A historically designated building at 441 W Madison in South Downtown Phoenix is being transformed into an Event Center.  Malcolm and Pearle Marrs who own the building and operated a business at the property for nearly forty years are turning the 12,000 sq ft, single story, brick building into an Event Center. 

read more about the new Venue at azcentral.com

to inquire about renting the facility, send an e-mail to madisoneventcenter@gmail.com or call 602 258 1189

Top Photo is courtesy of Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic

Bottom Photo is courtesy of Lyle Plocher/Downtown Phoenix Journal

Ride your bike to work or take the bus or in a few months, the Light Rail, then if you need a car for an hour or two or for a day, grab a Zipcar.  A car-sharing service called Zipcar is expanding to the ASU Downtown Campus this month which allows members to rent a Zipcar by the hour for $9 or by the day for $65. 

read more about it at azcentral.com or visit www.zipcar.com

This isn't breaking news but for those of you who haven't heard, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership is moving from their current location in the Mercado to the U.S. Bank Center at 101 N First Ave.  The DPP provides services for the businesses located within Copper Square.  The guys and girls in the bright Orange shirts you see on the streets of Downtown Phoenix, called Ambassadors, will be in a ground floor suite it looks like where they will be visible to the public and the Execs will be on the 14th Floor.  Read more about the move at Jahna Berry's Blog

The move won't take place till November so don't run over to the new location looking for the orange shirted Ambassadors just yet.

Mayor Phil Gordon held his monthly Business Coffee this morning at Mi Amigo's in the Arizona Center.  The coffee was free, the restaurant provided a buffet which was free but donations were accepted.  (That was really classy- hats off to the owner and staff at Mi Amigo's - I don't know the owner but he was very gracious - they don't have a breakfast menu but hopefully they will open for Breakfast in the near future)

Anyway, this was by far the best attended Mayor's Coffee gathering thus far (100 to 150 in attendance), probably in part due to the subject matter which was "Metro Light Rail - with a presentation by Metro Light Rail CEO Rick Simonetta.  I have to say I was impressed with Rick's presentation and with hearing his background.  Rick, who was involved with bringing light rail to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics, said our system will be finished "on budget and on time" which is rare in the light rail world.  He also said that our light rail system is the "nations largest, most complex, starter line ever built".

The Mayor was his usual upbeat, visionary self. 

check out a video of this morning's presentation

Photo was taken with a cell phone camera sorry!

From Jahna Berry's Blog at azcentral.com, dated Friday, August 1st, 2008

Crews will begin pouring cement on Monday for the first office tower in a $900 million downtown Phoenix project, the developer says.

Nearly 2,000 cubic yards of concrete will become the foundation for One East Washington, one of several buildings planned for the sprawling CityScape complex.

CityScape is a three-block cluster of shops, offices, condos and apartments that will be built in phases over several years, according to developer RED Development. The site is bound by First Avenue, Second Street, Washington Street and Jefferson Street.

Wachovia Corp. plans to be the anchor tenant in One East Washington. The 27-story high-rise will be complete in December 2009, said Jenny Burbach, a spokeswoman for RED.

CityScape is a key part of an ongoing city effort to invigorate downtown Phoenix

A 1925 built warehouse on Grand Ave is now home to a local Company, Phoenix Iron Furniture, that makes hand-crafted iron, indoor/outdoor casual furniture.  They also make customized gates, doors, stairways and other miscellaneous items.  Their property on Grand is an indoor/outdoor showroom. 

The Founder of the Company, Javier Ortiz apparently is intimately involved in the manufacturing of the furniture. 

A quote from the website:

"My Father began designing metal in 1949. He taught my brothers and me; 'The white hot heat from the forge gives the iron its sole, but it’s the hammer and the bending that creates the beauty for the eyes to behold.'
If you can dream it I can make it.”

Javier Ortiz
Phoenix Iron Furniture

They're located at 1209 W Grand.  Sounds like these guys are going to be a great addition to the street.

Stop by and check them out and welcome them to the neighborhood!

Phoenix Iron Furniture website

Central Phoenix now has it's very own Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market at the SE Corner of 7th Ave & Indian School. 

The Central Phoenix location is the 67th U.S. store to open and Fresh & Easy CEO Tim Mason as well as several City of Phoenix dignitaries were on hand this morning for the Grand Opening. 

At roughly 10,000 square feet, Fresh & Easy markets are smaller than the typical supermarket to give customers a faster, easier shopping experience. In addition to fresh, prepared meals and produce, Fresh & Easy offers everyone’s favorite national brand products and household items, all at everyday low prices.

Each store employs approximately 20 to 30 people. All Fresh & Easy employees are given the opportunity to work at least 20 hours per week, which entitles them to comprehensive and affordable healthcare. Entry-level positions start at $9 an hour in Arizona, with similarly competitive salaries in other states, and offer a quarterly bonus of up to 10% and a 401(K) with company match.

I was able to roam around the store today before they opened to the public and take some photos, check the place out, etc.  I have to say I was impressed.  The phrase "neat and tidy" comes to mind in referring to the Fresh & Easy store.  Everything was so well organized and convenient.

Fresh & Easy's parent company is UK Based Tesco PLC.

Fresh and Easy website

Fresh and Easy Blog

As many of you have heard, the Legislature and President have now signed into law the INABILITY to do ZERO DOWN FHA LOANS as part of their RECOVERY PACKAGE.

Obviously, this does not appear to help in the RECOVERY of the Housing Market, as there will be fewer buyers to purchase the inventory-laden homes on the market.

However, the GOOD NEWS is that there is time to still purchase with ZERO DOWN FHA.  The window should be open for up to Sept, and possibly Oct, with loan submissions in by the end of Sept.

I already am working on a solution for buyers after this date to be able to purchase 0 DOWN, using FHA's quality loan program.  If you are interested in any information regarding the above topic, with which I'm familiar, please do not hesitate to ask.

Blessings and God's best to you and this country as we navigate through the interesting new laws and watch the results of our Congressmen and Congresswomen.

Andrew Schmidt Nations Home Funding, Inc. BK0905991

ACSchmidt4@aol.com  602-371-8600

Dash Bushes aim to show diversity

by Sadie Jo Smokey/The Arizona Republic - July 29th

It's hard to miss the vibrant blue and green buses driving around downtown.

This week, Mayor Phil Gordon, with the Phoenix Department of Transit, introduced the new DASH buses and routes. Gordon and Transit Director Debbie Cotton installed new blue and green DASH signs at the Central Station near Van Buren Street and Central Avenue.

"My favorite is the snack-themed bus representing all our restaurants and bakeries," Gordon said,

The nine 30-foot-long DASH buses, with their white graphics of pizza slices, steaming cups of coffee and women carrying cellphones and briefcases, better represent the robust diversity of businesses, services and eateries located between Seventh Street and 19th Avenue, and Portland and Jackson streets, Cotton said.

Cotton, who wore a lime green sweater to match the new "hot, fabulous looking, modern" buses, said the expanded DASH routes are more inclusive.

"A circulator (bus) is part of a vibrant downtown," Cotton said. "We've been building the transit system for a number of years. The mayor wanted us to include ASU, UA, the neighborhoods. It's going to link people to where they want to go."

DASH, with its Government Loop and Downtown Loop, connects riders to various downtown destinations, bus stops and future light-rail stops. The free service runs 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays, with extended service on the green Downtown Loop until 8:30 p.m.

Photo is courtesy of John Severson/The Arizona Republic

The 26 story, sleek new Office Tower at Central & Van Buren is taking shape.  The 800,000 sq ft building encompasses an elegant composition of articulated glass and steel, the office tower offers a combination of Class A office space, retail areas and on-site parking. Building orientation maximizes views in all directions, featuring offices with nine-foot floor-to-ceiling glass to provide stunning and dramatic panoramas of the city and mountain ranges.

Designed and engineered to withstand the intense southwestern climate, high-performance glazing and exterior sun shading devices promote maximum vision and daylight. The use of regional and renewable materials combined with native landscaping, the tower is designed to meet LEED standards. State-of-the-art building systems create a superior indoor environment focused on health and well-being.

One Central Park East was designed by the SmithGroup, more information

Leasing is being handled by CB Richard Ellis Leasing Information

Construction Photo is courtesy of Lyle Plocher

Renderings of the building are courtesy of the SmithGroup