Radiate PHX's three-year anniversary is Tuesday
Catrina Knoebl’s monthly get-togethers bring downtown builders, business owners, activists, writers and thinkers to talk about the area’s future.
Tomorrow night marks the group’s third anniversary. The site is Cibo, at 5th Avenue and Fillmore, which among other things has great pizza. A note about the meeting on the Rail Life blog is here.
8:15 AM
Regency House recall: High rise trouble!
The Regency House is the residential high-rise on Central just north of the Heard Museum.
The building, a condominium, is facing an unpleasant situation: More than five million dollars (!) of long-deferred maintenance.
After months, if not years, of discussion, the building’s board finally figured out a plan, and announced assessments to pay for it.
They ranged from $40,000 to $70,000 for each unit, depending on size.
Said one resident: “The only thing I fear more than their setting the assessments was not setting the assessments”—i.e., avoiding the problem further.
One of the stereotypes about condo owners in town, which may or may not be justified, is that they lean toward the senior citizen side, demographically, and these folks, being on fixed incomes, vociferously oppose increases in the homeowner fees.
Over years and then many decades, as the fees stay low and maintenance is deferred, the buildings become vulnerable—and the residents become even more opposed to taking on the job, given the large expenditures involved.
All that said, you can still imagine the fix folks there are in, particularly in this housing market.
It’s particularly a nightmare for people who just can’t afford the assessment, even with a loan … they’d have to sell their units, taking a huge financial loss both by having to sell in this climate and still having to eat the assessment.
So what happened at the Regency House after the board came up with a plan to, finally, face reality and make the needed repairs?
Then residents announced a recall campaign against the board.
And Tuesday night, they recalled three members of it.
9:10 PM
Is a CVS drugstore downtown a big deal or not?
The store’s opening in the downtown development known as CityScape occasioned a big ceremony and something approaching a crowd yesterday, the RailLife blog reports](http://raillife.com/blog/2010/07/27/selling-drugs-on-light-rail/):
So, the big grand opening at the new CityScape CVS Pharmacy was this week and a whole slew of paparazzi, politicians and local folk gathered to celebrate the occasion. It was interesting to talk with some of the people that came to the opening. For the politicians and super-cool movers and shakers it seemed to have the air of “look what we are doing” down here.
The writer, Nick Bastian, goes on to say that he wasn’t impressed (yet), for reasons you can read on his post.
The CVS drug stores out here are, I"ve noticed, oddly clean, spacious, well-lit and friendly. My experience with them in the past has been on the east coast, where they are none of those things, and widely hated as a result.
That said, a place to buy a half-gallon of milk downtown has to be seen as a major landmark—and remember, this is a full half mile south of the Public Market.
7:03 AM
A few shots from the Pride Parade
Phoenix is odd when it comes to gay issues. I hang out downtown as much as most people, but can’t remember seeing a single hint this week it was Pride Week, or that the parade was Saturday.
Gays don’t exist here in a “don’t ask don’t tell” way, but it does seem as if there are unspoken rules about getting too noticeable.
Anyway, the parade wasn’t off the hook or anything, but fun. A few pix:
Dykes on Bikes
Rodney Glassman is a Tucson city councilperson who may be the Democratic candidate for Senate in the fall. He had the biggest presence of any pol in the parade. Mayor Gordon rode on a Wells Fargo wagon; Krysten Sinema, Ken Clark, Ken Chevront and Ed Pastor were other ones I noticed.
One of the more creative groups.
This was as racy as it got.
A bears film group. The idea, I think, was that they were movie zombies.
PHXated salues PFLAG!
8:41 AM
PHXations—Wednesday, March 17
Coming up on Saturday: The Downtown Phoenix Festival of the Arts at Heritage Square. Fifteen dollars ($10 in advance) gets you something called a “painting duel” amongst Kyle Jordre, Ken Peloke, Taylor Swick, and Gabe Sandoval; some fashion shows; a flamenco dance performance by Lena and Chris Jacome; various bands; a film festival of some sort; and more.
It runs from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Heritage Square, which is on East Monroe between 6th and 7th streets. The presenters are Artlink (which oversees First Friday and Art Detour), the Volunteer Legal Assistance for Artists, First Fridays in Heritage Square, and the Rosson House Museum. There’s a blog on the fest here, but it doesn’t have much more information.
10:32 PM
The NYT on Phoenix's downtown commercial real estate market. Prognosis: Dim
Deep in the NYT biz section today is a bleak look at Phoenix’s downtown real estate market?:
Commercial brokers blame a confluence of factors for the worst downturn in memory: rampant overbuilding, a national economic crisis, spiking unemployment and a near halt in population growth. The result is visible all over the city in the form of empty storefronts and “for lease” signs affixed to office buildings.
The worst-off of these projects were built in marginal locations on the outskirts of the metropolitan area, and stand completely empty months and even years after completion.
Mentioned specifically is the Hotel Monroe …:
Started in 2006, its plans were extravagant even by the bloated standards of the bubble era. The 144-room boutique hotel was to be housed in a rehabilitated 12-story Art Deco office building from the 1930s and would include opulent “Rock Star” suites, a five-star restaurant, a rooftop nightclub and 24-hour room service.
Construction began in 2007 but ground to a halt a year later when the project’s banker, Mortgages Ltd. — for a short time, Arizona’s largest private lender — cut off financing, en route to its own bankruptcy. The hotel remains unfinished, with dark windows and a desolate mien; Grace Communities, its developer, was recently cited by the City of Phoenix for code violations including graffiti on exterior walls and trash and debris around the premises.
When or how the hotel will be finished is uncertain, as the building is in foreclosure and headed to a trustee’s sale in April. There, 13 investors will try to recoup $76.5 million in loans, though experts say the building is unlikely to fetch anywhere near that amount.
… and the Viad Corporate Center:
…a 24-story, 478,000-square-foot high-rise in midtown Phoenix, which was built in 1991 and bought for an estimated $105 million in 2006. Earlier this month, Bank of America filed a motion in court to appoint a receiver for the property, citing the failure of the building’s owner to stay current on a $65 million loan.
Bank of America’s move to foreclose on the tower is one prominent sign that lenders are losing patience with large commercial borrowers and are stepping up efforts to resolve problem loans behind big properties. Commercial mortgages in Phoenix are souring at their highest rate in years: according to Foresight Analytics, a banking analysis firm, 5.3 percent of commercial mortgages in the metro area were delinquent in the fourth quarter of 2009, up from 2.3 percent at the same period in 2008.
8:02 PM
A new grocery store downtown, presumably an AJ's
UPDATE: PHXated was 100 percent wrong about the grocery store downtown; it’s not an AJ’s, but rather an outpost of a Northern California operation called Oakville Grocery.
Release below:
For Immediate Release:
February 22, 2010
CITYSCAPE GROCERY STORE BACK ON TRACKOakville Grocery Co. to become city’s signature downtown grocery
PHOENIX – The long awaited grocery store for downtown Phoenix is back on track. CityScape project developer, RED Development, announced today that the operator of the Oakville Grocery in Scottsdale has signed a lease and will move into space at the corner of Jefferson and Central Avenue in September of 2010. Oakville replaces AJ’s Fine Foods, whose plans to be at the project were derailed by bankruptcy court proceeding involving Bashas’ Supermarkets Inc.
“Having a grocery store component in CityScape has always been a top priority,” said Mike Ebert, managing partner for RED Development. “Oakville is a first-rate grocery store that provides the city with an exciting new resource that fills a fundamental need for people who live and work downtown. Oakville is a strong addition to our project and we are very happy to have them. It’s time for a downtown grocery and we think people are going to be just as excited as we are when they see what Oakville is all about.”
Oakville, which originated in California’s Napa Valley, will occupy space CityScape on the western-most block of the project as a part of the 750,000 square feet being developed in Phase I. The store will open this September.“We are pretty selective about where we go” said Janell Freeman of Oakville. “CityScape is bringing new life to downtown Phoenix and we are thrilled to be a part of it. The project has world-class design and amenities and it is located at the center of downtown in the nation’s fifth-largest city. It’s the kind of place we want to be and we will do our part to make CityScape a destination for downtown and the center of the neighborhood for people who live and work in downtown Phoenix.”
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon complimented CityScape’s team for its “patient tenacity” in securing an urban grocery.
“It’s no secret that a 24/7 lifestyle in downtown Phoenix requires basic amenities like a grocery store,” said Mayor Gordon. “This is a tremendous accomplishment and what makes it even more exciting is the high quality product that Oakville will bring to the city. Everyone who lives, works, or visits downtown will benefit.”
CityScape is a 1.8 million square foot mixed use urban project located at the very center of Downtown Phoenix, between Washington and Jefferson from 2nd Street to 1st Avenue. In its first phase, opening on two blocks this Spring. CityScape will include more than 620,000 square feet of Class A office, approximately 180,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and nearly 2,700 below-grade parking spaces.
- # #
About RED Development, LLC
RED Development, formed in 1995, develops, leases, manages and owns real estate developments in rapidly growing communities throughout the Midwestand Southwest. RED has 30 centers open, in development, or under construction, totaling nearly 19 million square feet. Within the industry, RED has earned a reputation for delivering as promised and creating strong relationships with its tenants, communities and business partners. RED has nearly 200 employees and is co-headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Kansas City, Mo.To learn more, visit www.reddevelpment.com.
About Oakville
For over 120 years the original Oakville Grocery has been the “little country store” in the heart of Napa Valley, attracting visitors from near and far with its special charm. The Phoenix store will feature wonderful, handmade local products from our neighbors in Arizona as well as in Napa and Sonoma. Along with delicious made-to-order sandwiches, gourmet cheeses and charcuterie, we offer a wide array of prepared foods for your party or picnic needs. You will also find our shelves lined with specialty items which include local olive oils and vinegars, unique mustards, marinades and handmade preserves. To learn more, visit us at: http://www.oakvillegroceryarizona.com
Mayor Gordon is going to be at a noon press conference today to announce a grocery store in the big CityScape development at Central and Washington. I assume its a*n AJ’s:
MEDIA ADVISORY
[…]
WHAT: News conference to announce opening of new grocery store at CityScapeRepresentatives from CityScape and RED Development will join Mayor Phil Gordon to announce a new and much anticipated tenant that will become the city’s signature downtown grocery. It will move into the space at the southeast corner of Patriot’s Square block.
WHO: Mayor Phil Gordon
Mike Ebert, Managing Partner, RED Development
WHEN: 12 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22
WHERE: CityScape – Office Tower, third floor, Central Avenue and Washington Street
30About RED Development, LLC
RED Development, formed in 1995, develops leases, manages and owns real estate developments in rapidly growing communities throughout the Midwest and Southwest. RED has 30 centers open, in development, or under construction, totaling nearly 19 million square feet. Within the industry, RED has earned a reputation for delivering as promised and creating strong relationships with its tenants, communities and business partners. RED has nearly 200 employees and is co-headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Kansas City, Mo. To learn more, visit www.reddevelpment.com. [sic: it’s actually www.reddevelopment.com]
5:23 PM
Pecha Kucha in PHX this weekend
Pecha Kuchas are another one of these presentation-slam-style events, where folks get to expatiate on an idea or project they are working on, using a set amount of power-point slides and a limited time frame. (Others are TED and Ignite.)
This variant was started in Japan and has its roots in the architecture community. As part of a worldwide benefit for those hurt by the earthquake in Haiti, there’s a 24-hour web cast of Pecha Kucha presentations from around the globe Saturday.
Phoenix is participating as well; according to the local organizers, locals will have a ten-minute window in the web cast sometime between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m..
They will be broadcast from a viewing party at the Urban Beans Coffeehouse, 3508 North 7th Street, which runs from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m..
Facebook page here.
8:31 PM
PHXations—Wednesday, January 27
How the Arizona Republic sucks, no. 434 in a series:
In the Northeast Phoenix zoned section, a story—stretched out, astonishingly, over two pages—about a Starbucks inside the Camelback Inn. A hotel that sells coffee. Stop the presses. It’s not fair to ridicule the reporter who wrote the thing. The real culprit is the craven editor who assigned it, and the other who published it.
AT&T says it’s upgrading its 3G network in Phoenix, PV, and Carefree and Cave Creek, Beth Duckett of the the Republic reports. The story details the new areas, one of which covers a major chunk of downtown—good news for iPhone users.
Readers may have noticed the PHXated’s redesign and reconstruction, these done by Steven Southard. The process disrupted the old RSS feed, but it works fine if you resubscribe.
At the RadiatePHX get-together at Hula’s Modern Tiki on Central last night, representatives of CityScape, the massive, nearly $1 billion mixed-use development at Central and Washington downtown, gave an upbeat overview of the project. You can read about it on the site’s site, here. The representative confirmed there would be a CVS pharmacy on the site. He said there would be a grocery, but couldn’t name the replacement for AJ’s yet. Finally, he did give this tantalizing hint, of a “surprise” “entertainment venue” overseen by a “local person.”
6:14 PM