Phoenix city manager Frank Fairbanks to retire this fall
[Source: Scott Wong, Arizona Republic] – Frank Fairbanks, Phoenix’s longest-serving city manager who steered the city through two decades of extraordinary growth and three economic recessions, will retire this fall. In private phone calls this morning, Fairbanks told Mayor Phil Gordon and other City Council members that he will step down as the city’s top … Read more
23 Phoenix businesses to use new currency: ‘Phoenix Bux’
[Source: Tim Vetscher, ABC News 15] — In light of the economic downturn, a number of communities across the country have started printing their own money. It’s called scrip, or local currency, and now the idea is coming to Arizona for the very first time. It’s called Phoenix Bux and it launches July 4th. “It’s … Read more
What would you add to a map of central Phoenix vitality?
Here’s an unofficial list of revitalization initiatives in downtown Phoenix, created by a member of Downtown Voices Coalition, including color-coded status report (as critiqued by the map’s author). Many are (or could be) “fine-grain” projects that make a city a community. BLUE: Successful (Maintain!) GREEN: In Progress YELLOW: On Hold; Caution MAGENTA: On Life Support … Read more
Downtown Phoenix tower projects vie for renters amid tough commercial market
[Source: Jahna Berry, Arizona Republic] — Amid today’s cutthroat real-estate market, Jim Fijan drifts off to sleep thinking of ways to rent more office space in a 27-story tower in downtown Phoenix’s CityScape complex. Brad Anderson starts checking his e-mail at dawn. The early start helps him find tenants for One Central Park East, a … Read more
View Malls R Us documentary, 6/30, downtown Phoenix
For more information, click here.
Viewpoint: Downtown Phoenix’s Jackson Street lost its artists long ago
[The following "letter to the editor" was written by Steve Weiss, Steering Committee Chair of Downtown Voices Coalition, in response to the Arizona Republic's June 10, 2009 editorial on the Jackson Street Entertainment District. Since the letter hasn't been printed in the Republic, we're reprinting it here.] There are many issues to debate regarding the … Read more
Celebrate Independents Week, 6/29 to 7/5
For more information about Independents Week, click here.
