"The Canal" in Phoenix Vs. "The Scottsdale Waterfront"

[khuntrevor]

great synopsis of rio nuevo, Jukes'. Thanks. I might add that what has happened at TUSD (during that period) has probably been 10 times worse.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by khuntrevor

great synopsis of rio nuevo, Jukes'. Thanks. I might add that what has happened at TUSD (during that period) has probably been 10 times worse.

BINGO!

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by khuntrevor

I went to Scottsdale for the first time in a long time several days ago. Between IS and CB. It appears that they are marketing a waterfront type of area on the canal, and I was just a little amused, as it is always just known as "The canal" in Phoenix. Am I missing something?

The Waterfront in Scottsdale has been in existence for quite a few years ... but I understand they are adding more bridges and trying to make it a very attractive, walkable area along the canal. In contrast, the canal banks in most of Phoenix are ugly as sin. I've wished for a long time that something like Riverwalk or Waterfront would be developed in Phoenix.

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Sounds like Tucson - the city of no vision. It is no wonder that they lag Phoenix so badly.

Well, that in part is the pathetic NIMBY attitude that runs rampant across the entire state. For many years, people were fearful that Phoenix would become too much like L.A. ... and people in Tucson were (and still are) afraid of becoming like Phoenix. Voters in Tucson rejected a transportation plan a few years ago that would have added much needed freeways and improved transit service. NIMBYs are the ones with no vision ... and as long as they make their presence known & get their way, both Phoenix & Tucson will continue to lag.

[janitorialphoen]

Back in the day folks used to waterski in the Canal. I let my dog swim in it on the Res

[SluggoF16]

Originally Posted by khuntrevor

They've tried something like that in Tucson, The Rio Nuevo project, and they even passed a special tax for it in 1999. I think the result was some politicians losing their jobs.

It failed miserably. The trouble is where the river is located, west of I-10, not downtown. Also that the river is dry 350+ days a year at that location. It DOES have water in it by El Camino del Cerro (where I used to live) but that is reclaimed sewer water and smells a bit "funky" and is well north of downtown. Therefore, water would have to be pumped into a place where water is scarce, and the waste of water in a city that prides itself on reducing water use it would be very contrary. Therefore, Rio Nuevo was not a true "Riverwalk" like San Antonio. San Antonio set the bar very high for other cities. Oklahoma City did a similar bit and the result is very nice, but it's still not like San Antonio. However, using existing water such as the Arizona Canal is a great idea. Yes, it DOES make the canal look less utilitarian. It was always a cool place to go as a kid at Chapparal and Miller.

As for the traffic infrastructure, I lived in Tucson 1989-2000. I-10 was the ONLY way to get around and was two lanes from Miracle Mile north. Eventually it was widened but not fast enough; traffic went from a 20-minute to 45-minute ordeal in a matter of years. The proposed parkway/freeway along the river was soundly beaten by NIMBYs who wanted to "keep River Road curvy" or something to that effect. Phoenix went through a similar phase in the 60s/70s with the Moreland Corridor. The Aviation Parkway was nice but went nowhere, serving only those who wanted to get from DM to downtown. Fortunately Tucson had a great solution to east-west traffic, the Grant Road suicide lanes.

[observer53]

Let's keep this thread on topic-- if you want to discuss Rio Nuevo, take that to the Tucson forum. Thanks!