Downtown vs Scottsdale: Social Scene?

[the topper]

In 10 years, Dt Phoenix will be one of the "it" place in this valley

[locolife]

Originally Posted by infocyde

A few things about down town.

- People have been saying down town is about to explode into paradise since I moved to AZ (90ies)
- It is getting better
- Some parts are cool
- It does not compare to other scenes around the valley though it might in the future

Just for context

True, same here, but it's actually working now. There is a scene there which never existed before and the development that's occurring now is much different. They used to think they could build mega projects like arenas and convention centers to make downtown lively. But now what you're seeing is an influx of residents, totally different than anything that's happened there in the last 30 or so years.

Just saying, it's true, but this time actually looks/feels different.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by locolife

True, same here, but it's actually working now. There is a scene there which never existed before and the development that's occurring now is much different. They used to think they could build mega projects like arenas and convention centers to make downtown lively. But now what you're seeing is an influx of residents, totally different than anything that's happened there in the last 30 or so years.

Just saying, it's true, but this time actually looks/feels different.

I moved here in the 90's and downtown was a deadzone on weeknights and weekends, it has come a long way since.

Back then there was no light rail, no cityscape, no Chase Field, no ASU downtown campus, barely any residents, and really no reason to go downtown except work in an office during the day and leave at 5:00.

Downtown might still be a little lacking for how big Phoenix is but I have positive feelings it will keep progressing and getting better.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by kytoaz

Can we please put an end to Ro-Ro right here, right now? It's Roosevelt row.

Please.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by locolife

You forgot to mention that downtown Phoenix is very actively evolving and will double in population size in the next 2-3 years as all of the housing units currently under construction get built. Sure, Phoenix lacks compared to SF and you need tougher skin to live here than SF, but most of us manage to deal with the heat just fine. I still believe anyone moving here from somewhere other than coastal CA will find our weather pretty tolerable. Compared to New England this cit is glorious for weather.

I'm surprised to hear someone from SF likes old town Scottsdale better than DT Phoenix. I was in Old Town for the game yesterday, super busy bar and restaurant scene for sure! But little else of interest to me. I don't mind visiting but not interested in living there.

Exactly. Anyone who hasn't been downtown and driven around the surface streets and neighborhood just north of downtown in the last year (or twenty), is going to be in for a big surprise when they talk about downtown not having any people and Roosevelt row being the only focal point. There is a TON of development and it's busy in that area every single day. That includes the surrounding bars and restaurants. Go over near the Convention Center on a night where there is no convention and no game, and it's dead over there, including Cityscape. But bring in a convention or a game, and the whole area has activity. It has a way to go, but compared to 5 or 6 years ago, the difference in both activity and development is staggering.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by kytoaz

Can we please put an end to Ro-Ro right here, right now? It's Roosevelt row.

What's wrong with saying RoRo? It has become an accepted (and somewhat clever) way of shortening Roosevelt Row ... just as LoDo in Denver is a very accepted and unique way of referring to the lower downtown area, or how SoHo in New York was an established artsy area for a long time. It's definitely better than what some people used to call Van Buren when there was a problem with street prostitution: HoRo!
()

Originally Posted by 43north87west

Exactly. Anyone who hasn't been downtown and driven around the surface streets and neighborhood just north of downtown in the last year (or twenty), is going to be in for a big surprise when they talk about downtown not having any people and Roosevelt row being the only focal point. There is a TON of development and it's busy in that area every single day. That includes the surrounding bars and restaurants. Go over near the Convention Center on a night where there is no convention and no game, and it's dead over there, including Cityscape. But bring in a convention or a game, and the whole area has activity. It has a way to go, but compared to 5 or 6 years ago, the difference in both activity and development is staggering.

I'll agree that it's busier and more improved ... however, that "ton of development" you're referring to is mostly midrise residential. Downtown Phoenix is never going to be a world class destination for business, residential, and entertainment if we keep focusing on erecting mainly 5 to 10 story buildings. That would be great downtown revitalization for a small city such as Boise, but a city as large as Phoenix needs a good mix of the midrises AND highrises ... and I don't mean just 20 or 30 stories either. There's no reason why we can't be attracting more corporate business, as well as more hotels in the downtown area & building towers that are 50+ stories. This is very possible even with some of the restrictions Sky Harbor supposedly has on the height of skyscrapers.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

It's definitely better than what some people used to call Van Buren when there was a problem with street prostitution: HoRo!
()

Thats hilarious.

Ive only been here a few years myself, but I remember one night driving down Van Buren from downtown, heading East towards the 10 to jump on 51, just to realize that I couldnt get on the highway. So we continued onward and, ummmm, yeah. The neighborhood was "interesting" to say the least, and I noticed the amount of trashy women slumming around the corners. Makes sense to me now.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

Thats hilarious.

Ive only been here a few years myself, but I remember one night driving down Van Buren from downtown, heading East towards the 10 to jump on 51, just to realize that I couldnt get on the highway. So we continued onward and, ummmm, yeah. The neighborhood was "interesting" to say the least, and I noticed the amount of trashy women slumming around the corners. Makes sense to me now.

Yep, Van Buren Street has always been a hangout for the derelicts, hookers, drug pushers, and whatever else. Prostitution used to be very rampant along there many years ago, and it was so bad that there simply wasn't enough police power to put a stop to it. (Then again, some of their best customers were cops from what I've heard). The main reason it's less of an issue now is much of the solicitation has gone online.

[Java Jolt]

Prostitution exists everywhere, not just in the slummy areas of Phoenix.

It exists heavily in Scottsdale except it's offered legally under the pseudonym of escort agencies.