Usually, the public is invited to attend Downtown Voices Coalition Steering Committee meetings on the second Saturday of every month, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at Roosevelt Commons, 825 N. 6th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85003. But with all of the Greenbuild activities going on and a tree-planting downtown and the fact that the group didn’t take a month off in the summer, the November meeting is cancelled. But we’ll be back meeting – and celebrating the holidays with a pot-luck — on December 12. Anyone know of a good fruitcake recipe?
Nov
10
Downtown Voices Steering Committee not meeting in November
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Nov
11
Downtown Phoenix ASU campus buildings (Photo: ASU Cronkite School of Journalism)
[Source: Jahna Berry, Arizona Republic] — Forty-two percent more students are taking classes at Arizona State University’s high-profile downtown Phoenix campus this year, despite state budget cutbacks and the fact that overall university enrollment grew by only 1,000 students. Slightly more than 7,000 students took at least one class downtown this fall, up from 4,963 in fall 2008. As the campus grows in size and clout, it moves closer to what was envisioned when it was launched four years ago: a major economic generator for the heart of the city.
Enrollment figures were released to The Arizona Republic in response to a public-records request. The Republic’s analysis of ASU’s downtown enrollment includes only students who take at least one class in downtown Phoenix. The student count became an issue last year, after a Republic investigation revealed that ASU’s official enrollment count routinely included thousands of students who were affiliated with programs based downtown but did not attend any classes there, instead studying at other campuses. That news disappointed many in the downtown-business community who thought ASU’s enrollment figures represented a literal head count of new people downtown.
Business and city leaders continue to closely watch growth at the campus, which opened in fall 2006 with more than $200 million in city bond funding. Campus supporters promised voters that the project would help bring economic vitality and heavier foot traffic to the area. [Note: Read the full article at Enrollment soars at ASU downtown Phoenix campus.]
Nov
11
The Milken Institute Best Performing Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary, and technology growth. How did the Arizona communities (MSAs) of Flagstaff, Phoenix, Prescott, Tucson, and Yuma perform? Results here.
Nov
10
The city of Phoenix, local businesses, and nonprofit organizations are planning a variety of events in conjunction with the 2009 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, Nov. 11 – 13 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The events include the city’s “Gateway to Green” Neighborhood Celebration, from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Civic Space Park’s historic A.E. England Building, 424 N. Central Ave. Other events include an art show, a street festival, a downtown beautification project, and a parade. All carry a green theme, and most are free.
Here is an updated schedule (to download a flier, visit http://phoenix.gov/environment/index.html). Recent added events are indicated in italic.
Monday, Nov. 9 – Friday, Nov. 13
Green Art Exhibit, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Phoenix City Hall atrium,
200 W. Washington St. Free admission. Display features items fashioned from recycled material, including clocks, jewelry and purses. The exhibit also marks the 20th Anniversary of “Phoenix Recycles, America Recycles Day,” Nov. 15. For more information, call 602-256-5607.
Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona project. In partnership with Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, Habitat for Humanity volunteers will build a “net-zero” energy affordable home at 20 N. 27th Drive as part of the Greenbuild Conference. For more information, visit http://www.habitatcaz.org/construction/green-building.php.
Thursday, Nov. 10 – Thursday, Nov. 12
“Greenbuild After Dark” film festival, 6 to 8 p.m. Phoenix Convention Center, South Terrace, 100 N. Third St. Free admission.
Thursday, Nov. 12 – Friday, Nov. 13
Apache Fair Trade Cooperative, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. St. Mary’s Basilica, 400 E. Monroe St. (across the street from the Phoenix Convention Center). Free admission. Authentic Indian crafts demonstrated and sold, including beading, jewelry, basket weaving, leather work and more. For more information, call Paul Burgess at 602-750-2624 or e-mail.
Friday, Nov. 13
“Gateway to Green” Neighborhood Celebration, 4 to 6 p.m., Civic Space Park’s A.E. England Building, 424 N. Central Ave. Free admission. Learn how to make your home and neighborhood more sustainable. Displays by city of Phoenix departments, live entertainment and refreshments, plus appearances by Mayor Phil Gordon and City Council members. Limited parking, so travel green to get there. For more information, call 602-262-6213.
ASU School of Journalism LEED certification presentation, 4:30 to 4:45 p.m. at Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 555 N. Central Ave. Presentation from U.S. Green Building Council CEO Rick Fedrizzi to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Arizona State University President Michael Crow.
Green Streets Festival, 6 to 10 p.m., east Roosevelt Street, between Fourth and Seventh streets. Free admission. Enjoy local produce, vendors, chefs, artisans, green-themed art and live entertainment. Presented by Roosevelt Row in partnership with the Arizona Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, ASU Downtown, the city of Phoenix, Downtown Phoenix Partnership, HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Local Arizona First, the Phoenix Community Alliance and Valley Forward Association. For more information, visit http://www.rooseveltrow.org.
Third Annual Downtown Phoenix Pub Crawl, 9 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. Tickets, $12 and $15. Discover Phoenix’s night scene. Enjoy entertainment, food samples, and drink specials at selected downtown restaurants and bars. Top off the night at Sonoma Casual Dining after-hours breakfast. Must be 21 to participate. Tickets $12 at http://www.downtownphoenix.com/happening or $15 at the Green Streets Festival.
Saturday, Nov. 14
Tenth Annual “A Day for Downtown,” 8 a.m. to noon, Downtown Phoenix. Volunteers have been mobilized for a rewarding day of service to benefit the downtown Phoenix community. Presented by the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, HandsOn Greater Phoenix and the Phoenix Community Alliance. For more information, visit http://www.handsonphoenix.org.
Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Garfield Street between Fourth and Sixth streets. Discover smart boutiques, cafes, restaurants and shops that define Roosevelt Row. For more information, visit http://www.rooseveltrow.org or 602-475-2661.
Fourth Annual Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts (PAPA). 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fifth Street, between Roosevelt and Garfield streets. Free admission. Live entertainment on two stages and a parading arts fair. Individuals and groups are invited to walk, ride or dance in the parade. For more information, visit http://www.downtownphoenix.com/happening.
Nov
10
ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation, downtown Phoenix (Photo: ASU)
[Source: Arizona State University] — The College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University dedicated its new building today at a time it is experiencing the most significant changes in its 52-year history. Change has impacted every part of the college — faculty and staff, leadership, curriculum, name, strategic mission, and facilities. “Change is inevitable everywhere today, and without change, there is no innovation,” Dean Bernadette Melnyk said. “Most people fear change, but not here at ASU. We see change as a huge opportunity for innovation and building strength. Our recent changes mark the dawn of a new era for our college and multiply opportunities for students, faculty and staff.”
An impressive new five story 84,000 square foot building is the most visible of the changes in the college. Construction of the building was completed in only 16 months in time to open for fall semester. “This expansion provides the best facilities we have ever had and helps facilitate the integration of new programs into our college,” said Dean Melnyk. “The additional building provides much needed space to continue to offer the highest quality of educational programs and the most cutting-edge research to guide best practices, as well as the opportunity to continue to launch innovative initiatives that will improve the health of Arizona residents.”
The ASU dean praised the City, general contractor DPR Construction, architectural firm SmithGroup, and the ASU implementation team for working together to build a signature building on budget and on schedule. The City of Phoenix and ASU partnered to build the campus and the new nursing building as part of a city bond issue that voters passed in 2006.
Serving as the northern gateway to the new ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus, the glass and copper structure includes a 200-seat auditorium, classrooms, student facilities, and faculty office and research space. The building includes several sustainable elements and outside public spaces that provide shaded green areas with a water feature. As a part of ASU’s restructuring in the spring of 2009, several health-related programs of the former School of Applied Arts and Sciences at the Polytechnic Campus were merged into the ASU nursing college. The Exercise and Wellness, Nutrition, and Health Sciences programs became part of the college. [Note: Read the full article at New nursing college building opens in downtown Phoenix.]
Nov
09
[Source: Si Robins, Downtown Phoenix Journal] — It’s the Monday after First Friday, but DPJ is still reliving the good times we had this past weekend. Shutting down Roosevelt Street from Central Avenue to 7th Street simply accommodated the ever-growing First Friday attendance last week. But, Saturday and Sunday proved to draw the crowds to Central Phoenix as well. DPJ was at the “When in AZ” benefit concert on Saturday and the CenPho.TV benefit concert on Sunday, and we have the tunes to prove it. While we were at Stinkweeds, we snuck into some of our favorite boutiques. You should check ‘em out, too. Need more of a call to action? “The Bearded Truth” is searching for literary genius in Phoenix… perhaps we have the next Kerouac lurking somewhere Downtown?
Nov
09
In the 2004 report, “Downtown Voices: Creating a Sustainable Downtown,” adaptive reuse is recommended as a way to help maintain a diverse, lively urban center. Today, with “sustainability” all the rage and with GreenBuild coming to town, adaptive reuse should be touted even more as a tool for land conservation and reducing urban sprawl. For those who prescribe to the “smart growth” concept, it is more efficient and environmentally responsible to reuse historic and vintage buildings closer to urban cores than it is to build new construction out on the fringes.
Note that several of the “opportunities” in the above slideshow may already be functioning businesses, especially those in downtown Phoenix’s Warehouse District. Because of the fragility of the Warehouse District due to development pressures, those buildings are grouped together to help show why historic and vintage buildings are so necessary to maintain some degree of authenticity to a “district.” What’s a Warehouse District without warehouses? Huh, novel concept.
Feel free to comment if you have suggestions for other possible adaptive reuse projects.
Nov
08
For your review and marking of your calendar, here’s a bunch of interesting events coming up in and around downtown Phoenix. We’re sharing these jpgs as they come into our inbox! Click on the indivdual picture to get the full detail.
