What are some ways Phoenix could develop to stand out from the crowd? (Tucson: 2015, how much)

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by cactusland

I still think we really need an iconic statue or landmark. Most other large cities have one. I think a really good large piece of art that is unique and beautiful would be worthwhile.

I agree 100%, and I've suggested for many years that a 1,000 foot replica of the Phoenix Bird be built either downtown or in the Central Corridor which could be in the form of an observation tower. It could be the same concept as the Space Needle or the Stratosphere, only with a different twist which could give Phoenix some well deserved identity.

The suggestion about Camelback Mountain being an iconic landmark for the nation's 6th largest city is ridiculous. A city this large needs a man made crown jewel of a landmark. Besides, there are plenty of taller, more majestic mountains in Arizona outside of the Valley that make Camelback Mountain look like a pile of rocks.

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by Rico Valencia

I think Phoenix should build a 700-800 ft tall skyscraper shaped like a saguaro cactus to stand out from the crowd. If they built it right, it would be right up there with the Space Needle, Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge as a premier symbol of the region and national importance. Unfortunately, I think the people of Phoenix lack the ambition and creativity to make this happen.

Sounds like a terrible idea (IMO)

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by man4857

There's a lot of talk about what kind of things are needed to be built in Phoenix to make it a world class city.

That's definitely a concern sure, but I think what everyone is missing is the stigma and how Arizona in general appears to the rest of the country. Arizona is a known conservative stronghold and most people associate that with old, Christian, gun-loving right-wingers who wants to keep the status quo and reject change. That is NOT the image you want to project if you want to increase any sort of interest in the state besides financial ones (like low COL). It makes the state look very stubborn from the outside and people won't be interested to move here nor will the investment come to invest money into the state.

All of the major cities talked about in this thread are not known to be this way. They're known to have a huge diversity of culture that's open and willing to adopt changes to make society better for everyone. If you pit this up against the image of Arizona? Hell why would anyone want to come here? If anyone wants to come here, it's definitely not because "omg PHX is awesome!".

Dallas metroplex and Houston are solidly RED and their economies are booming (it's not just Austin that's growing by leaps and bounds.)

[AZLiam]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I agree 100%, and I've suggested for many years that a 1,000 foot replica of the Phoenix Bird be built either downtown or in the Central Corridor which could be in the form of an observation tower. It could be the same concept as the Space Needle or the Stratosphere, only with a different twist which could give Phoenix some well deserved identity.

The suggestion about Camelback Mountain being an iconic landmark for the nation's 6th largest city is ridiculous. A city this large needs a man made crown jewel of a landmark. Besides, there are plenty of taller, more majestic mountains in Arizona outside of the Valley that make Camelback Mountain look like a pile of rocks.

I wasn't really a fan of the Pin observation tower that was proposed a few years back. I felt like it looked more like a water tower.

I always liked this observation tower because in a weird way, it almost looks like a bird rising. Something like this altered to look like a phoenix rising would look pretty neat, especially if the base lit up with red to look like fire as the elevator rose.



http://images.adsttc.com/media/image...jpg?1442245982

[man4857]

Originally Posted by DougStark

Dallas metroplex and Houston are solidly RED and their economies are booming (it's not just Austin that's growing by leaps and bounds.)

Dallas and Houston are both under Democratic control-mayorships. Only the state government is Red. Same with Austin.
Same with Phoenix.

[Dallascaper]

Originally Posted by man4857

Dallas and Houston are both under Democratic control-mayorships. Only the state government is Red. Same with Austin.
Same with Phoenix.

The real growth, both economic and population, of DFW is not Dallas, it's in the deep-red suburbs. Plano, Frisco, McKinney, etc...are the cities driving DFW growth - Collin County is about as Republican as it gets.

[Gvine21]

This thread is so confusing. So much double speak, you want the locals to not be competing against wealthier transplants for real estate, yet you want Phoenix to become a world city destination. As a DFW native I can tell you right now growth comes with a lot of changes. The transplants moving here are essentially destroying the culture in DFW. They come here for 2 things, Jobs, and lower COL. Californians are buying $250k houses here only to bulldoze them for the land and build a $500k house. Cash offers for houses. Entry level real estate has risen 40% since 2011...... All this corporate business moving here has attracted leaches that offer nothing to an area and try to tell you how where they came from does it better, and you stupid Texans need to learn to be like us.

[Hschlick84]

Originally Posted by Gvine21

This thread is so confusing. So much double speak, you want the locals to not be competing against wealthier transplants for real estate, yet you want Phoenix to become a world city destination. As a DFW native I can tell you right now growth comes with a lot of changes. The transplants moving here are essentially destroying the culture in DFW. They come here for 2 things, Jobs, and lower COL. Californians are buying $250k houses here only to bulldoze them for the land and build a $500k house. Cash offers for houses. Entry level real estate has risen 40% since 2011...... All this corporate business moving here has attracted leaches that offer nothing to an area and try to tell you how where they came from does it better, and you stupid Texans need to learn to be like us.

Whether you're a former Californian, Texan, Coloradoan or New Yorker, don't try to change the new area you moved to similar to your former state. Assimilate to the local culture and politics.

[Hschlick84]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I agree 100%, and I've suggested for many years that a 1,000 foot replica of the Phoenix Bird be built either downtown or in the Central Corridor which could be in the form of an observation tower. It could be the same concept as the Space Needle or the Stratosphere, only with a different twist which could give Phoenix some well deserved identity.

The suggestion about Camelback Mountain being an iconic landmark for the nation's 6th largest city is ridiculous. A city this large needs a man made crown jewel of a landmark. Besides, there are plenty of taller, more majestic mountains in Arizona outside of the Valley that make Camelback Mountain look like a pile of rocks.

Are there any mock up pictures of Phoenix with tall skyscrapers?

[man4857]

Originally Posted by Hschlick84

Whether you're a former Californian, Texan, Coloradoan or New Yorker, don't try to change the new area you moved to similar to your former state. Assimilate to the local culture and politics.

That's not going to happen. People don't change. Especially when it's against their will (being priced out of their own home town).