[General Tucson Thread]

Opinion: 'Smart growth' should come to Pima County

Arizona Daily Star

December 9, 2007

Smart growth, if applied wisely, controls urban sprawl and reduces air pollution by requiring fewer cars and less driving.

With plan amendments adopted by the county's Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 28, Pima County is headed in this direction. If the supervisors vote favorably on Tuesday

[Metro Phoenix Development thread]

Tempe's first Centerpoint tower is shaping up nicely. How long will it be before Tempe has a more distinguished skyline than Phoenix? The view from Tempe Town Lake is already starting to become impressive.

[Arizona off-topic]

Mesa is going through an identity crisis. It's still clinging to its desire to remain a small town, like the large dog that still wants to sleep on your bed like it did as a puppy. I'm sorry, but there's no way to uncook the egg. People need to realize that.

Edit: not you people, I meant the citizens of Mesa need to realize that.

[Metro Phoenix Development thread]

Phoenix has a fairly distinguished skyline, if you include Camelback Mountain as part of it.

[Metro Phoenix Development thread]

...otherwise we turn out like San Diego, cool city, boring skyline... it takes one or two iconic structures to make a skyline stand out.

[General Tucson Thread]

I just don't want to see Tucson growing uncontrolled until it's another suburb of Phoenix.

[General Tucson Thread]

What we can learn from Portland

To summarize, Pima County hit the 1 million population mark last November and can accomodate another million, but the question is whether to keep that second million from coming or prepare for it. Portland, Oregon is the model city for Smart Growth. Unfortunately, the same kind of planning takes a lot of work, time, money, and cooperation. And a leader.

Portland residents are nearly evangelical in their zeal about creating habitable neighborhoods that are close to nature and close to the bus or streetcar.

[General Tucson Thread]

Wal-Mart petitions rejected

[Metro Phoenix Development thread]

Apartment towers on track downtown

The article talks about an apartment complex called The Jet, with 675 apartments in "36- and 23-story towers on Second Avenue between Fillmore and Van Buren streets":

Construction could begin on the 36-story tower late this year or early 2008, and it could open as early as fall 2009, Onken said.

[General Tucson Thread]

Sorry, I was excited to find that article.

Except for Civano, the same arguments in the article could be said about Phoenix or any of its suburbs. The closest thing Phoenix has to Civano that I know of is Agritopia in Gilbert, but the homes don't incorporate either active or passive solar in their design.

[General Tucson Thread]

Found an interesting article this morning:

Out-of-state experts ride bus to size up Tucson

They enjoyed Downtown's pedestrian ambiance, but shuddered at South Houghton Road's car culture.

They admired the architecture of Civano's energy-efficient homes — but not their far-flung location.

They loved the rugged, red brick homes and businesses bordering the University of Arizona, but not the endless strip centers clogging East Broadway.

[Metro Phoenix Development thread]

Retail building boom in E.V.

Brokers and analysts expect that retail construction is probably at its peak in the East Valley and will begin to taper off within a year. The next big retail spurts are expected in Pinal County and the West Valley.

[Arizona off-topic]

Funny story in the Daily Star this morning.

Footloose County: Pinal officials fine restaurant owner for allowing people to dance

[Proposed Light Rail Systems]

The Greater Phoenix area is currently building a light rail system called Valley Metro Rail. It's scheduled to go into operation in December, 2008.