First time in the phoenix downtown area

[kickinit]

I didn't back off any of my statements. There are alot of people at concerts and games and things of that sort. Other than that the people I have seen appear to be homeless or addicts. But one never really knows. Like I said I have been to many many cities and I consider downtown Phoenix gross and dead compared. It is my opinion. Everyone lives on the outside perimeter and basically avoids downtown unless they work there or if there is a game or concert. I appreciate your opinions but I'm entitled to mine! I'm not going to say your opinions are untrue. Its all your perspective and what you have to compare it to. : )

[observer53]

Originally Posted by kickinit

I lived there 13 years and just moved away a year ago. I have quite alot to compare it to. I have been to most all cities in California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona. I have also been to in numerous cities in Michigan, Minnesota, north Dakota, south Dakota, Wisconsin, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, and Georgia.
While I agree my statement about homeless and addicts may have been misleading
What I meant is those are basically the only people that you see downtown. It may not be as full of them as other cities bacause downtown Phoenix is almost deserted compared to other downtowns. Atlanta, Portland, San Diego for example have bustling downtowns that are fun to go to. People walking everywhere and business thriving. I've seen the difference. Phoenix is definately a car city.. everyone lives outside the perimeter. It is in need of a major cleanup. I actually love Phoenix.. just not downtown!!

Originally Posted by kickinit

I didn't back off any of my statements. There are alot of people at concerts and games and things of that sort. Other than that the people I have seen appear to be homeless or addicts. But one never really knows. Like I said I have been to many many cities and I consider downtown Phoenix gross and dead compared. It is my opinion. Everyone lives on the outside perimeter and basically avoids downtown unless they work there or if there is a game or concert. I appreciate your opinions but I'm entitled to mine! I'm not going to say your opinions are untrue. Its all your perspective and what you have to compare it to. : )

The bolded statement above is a bit of backing off, but then you turn right around and say that they are "basically the only people that you see downtown" and then in the later post you say that other than the people at "concerts and events and things of that sort" the people you have seen (meaning ALL of them???) "appear to be homeless or addicts". I'm sorry, but that is just not believable. WHEN were you downtown (time of day, days of week) and WHERE? ALL the rest "appear to be homeless or addicts"? "Full of fallacy" to quote another poster.

You lost a LOT of credibility on this thread with your initial tossoff post that just said "downtown is gross". Now you've dug yourself in deeper, and you are still using that word. Cite specific areas of downtown, that are "gross", and then perhaps you better define what you mean by it. Is the area south of Madison great? No, but there's very little there other than warehouses and similar businesses that don't depend on, and don't generate, foot traffic. Aim further north, and tell me where downtown needs a "major cleanup".

I've been in lots of major city downtowns that were far dirtier, (trash blowing everywhere, graffiti, trash smells, etc.,)and had larger numbers of street people, than I see in downtown Phoenix. Those areas didn't look to me like places that drew people in and were "fun to go to" either.

Perhaps your "perspective" is just way overly sensitive to the presence of such people, or it's just way overly skewed to see the negative.

I hope you are happier where you are now.

[kickinit]

Downtown Phoenix is basically empty of people and businesses compared to must cities I've seen. Sure other cities have more homeless congregating in certain areas but Phoenix's is more spread out and covers more area. As Phoenix itself is more spread out. I worked as a private investigator and did a lot of observing in many areas depending on who hired a pi to observe. Its my opinion. And I was happy in the Phoenix area. I lived in lived in north Peoria. Peorias downtown is the most deserted downtown I've ever seen! I am happy where I am now. Thanks for caring. Have a nice life. : )

[khuntrevor]

You want to see trash.....

[blue80920]

Well thanks for all the opinions everybody- ive come to the conclusion that its just a "different beast" due to location, temperature here, population size, etc- different is different and thats ok

[Ritchie_az]

Originally Posted by blue80920

I grew up in Chicago and so I always think about downtown Chicago when I go to a city center and you know compare the two -anyways today I went to the Arizona Science Center for the first time and drove around a little bit in the downtown area. It was a little Twilight Zone-ish hardly any people walking around and no traffic. Seemed weird all these big buildings and hardly no people. Is this the norm or was today just an off day?

My opinion, in Phoenix, you've got to take into account all the other areas that, in one way or another, act as or have amenities similar to a "downtown". There's "downtown", "uptown" (or "midtown"--I think there's a couple other names for the place), "Mill Ave", "Downtown Scottsdale", "Westgate" and some other areas. If you combined them all together it would be one heck of a "downtown".

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Uhuh

This is typical downtown Phoenix. It is very hot here, and people drive EVERYWHERE. Once in a while Phoenicians like to pretend they are green and walk around, but that is so rare. But seriously... Phoenix is a car city, although many attempts to revitalize the downtown to become a thriving, energy filled cultural meeting point. But has failed.. I look at Phoenix as a giant suburb, and the downtown's are the malls. Its just too hot.

Been outside lately (in the last two months or so)? It's anything but hot. Besides, our hot season only lasts about four or five months. June, July, August, and September are the VERY hot months ... and May & October usually have heat only on a sporadic basis.

I've lived here all my life and I still don't understand the attitudes toward the heat. Many people claim that the Phoenix heat isn't all that bad because it's dry ... but then the same people will turn around & say that we can't have an active, walkable downtown because it's too hot. Or they claim that theme parks will never work here because the heat is too horrible. The contradictory reasoning is quite lame and very hypocritical.

[AndroidAZ]

I love Chicago downtown. There are very few downtowns in the US that beats Chicago downtown.

[Phxguy]

Originally Posted by AndroidAZ

I love Chicago downtown. There are very few downtowns in the US that beats Chicago downtown.

I love it too but in terms of cleaseniness and fewer amount of hobos downtown Phoenix has it beat.