David Krietor has served as CEO of the newly-formed Downtown Phoenix, Inc. (“DPI”) since April 8, 2013. In that time, he has begun work with community stakeholders to develop the downtown we want. “Your Downtown” shares his thoughts and DPI’s progress with the downtown community and beyond. Read the other chats here.
While the weather remained wildly unpredictable in other parts of the country these past few weeks (i.e., snow, hail, wind, twisters), Phoenicians enjoyed sunny skies and balmy temperatures enough to hold many Valley Bike Month, Phoenix Urban Design Week, and Earth Day events in the great outdoors. Even Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton led hundreds of cyclists around downtown on Bike to Work Day. Time to get your GRID on…
Home Sweet Home
According to the Arizona Republic, “For the first time, metro Phoenix is growing up more rapidly than out. A record number of high-rise, townhouse, and loft housing developments are shooting up in central Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe, and selling out quickly. Condominium sales are climbing faster than regular home sales in the Valley, a reversal of the region’s growth pattern since the 1950s.” People seem to characterize downtown as “cool” or “hot.” For us longtime advocates this is a really exciting time.
- 44 Monroe, Arizona’s tallest residential building, sells for $51M
- Building a vision for downtown living
- Roosevelt Row highlights downtown’s growing pains
- Shipping container housing in Baton Rouge? It’s happening in Phoenix
Developing Stories
- APS buys Phoenix land for new downtown, midtown substations
- Banner Health’s new headquarters may give boost to midtown
- Big plans in works for Hance Park downtown
- Grand Avenue hosts street cleanup in hopes of revitalization
- New south Phoenix Park-and-Ride connects commuters with downtown
- Roosevelt Row shipping container art galleries in downtown to move
- Uber won’t confirm downtown “Global Command Center”
- Valley cities work to fight blight along stretches of Grand Avenue
Innovation Hub
- Girls in Tech national conference held downtown
- Innovation-focused companies fuel downtown, midtown growth
- Innovative, independent entrepreneurship grows downtown, in the Valley
- Phoenix High Tide announces 5 new downtown startups
- Phoenix on its way to becoming a tech hub
Transformative Arts
Each spring, the Phoenix New Times Big Brain Awards recognizes 15 emerging creative individuals in the areas of Culinary Art, Design, Music, Performing Art, and Visual Art. This year’s winners (one from each category) were announced on Saturday, May 9, at Monarch Theatre during Artopia, the New Times’ annual soiree of art, music, food, and drinks. In other downtown art related news…
Creating architectural memories- Downtown band, Black Bottom Lighters, celebrate release of first album
- Focus. Flash. Phoenix: Ineffable Artifacts
- Latina-owned ad agency christens downtown studio, gallery & culture lab
- Midtown museums benefit from recent large gifts
- New downtown exhibit, “El Sabor,” celebrates influence of Latin music
- Phoenix arts leaders celebrate 30 years of progress, look to future
- PHXFLAMEnco launches monthly arts and entertainment programs
- Steven Tepper talks about how ASU art students are changing downtown
- Third Friday becoming more than great works and art lovers out and about
New Food Spots
- DeSoto Central Market displays variety of cuisines, with more to come
- New Phoenix food truck focuses on French fries
- New life for old downtown church; plans include restaurants and the arts
- Short Leash hosts Pinewood Derby for adults in downtown
- Songbird re-opening pleases customers in century old downtown house
- Valley Bar, new music venue opening, hiring in downtown
- Vote for Ripe Awards up-and-coming chefs, spirit maker, and bartender
- Wednesday downtown open air market to move, expand to Thursdays
Problem Solving
- County OKs contract to shelter homeless sleeping in lot
- Our homeless deserve more than a parking lot
- Phoenix fights blight with plastic windows
- Phoenix named among America’s least bike-friendly cities
- Two openly-gay pastors aim for inclusion downtown
Mark Your Calendars
Finally, here’s a sampling of upcoming events and activities in our downtown for you to mark your calendar and share with friends, family, and associates:
- Urban Wine Walk, May 16
- Slide the City, May 16
- Creative Placemaking: Transforming Communities Through the Arts, May 20
In Closing
Over at the ASU downtown Phoenix campus, student journalists with Cronkite News and the Cronkite Public Insight Network Bureau want to understand how the downtown Phoenix community sees itself. Through an online survey, they’re asking downtown stakeholders what they would like to see happen in our city. They’re asking how city leaders, business owners, community leaders, residents, and the media can best discuss the issues that concern everyone the most. If you have a connection to downtown Phoenix, feel free to share your thoughts here.
Featured image courtesy of Downtown Phoenix Inc.
