Phoenix Development News

[Don B.]

I have revised and updated the Phoenix projects list for May - now at over 100 projects - the highest number ever!



Here's Will Bruder's 700-foot "vision" for downtown Phoenix:



--don

[wilycoyote24]

Where did you hear about this "vision" building? Is it nothing more than an example of what he would build there if he could?

[urban_wonk]

I remember when a Don with a rather important alliance told me a few years ago that Phoenix needed to get these projects "in the ground" before the momentum was lost. Well, I look at the Arizona Republic articles on the slowing housing front, the huge inventory of homes available (40,000+), rising interest rates and huge consumer debt funded with ARMs and home equity, and I wonder whether we will even see 20% of these projects built. Even worse, the land speculation has gone from bad, past worse, to nearly impossible. When weenies like Leon are advertising their land at $290/sf - something is very, very wrong.

Yes, we will most likely hit the doldrums again like the late eighties, early ninties, and the speculators who bought land will hold their prices for the whole time and nothing more will be built except what is either already under construction or government funded (ASU & City of Phoenix).

Mayor Phil should identify a development district where he can tax the empty parcels at the highest and best-use value to either force the construction or sale at a loss so the properties will deflate to the point where developers can actually afford to build what is appropriate for the cycle of urbanization that the city is in right now. Luxury, luxury, luxury just will not make it here right now. Develop work-force housing where a familiy does not need a combined income of $80k+ just to afford 800sf.

Tempe has a critical mass of people on the street due to ASU and one day downtown Phoenix may have the same. Until then, critical mass has to be enticed with homes that the average person/family can afford. Otherwise, the Luxury buyer who wants a walkable urban experience with choose Keirland, Scottsdale, or even Tempe (with water views).

We didn't get the projects in the ground fast enough because the land was already over valued and is now out of sight. This has to change before we come out of the slide that we are heading into.

Thoughts?

[Krasna Sreča]

There is a reason why Scottsdale homes are so expensive, I'm not going to go into it because its offensive. But south Scottsdale has homes ranging from 200k.

I live in north Scottsdale so houses here are 550k +
When we bought our house it was 750k, we added a pool and redid the back as well as expanded and paraping parapbum its worth 1.2 mil.

Personally I'm happy with the prices in Scottsdale, that way we don't have just anybody snooping around and getting in.

[Don B.]

^ Where are you at? I live in north Scottsdale as well and have the exact same situation. We paid $721k in Oct. 2004 and put in a backyard, pool and spa, and now it is worth $1.2 million.

--don

[Krasna Sreča]

Shea and 132nd street.

[SDfan]

Good list, but Good luck.

Phoenix will be great in the coming years.

[Don B.]

Originally Posted by arêteixion

Shea and 132nd street.

Wow! I'm just 1 mile east of you. Go up Via Linda to the very end and that's my street (Hidden Hills, Phase II), the last housing in Scottsdale before you get to Fountain Hills.

You may be in Desert Orchid, that subdivision northeast of Via Linda and 132nd Street. I know you aren't in Rio Montana because there's nothing in there over $1 million.

You are not likely south of Shea because most houses in there are $2 million or more.



--don

[Krasna Sreča]

Originally Posted by Don B.

Wow! I'm just 1 mile east of you. Go up Via Linda to the very end and that's my street (Hidden Hills, Phase II), the last housing in Scottsdale before you get to Fountain Hills.

You may be in Desert Orchid, that subdivision northeast of Via Linda and 132nd Street. I know you aren't in Rio Montana because there's nothing in there over $1 million.

You are not likely south of Shea because most houses in there are $2 million or more.



--don

Lol good sum up

But yah close to there. We might be moving down to 115th or something like that, I cant remember, It's like these huge houses, like 3 houses per land area and each 3 have a huge gate, its pretty neat. I'll take pics sometime and show.

[nobleman]

Here's some news I thought you'd like me to post.

Developer seeks city's help in building high-rise complex

PHOENIX Phoenix has agreed to negotiate with developers that want to build a nearly one (b) billion dollar mixed use project downtown.
The proposed high-rise development contains four towers, about 12-hundred condos and up to 100-thousand square feet for a public plaza.

It would also include a 150-room boutique hotel, retail and office space.

If it's successful, the ambitious proposal would be the largest infusion of private dollars in downtown Phoenix.

One problem -- backers say they don't think it'll work without Phoenix's help.

Neither city economic development officials nor the project's backers would be specific about what Phoenix might have to do.

The Arizona Republic reports the talks could focus on everything from city-supported parking to tax subsidies.

[Krasna Sreča]

This thread is so dead O_o

[FLAWDA-FELLA]

Wow, I didn't know that Phoenix had sooo many projects on the table. For a city that is in the top 10 in the U.S. as far as population goes, I think it is definitely time for the skyline to reflect that fact. Way to go Phoenix!!!

[mohammed wong]

Originally Posted by arêteixion

Lol good sum up

But yah close to there. We might be moving down to 115th or something like that, I cant remember, It's like these huge houses, like 3 houses per land area and each 3 have a huge gate, its pretty neat. I'll take pics sometime and show.

And people wonder why the phoenix development thread is so dead.
When its own members arent supporting downtown growth by buying condos and living there.

Nope they are buying huge garage mahals with big ostentatious gates.
Sounds pretty nouveau riche to me, and very gaudy.

[Don B.]

^ That's nice. Thank you for your time.

--don

[Krasna Sreča]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

And people wonder why the phoenix development thread is so dead.
When its own members arent supporting downtown growth by buying condos and living there.

Nope they are buying huge garage mahals with big ostentatious gates.
Sounds pretty nouveau riche to me, and very gaudy.

Why would I want to live in downtown? Its too noisy, that area is for business and plus most homes sell out fast down there.

and for the other sentence, ok there!

[wilycoyote24]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

And people wonder why the phoenix development thread is so dead.
When its own members arent supporting downtown growth by buying condos and living there.

Nope they are buying huge garage mahals with big ostentatious gates.
Sounds pretty nouveau riche to me, and very gaudy.

Its dead because people like you make this website worse than others. So, many of the people here use another site to post actual development news.

[The Urban Politician]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

And people wonder why the phoenix development thread is so dead.
When its own members arent supporting downtown growth by buying condos and living there.

Nope they are buying huge garage mahals with big ostentatious gates.
Sounds pretty nouveau riche to me, and very gaudy.

^ Why are you so angry at Phoenix, Wong?

A lot of your criticisms also apply to LA, a city which you defend so vehemently. Sheesh

[mohammed wong]

^Cuz phoenix isnt fit for human habitation, I lived there and suffered thru the ungodly heat and despair.
and Los Angeles has perfect weather and much more history than Phoenix,
and is destined to become a denser city very very soon, as there is no more land to develop.
LA is also just plain interesting, and extremely diverse.
There is no comparison between the two, Phoenix has no saving graces.

I also love the saguaro cactus,
I sure dont want the joshua tree fucked up though and hopefully it wont.
LA will build up plain and simple,
its a place worth living. Phoenix isnt.
Urbs you would choose LA over Phoenix anyday.

I havent seen you active in the Newyork file urb,
Im interested in seeing what you think about whats going on in Newyork
and your impressions.

[mohammed wong]

Originally Posted by arêteixion

Why would I want to live in downtown? Its too noisy, that area is for business and plus most homes sell out fast down there.

and for the other sentence, ok there!

huh?
excuses, excuses. too noisy? that downtown is pretty dead most of the time,
have you been there? did you see the recent photo expose posted here? it was down right desolate. Downtown only being for business is an antiquated backward notion held onto tightly by suburbanites.
Im pretty sure the homes dont sell out any faster there than they do in your area.

no the development is dead because even phoenix's own forum members
dont support downtown or dense growth.

[FLscraper]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

huh?
excuses, excuses. too noisy? that downtown is pretty dead most of the time,
have you been there? did you see the recent photo expose posted here? it was down right desolate. Downtown only being for business is an antiquated backward notion held onto tightly by suburbanites.
Im pretty sure the homes dont sell out any faster there than they do in your area.

no the development is dead because even phoenix's own forum members
dont support downtown or dense growth.

The development dead or the thread is dead? If you're saying development in DT Phoenix is dead then you haven't even taken a minute to look at the long list of projects in DT Phoenix. Where do you live anyways? Chicago or Milwaukee which is it?