First time in the phoenix downtown area (Glendale, Scottsdale: college, live)

[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?

[AZgarden]

Well, we are missing Michigan Ave and State Street here. Just Central Ave doesn't really do it so I guess you can rule out everyone who would be shopping in Chicago is not doing that in downtown Phx. And I always thought downtown here was really not a place you could call outstanding. It is darn quiet. It doesn't have much to do, and nobody goes there much. Most people go to the outlying shopping centers for lunch, shopping , etc. I have found that the light rail has helped somewhat but it will never be "the loop."

[momtogrif]

I grew up near NYC and went to college in Baltimore. Yep, totally different idea of a downtown here in Phoenix. You know, I have come to like the downtowns of Maricopa county more so than the downtown of the big city: downtown Tempe and Glendale have wonderful shopping, history, and eating establishments. Maybe no glitz and glamour but a more college or historic vibe can be found. Downtown Scottsdale has unique art galleries, food, and shopping.

Unfortunately, I only look at Phoenix's downtown as a destination for whatever I am planning that day: science center, a play, an event at the Convention Center, a baseball game, basketball game, etc. I do not go to downtown Phoenix just to go 'downtown' and walk around. So, if you go on a day when a ball game is in town you will see more activity. If the symphony is having an event or if the US Airways arena has something going on, there will definitely be a more 'alive' feel. It's just how it is here and I've found that I feel the same way about San Diego, Albuquerque, and even Denver. They just can't compare to NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC, Boston, Chicago, or Seattle. I've accepted the fact that it's not bad, it's just different.

[scratchNsniff]

All the shops abandoned downtown in the 80s and 90s for the burbs and it has never really recovered, but it's trying!!

[Valley Native]

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?

The last time I was downtown, it was on a weekday afternoon, and it was pretty busy with mostly office workers, people eating outdoors, and waiting at the light rail stations. If you went there on a weekday, I'd be a little surprised that there wasn't any traffic. After dark, it really becomes dead, unless there is a Suns or DBacks game, concert, or some other event. Phoenix has been trying for many years to improve downtown ... and it has gotten better (slowly but surely). The problem is that, even at its greatest moment, it will probably never be like what you found in Chicago.

[scratchNsniff]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

The problem is that, even at its greatest moment, it will probably never be like what you found in Chicago.

I think you would have to invent a time machine and go back in time to about the 1930's-1960's to see a faint glimmer of a Chicago-esque downtown. I'll get right on it.

[observer53]

While there are people working downtown, lots of them, Phoenix's "business district" really isn't one place, it's more spread out. And, people don't come downtown to shop, so you will only see people who work in the area or come downtown for courts or other business.

[scratchNsniff]

Originally Posted by observer53

you will only see people who work in the area or come downtown for courts or other business.

I always thought people left downtown Phoenix quick before the sun went down and before the homeless started coming around, but seriously I've never seen homelessness like I've seen in downtown San Diego. The downtown post office here is surrounded by homeless people in tents before the sun even goes down. And they are just sleeping in doorways and on sidewalks everywhere. I can't even complain about the homeless problem in Phoenix any more after witnessing it here in SD!!

[Phxguy]

I guess I'm the only one who goes to downtown Phoenix to just be in downtown.

[kickinit]

Downtown Phoenix is just gross!!!