Around downtown Phoenix *12 MB worth of photos*

HX_Guy · #1 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 7:57 PM**

After the Phoenix AM meeting this morning, I took the opportunity to snap some photos on foot since it wasn't horribly hot yet.

These show off the majority of the projects under construction as well as just some shots around downtown...

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism - already at the 3rd story and pretty short, I'm not sure how this will end up with 110' at only 6 floors.

ASU Dorms

Alta Phoenix

Lot at 1st St and McKinley...looks like it's a staging spot for the ASU Dorms

Hanny's building finally has new glass

Inside Hanny's

School of Journalism and view of the Viad tower that will soon be blocked

My idea of how every sidewalk in downtown Phoenix should be shaded

Inside 15 W Monroe, future Hotel Monroe

Again inside future Hotel Monroe

Down Portland St

The "infamous" new office building at 7th Ave and Van Buren

bwonger06 · #2 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 8:26 PM**

pics arent working, for me at least.

PHX31 · #3 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 8:36 PM**

Damn... awesome sneak previews of Hanny's and the Hotel Monroe (that one is going to be art deco money). The old palm-lined streets of Roosevelt or FQ Story or where ever you are really are handsome.

Nice flicks!

bcp · #4 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 8:59 PM**

wow...great photos and nice to see so much happening in DTP

why is that last building 'infamous'?

#5 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 9:32 PM**

Woohoo lots of fun cranes!!

PHX31 · #6 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 9:35 PM**

Wait...
Based on this picture, are they building both dorm towers at the same time? I thought they were going to build one tower at a time. It looks like there are the beginnings of two separate buildings (and the journalism building is in the background):

HX_Guy · #7 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 9:45 PM**

It's one tower, and an elevator shaft that goes between the buildings I believe plus I believe the middle part between the towers that will house the retail and cafeteria I believe.

HooverDam · #8 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 9:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcp

wow...great photos and nice to see so much happening in DTP

why is that last building 'infamous'?

There was a somewhat brash user on these boards who got very agitated that we were all talking about skyscrapers that may or may not get built, but weren't paying attention to that government office building. We tried to explain that its kind of an uninspired government building that doesn't really have any interesting ground floor retail or street interaction.

Anyway, great shots Hx_Guy. I still can't get over how damned hideous the Sheraton is. Its so freakin' terrible, the colored windows don't exactly do anything for the building either.

HX_Guy · #9 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 9:51 PM**

The worst part of the Sheraton is actually the front face of the tower...I can't even believe it's the front, it looks like the back...yet it isn't. Couldn't they have at least made both to look like the back does with windows running from side to side?

It's like a huge dead wall...

vs.

Jeeper · #10 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 10:02 PM**

Best Phoenix set I've seen in a while. Thanks for sharing.

HX_Guy · #11 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 10:08 PM**

Thanks for the comments...

One other thing I'm noticing is a growing trend is the block wide buildings. What is the story with this? The Hyatt has it, but it is a little "thicker" compared to the new stuff...but the Sheraton, the ASU Dorms, and the upcoming Central Park East all take up a whole city block length wise, plus they all seem to go from east to west. Downtown will end up with wall after wall as you face it from the north it seems.

Why not build on a smaller footprint but go higher, and leave land for future expansion or a second building.

Sekkle · #12 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 10:11 PM**

Nice photos. Thanks. 44 Monroe is a good looking building... especially compared to the Sheraton.

DevdogAZ · #13 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 10:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX31

Wait...
Based on this picture, are they building both dorm towers at the same time? I thought they were going to build one tower at a time. It looks like there are the beginnings of two separate buildings (and the journalism building is in the background):

One will be built fast and ready for occupancy next fall, while the other won't be ready until Fall 2009, but I don't think that necessarily means they won't be working on both at the same time, just that one will be fast tracked.

PHX602 · #14 Posted: **Jul 17, 2007, 10:48 PM**

Great photos. I really like the 2nd shot with the bball court and 44 monroe. Damn that building fills in the skyline so nice!

sundevilgrad · #15 Posted: **Jul 18, 2007, 1:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

This picture should be banned. It makes DT PHX look horribly desolate and short and sprawling!

HooverDam · #16 Posted: **Jul 18, 2007, 1:24 AM**

I meant to ask earlier, is there actually being work done on Hotel Monroe? Or is whats in there right now just old left over stuff? I never seem to see anyone going in or out of there, so I kind of assumed the work hasn't started yet.

HX_Guy · #17 Posted: **Jul 18, 2007, 1:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX602

Great photos. I really like the 2nd shot with the bball court and 44 monroe. Damn that building fills in the skyline so nice!

Yes it was really the perfect place for a high rise on the Phoenix skyline.
If Central Park East goes forward (ground breaking rumored for October 2007), it will rise to the left of Chase about the same height as 44 Monroe and be another great addition to the skyline.

Here is another shot I didn't put up earlier, but it was also taken this morning from the same angle...

HX_Guy · #18 Posted: **Jul 18, 2007, 1:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HooverDam

I meant to ask earlier, is there actually being work done on Hotel Monroe? Or is whats in there right now just old left over stuff? I never seem to see anyone going in or out of there, so I kind of assumed the work hasn't started yet.

Yes, work is on going at 15 E Monroe right now. If you look at the picture above from the inside of the building, you will see that they have placed cardboard over some of the walls and doors and there is tape all over the walls and ceilings. I'm not sure what the purpose of this is, but it's some sort of work.

Also, all the windows are uncovered so you can peek inside now. They used to all be blacked out from the inside.

NorthScottsdale · #19 Posted: **Jul 18, 2007, 2:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Thanks for the comments...

One other thing I'm noticing is a growing trend is the block wide buildings. What is the story with this? The Hyatt has it, but it is a little "thicker" compared to the new stuff...but the Sheraton, the ASU Dorms, and the upcoming Central Park East all take up a whole city block length wise, plus they all seem to go from east to west. Downtown will end up with wall after wall as you face it from the north it seems.

Why not build on a smaller footprint but go higher, and leave land for future expansion or a second building.

I dont know for sure and im just guessing here, but id think they are building wider buildings that face north and south for energy reasons. in the summer especially, thats less building that is exposed to sunlight in the morning and afternoon, so it would probably be way more energy efficient.

great pics btw

Upward · #20 Posted: **Jul 18, 2007, 3:29 AM**

Nice. I replied to your duplicate thread in City Photos as well.