Astra Phoenix slated to be the city's "new tallest" (construction, station)

[singlegirlinaz]

Originally Posted by asufan

Century City (a commercial neighborhood in Los Angeles, not a downtown) has like 5 or 6 towers taller than Phoenix's tallest building. I know there's airport restrictions but we have one of the worst skylines in the US here, like something you'd see in Tulsa.

Even with that, Los Angeles doesn't have the density or skyscraper height like New York, Chicago or even Miami.

Los Angeles has different urban neighborhoods outside of Downtown and I'm seeing Phoenix becoming more that way too. I don't think this will ever be a skyscraper city though.

But Downtown Phoenix looking like Tulsa? You can't be serious about that.

[take57]

Originally Posted by Maroon197

People with an aversion to slave labor.

Amen

[asufan]

Originally Posted by singlegirlinaz

But Downtown Phoenix looking like Tulsa? You can't be serious about that.

You're right, Tulsa actually has buildings substantially taller than the tallest in Phoenix. Bad comparison.

[MikeL78]

Originally Posted by singlegirlinaz

Even with that, Los Angeles doesn't have the density or skyscraper height like New York, Chicago or even Miami.

Los Angeles has different urban neighborhoods outside of Downtown and I'm seeing Phoenix becoming more that way too. I don't think this will ever be a skyscraper city though.

But Downtown Phoenix looking like Tulsa? You can't be serious about that.

I agree with the LA comparison. Most of the sunbelt cities don't have awesome downtowns. I don't really get why people push for places like LA and Phoenix to follow the east coast cities. It's fine that we're not the same. I don't think there is a huge demand for our downtown to become urban like other cities. Most people relocating here go to the suburbs and rarely do I see posts about downtown or even Central Phoenix.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by MikeL78

I agree with the LA comparison. Most of the sunbelt cities don't have awesome downtowns. I don't really get why people push for places like LA and Phoenix to follow the east coast cities. It's fine that we're not the same. I don't think there is a huge demand for our downtown to become urban like other cities. Most people relocating here go to the suburbs and rarely do I see posts about downtown or even Central Phoenix.

Downtown through central Phoenix are booming and we chat about it quite often. Roosevelt has all sorts of construction going on and there is a huge demand for centrally located, walkable residential.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by locolife

Agree with that this becoming a more common theme for tallest buildings, Astra is mixed use with hotel, residential and office components. And this is definitely growing among new tallest buildings across the country. Here is a list of proposed new tallest buildings among some cities, it's from the Wiki Page which is far from complete as Astra for example doesn't appear on there. But gives a sense of where things are headed.

- LA, LA Grand Hotel, Hotel
- Denver, 650 N 17th Street, Mixed Use
- Miami, Empire World Towers, Residential
- Newark NJ, Four Corners Millennium Tower, Mixed Use
- Portland, Twin Towers, Mixed Use
- Providence, Hope Point Tower, Residential
- Seattle, 4/C, Mixed Use
- Las Vegas, Fountainbleau, Hotel (of course)
- Detroit, Renaissance Center, Hotel (already built)

Nashville also has a new tallest skyscraper proposed, which will be 750 feet, roughly 60 stories:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/mon...ng/5991783001/

I think there will be some potential square footage added for commercial too, as this project is evolving.

Construction planned to start January 2023.

[MikeL78]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Downtown through central Phoenix are booming and we chat about it quite often. Roosevelt has all sorts of construction going on and there is a huge demand for centrally located, walkable residential.

I'm not disagreeing with that progress. Just that Phoenix is not really known as urban. Even when you get outside of downtown it starts to get suburban compared to larger cities. Now compared to 10 years ago the downtown area is improved.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by MikeL78

I agree with the LA comparison. Most of the sunbelt cities don't have awesome downtowns. I don't really get why people push for places like LA and Phoenix to follow the east coast cities. It's fine that we're not the same. I don't think there is a huge demand for our downtown to become urban like other cities. Most people relocating here go to the suburbs and rarely do I see posts about downtown or even Central Phoenix.

The downtown area should be urban, but that doesn't mean we have to copy the east coast cities. Lots of cities in the western U.S. have thriving urban cores: Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, L.A., San Diego, Salt Lake City, Denver, Austin, Dallas, Houston, etc. I'd actually prefer Phoenix to be more like Houston if anything. That's a very sprawling city (even more so than Phoenix) with a rather low population density, but they have a majestic skyline and a relatively active downtown area. They don't have strict zoning either, so they don't pander to the NIMBYs who are adamantly opposed to taller structures.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Mattya

There is clearly demand for urban living in downtown Phoenix. Before 2020 less than 10k people were living downtown, not even including these new projects about to start. Just from the projects completed or about to complete we might have 5-7k more people living in downtown. Now we have Moon Tower and Sky on 6th just starting construction, Astra, Palm Tower, Central Station and more apparently starting in 2022. I think especially as the pandemic eases there will be a new need for commercial projects to meet demand.

I'd like to believe your above comment that I bolded ... however, there have been many towers proposed for the Phoenix skyline over the last couple of decades, but they've either been scaled back or fully withdrawn. As of now, every one of the projects you mentioned are nothing more than proposals. Palmcourt Tower has been talked about for years, but is continuously stalled. Central Station has been planned since 2014, and keeps being delayed. In the last few days, an announcement was made that the project will go forward, but it has been scaled back from original plans. I take many of these development proposals with a grain of salt ... much the same way I take the National Weather Service's forecasts for rain: I believe it when I see it.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Mattya

It sounds like the hotel portion of Central Station was taken out and instead more apartments will be added. Which I would consider a win.

Point being that I still haven't seen any signs of dirt being moved or cranes going up where these projects are supposed to be taking place. Too many of these proposed developments seemed promising over the years, only to be scrapped & never heard from again. When it comes to urbanity & upward development, Phoenix has been pretty lacking compared to many other cities ... so only when there is actual construction happening on these projects (as well as additional taller structures in the future) will I consider it a true win for the city.