February 10, 2010
CENTRAL LIVING
The Future of Phoenix
The Future of Phoenix
Once upon a time, this city was all about the suburbs.
But Phoenix is changing.
Today, more and more forward-thinking Phoenicians seek a connected urban existence, complete with varied culture, the pulse of city living, and much shorter commutes.
The renaissance of downtown Phoenix started a long time ago. Many credit Jerry Colangelo, former owner of the Suns, for catalyzing its earliest beginnings with two major sports facilities: Chase Field for the Diamondbacks and the US Airways Center for the Suns. These key attractions restored downtown Phoenix as a destination.
In recent years, the vitality in downtown Phoenix goes a lot further than game night. The Phoenix Convention Centre – an impressive 900,000 sq. ft. facility – has played had a strong hand in bolstering the downtown economy. And ASU’s downtown campus, which includes the much-celebrated Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, has had a sizable impact, raising the profile of the area with a number of rebuilt and restored buildings, and bringing a whole new generation to the core of the city.
The Light Rail has been a big factor, too, connecting outlying areas with downtown Phoenix seamlessly. Ridership on the LRT topped 1 million in the first four months – much higher than expected. The city is clearly embracing the line.
City Hall has played a big part in the growth of the area. The Mayor has long been a stalwart supporter of a strong urban core. His stewardship has paid off: even in the face of the global recession, downtown Phoenix was the only area in Arizona to post positive growth for new businesses in 2008.
The Mayor has also outlined a very ambitious green plan for central Phoenix, stating his intent to make Phoenix one of the greenest cities in the U.S. (The core of this plan is the strip that runs one block from Central Avenue in either direction; One Lexington is right in the middle of all this progressive development.)
And businesses have been springing up indeed. Restaurants (a few dozen this year alone), cafes, bars, boutiques, galleries, and specialty shops have been setting up shop all over central Phoenix – especially in areas that take advantage of the Light Rail line.
Perhaps the strongest indicator of the move toward a more urban existence in Phoenix is First Fridays – a hugely popular art walk along Roosevelt Row, between Central Ave and Third. (If you’ve never heard of First Fridays, there’s a quick run-down of the downtown art walk here.) The event has been growing exponentially in the last few years, and recently annexed nearby Heritage Square. It’s probably the best place to get a sense of the appetite in Phoenix for vibrant urban culture.
Of course, an evening out to see the Diamondbacks or the Suns is still a big anchor for the downtown experience. And when you’re looking for something a little more refined, cultural icons like the Herberger Theatre, the Phoenix Art Museum, the Symphony showcase the arts in Phoenix beautifully. (All of these venues – and of course, a lot more – are only a short ride away from One Lexington on the Light Rail.)
Change is certainly in the air. Plenty of people are taking notice, watching the growth of downtown Phoenix carefully.
One thing is clear: Central living in Phoenix is already an attractive option – and looking better all the time. Those who get in now will be in an excellent position.
There’s a lot more to the story. Keep an eye on these blogs for more about every facet of the central Phoenix experience:
http://downtownphoenixjournal.com
http://radiatephx.ning.com
http://www.cenpho.com
http://ncano.personal.asu.edu/wordpress/
http://www.downtownphoenix.com/
