David Krietor has served as CEO of the newly-formed Downtown Phoenix, Inc. (“DPI”) since April 8, 2013. In that time, he has begun work with community stakeholders to develop the downtown we want. “Your Downtown” shares his thoughts and DPI’s progress with the downtown community and beyond. Read the other chats here.
What’s the go-to place when out-of-town politicos, like Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and Elizabeth Warren, find themselves needing much larger space to hold their public events? Why, the Phoenix Convention Center, that’s where. It’s great to see our convention center recognized for “hitting its stride” in the world’s leading news and online resource for the trade show, exhibition, and event industry. Congratulations and thanks to Convention Center Director John Chan and his team for being a connected member of our downtown community.
Traveling from Tempe into Downtown Phoenix earlier this month I counted nine large construction cranes. A number of factors are contributing to this urban building boom. One of the most important is that more people – across the nation and around the globe – want to live, work, go to school, and play near public transportation. This makes passage of Proposition 104 in Phoenix critical to our future as a vibrant urban city. Click here to read a few more of my observations about Prop 104. Our mayor, Greg Stanton, weighs in on the matter in this Arizona Republic op-ed.
In this time of summer stay-cations, I now bring you other “-cations” on several different topics pertaining to our downtown…
Mayor Greg Stanton and U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego tap a keg at the Real Wild & Woody Beer Festival.
CAFE-CATION (FOOD)
Be: Coffee, Food + Stuff now open on Roosevelt Row
Blended & frozen cocktails with Ross Simon of downtown’s Bitter & Twisted
Details announced for 2016 Devoured Culinary Classic
Downtown centennial Old Spaghetti Factory gets face-lift
Hidden Track Bottle Shop now open in Downtown Phoenix
June restaurant openings, closings in metro Phoenix
Mother Bunch Brewery’s Holly Arguello pairs food, beer, pickling & pork belly
Westin’s Downtown Phoenix restaurant gets new chef, menu, look
Real, Wild & Woody Summer Beer Festival showcases best of Arizona brewing
Roberto Dadone & Luca Dagliano open Forno 301 in Downtown Phoenix
Starbucks price increase deters few Downtown Phoenix drinkers
MONET-CATION (ARTS & CULTURE)
Bomba Lucha! merges Mexican wrestling with burlesque at Paz Cantina
Get your comic on at Comicon
McDowell Mountain Music Festival announces 2016 concert date
Need a little urban respite from the great outdoors?
New public art dedicated on Roosevelt Row
Phoenix metro art institutions poised for change
”Phoenix Loves Sci-Fi” film event celebrates Arizona scenery in movies
Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture awards over $800,000 in grants
Rosemarie Dombrowski on Phoenix’s literary scene
The Nash on Roosevelt Row sets jazz offerings for July
ESSAY-CATION (EDUCATION)
ASU downtown academy mentors next generation of public service leaders
ASU downtown camp helps high schoolers get hip to health
ASU downtown group works to create community for Native American students
Construction of ASU’s law school is expected to bring tax revenue & jobs
Higher density housing key to downtown Logan (UT) revival
In a place: former Post Office in Downtown Phoenix
New ASU nursing degrees include holistic, community-health focuses
PURVEY-CATION (BUSINESS)
Game CoLab gets new grant, seeks developers for next incubator program
Inside Roosevelt Barber Shop, where old school meets modern
Local tech firm, WebPT, makes employee health, fitness a priority
The history of the YMCA in Downtown Phoenix
Theranos, ASU team on Downtown Phoenix lab testing site, open to public
Startup PHX challenge winner to relocate to Monroe Building
Velo Bike Shop looks to build Downtown Phoenix cycling community
SURVEY-CATION (DEVELOPMENT)
AIA Phoenix Metro holds “Make a Place” downtown design competition
Christine Mackay takes bold steps for Phoenix’s economy
Coyotes tell fans they want to stay at Gila River Arena
$18.25M financing secured for development of Edison Midtown
How economic developers plan to boost job growth in the new fiscal year
New Downtown Phoenix arena could bring end to Coyotes’ bumpy desert road
New RAPID bus service connects local commuters to Downtown Phoenix
Once-hazardous South Phoenix lot opens to development
Phoenix creates shade on Roosevelt Row with giant planters
Recent sale of One North Central high rise a good sign for downtown Phoenix
Shipping container developments make their home in Downtown Phoenix
ALLAY-CATION (ISSUES)
Campus police say bike thefts dropped significantly in Spring semester
Charities house displaced homeless from closure of CASS overflow shelter
Congressional leaders urge U.S. Senate to help phoenix fight the FAA
Downtown Phoenix security increased with Muslim holiday, liberal convention, and immigration protest
Drinking from sprinklers, Phoenix homeless scrabble to survive heat wave
20 years after Srebrenica, Phoenix holds first ever ‘Walk to Remember’
IN CLOSING
DPI’s What’s Happening Guide for the week of July 20 to July 26 is hot off the presses. It’s an excellent recap of what’s happening in our downtown. You can review and download a copy by clicking here. And… you can find the “latest and greatest” listing of downtown events at our online events calendar and Facebook page. Have an event that should be promoted in the What’s Happening or online calendar? Submit it here.
The post Desk Chat | Your Downtown with David Krietor appeared first on Downtown Phoenix Journal.