amount of activity over the past few years. While things have currently slowed down, there is no doubt that our metro's will once again experience hyper growth. I hope we use this brief rest as a time to prepare for water, and transportation needs etc.

[pbenjamin]

> Toll Brothers: southeast corner of Indian School and Thomas.

You might want to fix that.

[ZeroHour]

^ Well, be thankful for what we did get out of the ground on this last development cycle (2004-2009) just in downtown Phoenix:

Cityscape, Tower 2, Palomar, 415' and 36 stories
Cityscape, Tower 1, Wachovia Tower, 385' and 26 stories
One Central Park East, 383' and 26 stories
44 Monroe, 380' and 34 stories
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 360' and 32 stories
Criminal Courts Tower, 280' and 16 stories
Summit at Copper Square, 250' and 22 stories
Taylor Place I, 161' and 13 stories
Taylor Place II, 161' and 13 stories

This does not include all of the projects in the Biltmore, Scottsdale and Tempe.

A lot of cities would love to have this type of activity in their downtown core.

--don

Oh no I understand. It's just a little frustrating that a handful of people complaining about a construction project are able to have the city toss it out the window then the city letting it continue so that the city can enjoy a plethora of temporary jobs and permanent jobs that it would bring to the city core.

[Don B.]

> Toll Brothers: southeast corner of Indian School and Thomas.

You might want to fix that.

Erf! Good catch...I'll fix that on round II. I thought one thing and typed something else. Toll Brothers was supposed to be on the southeast corner of Central and Thomas. Doh!

This is the kind of review I need...

--don

[Don B.]

A couple of more recent proposals in the Phoenix metro area:

Tempe (Hayden Ferry Tower III, supposedly breaking ground shortly):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/HaydenFerryTowerIII.jpg

Proposed for the southwest corner of Camelback and Central in north central (uptown) Phoenix:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/CornerstoneonCamelback.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/CornerstoneonCamelback3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/CornerstoneonCamelback2.jpg

The new Salt River Indian Reservation casino tower just east of Scottsdale at Chaparral (15 stories, 176 feet), under construction now:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/SaltRiverCasinoArizonaproject.jpg

--don

[HX_Guy]

Cityscape, Tower 2, Palomar, 415' and 36 stories
Cityscape, Tower 1, Wachovia Tower, 385' and 26 stories
One Central Park East, 383' and 26 stories
44 Monroe, 380' and 34 stories
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 360' and 32 stories
Criminal Courts Tower, 280' and 16 stories
Summit at Copper Square, 250' and 22 stories
Taylor Place I, 161' and 13 stories
Taylor Place II, 161' and 13 stories



And don't forget about all the smaller projects as well...

Alta Phoenix - 8 story 354 unit apartment complex
ASU Walter Cronkite School w/ ground floor retail - 6 stories 110'
ASU Nursing Building - 5 stories 70'
215 McKinley - 4 story condos
Portland Place - 8 story condos
Portland 1, 2, & 3 - various condos

I'm sure there are some I'm missing...plus add to all that the new restaurants that have opened up...a net of 15 restaurants just this year.
But wait...there's more! ;) We still have the Aloft hotel (5 stories w/ground floor retail) on the horizon and I assume that the Hotel Monroe renovation will continue sometime in the future.

[Akatosh]

I want to apologize beforehand if this should have gone in a Tempe thread, or if it has already been mentioned beforehand. This is a project for the South Bank of Tempe town lake.

http://www.southbanktempe.com/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/3080775012_e5084d23ae_o.png

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/3081301432_995ae29e95_o.png

[ZeroHour]

I love those buildings in the second picture Don, I hope they come through just like that.

edit; i can't wait for the south bank project, i live in Tempe and will move to the south bank in a heartbeat once it's completed.

[PHX31]

Any chance someone like HX_Guy (because you can post your own pictures) can update this thread. It needs to be revived.

Projects currently under construction in downtown Phoenix:
One Central Park East
CityScape Tower 1 (plus other parts of the development)
Criminal Courts Tower
Alta Phoenix
ASU Nursing School
Civic Space Park with great jellyfish

Heights and such, I'm not exactly sure of.

I may be forgetting something, but others can help out. I'm also leaving out Midtown and the Camelback Corridor/Biltmore and along the light rail line. This is just for downtown.

[giallo]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/HaydenFerryTowerIII.jpg

This one is pretty nice. A great corner development.

[Don B.]

Some updates:

One Central Park East is topped out, and the shell is pretty much complete. Now comes the interior construction.

44 Monroe (the tallest residential tower in Arizona, at 34 stories and 380 feet) still has several units for sale. As long as these remain unsold, the market for downtown condos will remain fairly shallow, if existent at all. The prices are still quite high, as well.

Cityscape Tower 1 (383 feet and 26 stories) is up to about the 16th floor. It will nicely bookend downtown opposite One Central Park East and the crane is starting to poke above nearby structures.

--don

[PhxPavilion]

I know Phoenix is finally beginning to grow up and hopefully will get past that 483 foot curse, lol...

The curse lives on.

44 Monroe (the tallest residential tower in Arizona, at 34 stories and 380 feet) still has several units for sale. As long as these remain unsold, the market for downtown condos will remain fairly shallow, if existent at all. The prices are still quite high, as well.

The prices are the main reason they are not selling, along with an overabundance in much cheaper real estate.

[Paul in S.A TX]

This has to be one of the coolest buildings planned or under construction in the U.S., imo. It would have raised PHx's skyline to another level if it was built downtown.. No more big city pitiful skyline remarks!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/CornerstoneonCamelback.jpg

[Dice]

Too bad Phoenix had so many canceled towers. Did a lot of the cancellations happen pre-recession?

[PhxPavilion]

Most were post.

[Don B.]

^ Almost all cancelled towers failed after the recession began in 2007.

An amazing downtown shot from Flickr (I enhanced the image and rehosted it so I'm not burning up someone else's bandwidth):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/reviseddowntownphotofromFlickr.jpg

Original source: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3561389447_7ae63d84ac_o.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/reviseddowntownphotofromFlickr2.jpg

--don

[combusean]

A rendering of the Criminal Court Tower, 16 floors and 289' hasn't been posted yet in this thread:

http://maricopa.gov/courttower/images/gallery_hmpg.jpg

http://maricopa.gov/courttower/

[combusean]

This has to be one of the coolest buildings planned or under construction in the U.S., imo. It would have raised PHx's skyline to another level if it was built downtown.. No more big city pitiful skyline remarks!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/CornerstoneonCamelback.jpg

This one actually wouldn't have been built downtown, it would have endcapped Uptown 4 miles from downtown proper. There are about 3 or 4 buildings over 150' It was proposed post recession but the developer has no highrise experience and is entitled to be well flipped.

It peaks at 400'. It's not a bad looking building but doesn't really interface with the rest of the neighborhood, tho I like the transit center at the base. Comes with its own LRT stop.

Phoenix's skyline isn't bad if you include Midtown. Its too bad the britches are so big to fill.

http://emvis.net/~sean/ssp/midtown_phoenix_LS.png

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/2569113678_c67519f4c7_o.png

[HX_Guy]

Recent progress...

So here it is!

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/1.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/2.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/3.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/4.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/8.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/5.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/6.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/7.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/9.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/10.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/11.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/12.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/13.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/14.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/15.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/16.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/17.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/18.jpg

http://nitnelav.com/DTJun202009/19.jpg

[Don B.]

^ Nice. :)

--don

[ReDSPork02]

Beutifull Pheonix!!!
I hope u learn from my hoemtowns mistakes.
(L.A.)

[Don B.]

^ Too late for that, unfortunately. Phoenix already covers a slightly larger land area than LA with about 42% of the population.

Since there is no demand for tall skyscrapers over 50 stories in Phoenix, we can only hope for smaller-scale dense infill (e.g. 3 to 7 stories) that will fill up many of the vacant dusty lots that pockmark downtown.

--don

[Don B.]

I'm working on updating this thread. First post partially revised. Stay tuned for more updates! :)

--don

[eburress]

This has to be one of the coolest buildings planned or under construction in the U.S., imo. It would have raised PHx's skyline to another level if it was built downtown.. No more big city pitiful skyline remarks!


Even if these had been built (and in downtown), I think Phoenix still has a ways to go before it would have a skyline consistent with the city's scale. Like others have mentioned, I think a more realistic goal for Phoenix would be to have nice density and fewer parking lots.

[TonyAnderson]

Thanks for the update. I look forward to more.

[delts145]

This has to be one of the coolest buildings planned or under construction in the U.S., imo. It would have raised PHx's skyline to another level if it was built downtown.. No more big city pitiful skyline remarks!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/CornerstoneonCamelback.jpg

I agree Paul, that is a real beauty. I wouldn't worry too much about the future of Phoenix. Like so many robust growth markets, it will rise brighter than ever as soon as the next recovery takes hold. As with many thriving metros, the psyche of Phoenix has changed in regard to urban planning, and many of it's leaders and citizens will continue to build a downtown worthy of it's immense size.

[pablosan]

It is really nice to see some density being developed.

[ThreeHundred]

That first page is horribly depressing.

[Don B.]

^ With all of the cancellations? Yeah, it can be. It gets worse, though, because my table does not account for all of the projects around the valley that have just stopped. Tempe's Centerpoint (outsides mostly complete but still not completed), Chandler's Elevation project (long half-built and stalled) and more.

--don

[Don B.]

New updated table is in the first post of this thread.

--don

[CHAPINM1]

I think there is no need to wish for projects that would only be 3 to 7 floors. We need to think long-term. We will need empty lots for future HIGH RISE demand. Has construction been pretty much dead silent, or would anyone here, especially Don B., be able to tell us otherwise. For a city that is now almost neck and neck in population to Philadelphia and with the new light rail, I'm sure Phoenix's core is bound to become more dense.

[TonyAnderson]

Agreed. That's similar to Houston, which was infamous for its array of parking lots downtown. Now many of those are home to high-rises.

[pbenjamin]

For a city that is now almost neck and neck in population to Philadelphia and with the new light rail, I'm sure Phoenix's core is bound to become more dense.

Phoenix passed Philadelphia 2-3 years ago.

[Don B.]

^ We probably gave it back in the last two years. I would argue that right now, it's a toss-up as to which city has more population - Phoenix or Philly.

--don

[neworleans]

Just my opinion, but i think the metro should be used as measuring the size of a city, because technically it's all merged into one big city. In that case Phoenix has quite a ways to go to catch up to Philly

[neworleans]

Taken on Jan 24
photo by todkat03 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/todkat/4308087314/)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4308087314_6b19993467_b.jpg

[CHAPINM1]

Bump, any new developments on the light rail? What lines are under construction and are there any good photo links?

[neworleans]

flickr photo by stan taylor (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tippiedog/4434113930/)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4434113930_c95aae3615_b.jpg

[SunDevil]

Bump, any new developments on the light rail? What lines are under construction and are there any good photo links?

For now, all expansion of light rail is on hold. I'm just shocked we got the first 20 miles given that the libertarian think-tank the Goldwater Institute's favorite thing to do in the whole world is to fight public spending. Oh, GWI holds a lot of sway in this state btw.

As for development, what has been built already isn't even full, so don't look for too much in the next 5-8 years. :(

[Don B.]

The $187 million Goldwater Sciences (about 7 stories tall) will be breaking ground soon:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/uamedindtnphx.jpg

The 16-story downtown Phoenix courthouse is framing up nicely and should be topped out within a month or two:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/gallery_hmpg.jpg

There's some smaller stuff here and there, but highrise construction is largely at a standstill now.

--don

[TonyAnderson]

Is the first project pictured on campus?

[Don B.]

^ in Downtown Phoenix, yes.

--don

[ThreeHundred]

Off topic a bit but here are pictures of Wrestlemania 26 from UofP Stadium.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4475858416_82ef754a26_b.jpg
jerachow15

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4475491012_2bc0b74ea4_b.jpg
smkimmel19

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4476589704_988812554a_b.jpg
smkimmel19

And the Cardinals need pyro like this.

riVBuZrU69s

[Evil Empire]

The $187 million Goldwater Sciences (about 7 stories tall) will be breaking ground soon:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/don85259/New%20Phoenix%20projects/uamedindtnphx.jpg

Where exactly is that going to be?

[Don B.]

^ Right in downtown Phoenix, just northeast of the main core. 7th Street and Van Buren are the nearest major cross streets.

--don

[ThreeHundred]

Anything new going on?

[davidmperre@gmail.co]

WOW THIS REALLLY SUCKS! LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE AWESOME HIGHRISE BUILDINGS THAT TOOK PROB. TONS OF PLANNING AND MONTH OF DESIGNING AND THEY JUST GET CANCELED!?!?!? ugghh this is really a sad thing too see:(