How many years until downtown Phoenix becomes a destination spot for people in the valley? (Scottsdale: homes, theater)

[i'm not a cookie]

How many years do you guys think until downtown Phoenix becomes a major player in the valley, in terms of being a sought after place for real-estate, young people, restaurants and bars. For example, when my friends and I go out it's always to downtown Scottsdale or East Phoenix; I try to get them to go to downtown PHX but no one ever really wants to go/seems to take downtown Phoenix seriously. I feel as if most major American cities(besides Houston and or Dallas) have pretty big downtowns where a large portion of the population goes to for entertainment and what not. Downtown Phoenix is getting better, and during games or big shows it can get crowded, but outside of that it is pretty dead at night.

[JGMotorsport64]

I say in 5 years it will be a place to go to but will still be overshadowed by Scottsdale/Tempe. In 10 at its current rate, and pending a Coyotes/Suns new stadium it will finally be what it should have always been.

[take57]

I said 10 years but if regional light rail gets stalled or fails to expand it could be considerably longer.
Yeah, I think it's that important.

[i'm not a cookie]

Originally Posted by take57

I said 10 years but if regional light rail gets stalled or fails to expand it could be considerably longer.
Yeah, I think it's that important.

I agree with you 100 percent about the light rail. A great transportation system that allows for residents to have access to downtown and what not is vital.

[stevek64]

Given what the suburbs of the valley have to offer, what will downtown have that would make people want to drive from their suburbs, get to a light rail station/drive directly, and hang out downtown? I can see unique options like sports events, concerts, etc. having appeal once in a while to some but as for suburbanites wanting to go downtown on a steady basis, seeing it as a "destination", I'm having trouble envisioning that. Especially given the fact that all sorts of bars, clubs, restaurants, etc. of all stripes that exist all over the suburbs/other valley cities in droves.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by i'm not a cookie

How many years do you guys think until downtown Phoenix becomes a major player in the valley, in terms of being a sought after place for real-estate, young people, restaurants and bars. For example, when my friends and I go out it's always to downtown Scottsdale or East Phoenix; I try to get them to go to downtown PHX but no one ever really wants to go/seems to take downtown Phoenix seriously. I feel as if most major American cities(besides Houston and or Dallas) have pretty big downtowns where a large portion of the population goes to for entertainment and what not. Downtown Phoenix is getting better, and during games or big shows it can get crowded, but outside of that it is pretty dead at night.

It already is, to some extent. Downtown has grown like a weed in the last five years and given the current pace, another five years will see an enormous change. The current development is bringing other development along with it (bars and restaurants, mostly). It still has a way to go, but it's pretty good now.

To people who live in the suburbs and like the suburbs, they're rarely going to go downtown anyway, and when they do, they're going to stick close to whatever destination they are visiting, and only see whatever they pass on the way to get where they are going. That's how you get people coming on here and saying things like It's good to see an AMC theater down there now, when that theater was built in 1990.

[phenomenon]

People move to Phoenix specifically for the cheap suburban housing and the chance to have a backyard. If you want the high-rise urban lifestyle perhaps New York or Chicago would suit you better. Why must every city be exactly the same? Moderator cut: .

PS: real Arizonans go to Harkins, not AMC

[cactusland]

Originally Posted by phenomenon

People move to Phoenix specifically for the cheap suburban housing and the chance to have a backyard.

Exactly why I am here. I can have a yard in the middle of a city. How many other cities can you boast that in, and be considered affordable? Not too many. Maybe some parts of FL or TX, maybe really far north, but not too many competitors.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by phenomenon

People move to Phoenix specifically for the cheap suburban housing and the chance to have a backyard. If you want the high-rise urban lifestyle perhaps New York or Chicago would suit you better. Why must every city be exactly the same? Moderator cut: .

PS: real Arizonans go to Harkins, not AMC

I have lived just outside of downtown for > 5 years, including being there at this very minute. Prior to here, Ahwatukee, and prior to that multiple homes in Scottsdale. My post history should be pretty obvious.

The thing is, I have business interests in the Midwest, and Phoenix is convenient because it has direct flights many times each day. Since I can afford it, I'm giving Flagstaff a try for a few years as a third home. But this site only allows one "location", so rather than cramming 3 locations in one box, or updating every time I fly, I just put the location that I like best, not necessarily the one that is my primary "home".

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by phenomenon

People move to Phoenix specifically for the cheap suburban housing and the chance to have a backyard. If you want the high-rise urban lifestyle perhaps New York or Chicago would suit you better. Why must every city be exactly the same? Moderator cut: .

PS: real Arizonans go to Harkins, not AMC

Yeah but we already have plenty of that type of housing stock. What's wrong with a diverse housing stock? Or diverse lifestyles where some people might enjoy being able to walk or take the rail places.