CityScape and Patriots Park in This Week's Surreal Estate | Jackalope Ranch | Phoenix | Phoenix New Times | The Leading Independent News Source in Phoenix, Arizona
Navigation

CityScape and Patriots Park in This Week's Surreal Estate

This week's Surreal Estate column by Robrt Pela is all about CityScape -- the two-phase, million-dollar, downtown "urban shopping and dining" experience -- that's holding its grand opening on November 4.We've applauded the new bowling alley as a place that's actually open post 10 p.m. on a weeknight, and it's...
Share this:
This week's Surreal Estate column by Robrt Pela is all about CityScape -- the two-phase, million-dollar, downtown "urban shopping and dining" experience -- that's holding its grand opening on November 4.

We've applauded the new bowling alley as a place that's actually open post 10 p.m. on a weeknight, and it's hard to argue with a few new lunch spots close to work, but as supporters of the home team, it's difficult to get behind a project and a new addition to our skyline that doesn't exactly blend with local business or local culture.

Pela writes:

The thinking seems to be that people will be more willing to interact with a downtown core if it looks more like home. It's an interesting -- and also sort of desperate -- approach to getting people to linger downtown after work. And it's one that (surprise!) doesn't do much to acknowledge or incorporate the urban landscape of our existing downtown, a fact that has a lot of dyed-in-the-wool downtowners like Beatrice Moore really pissed off.

In addition to the lack of blending, Beatrice Moore -- owner of Kooky Crafts and superwoman of the Grand Avenue arts scene -- is angry about the promised Patriots Park, which many claim has been swallowed by CityScape development.

Local film guru, Steve Weiss posted a video this morning, asking where the promised park went.

Check out Weiss' video after the jump ...

The replacement of the original park -- covered during CityScape development -- was a part of a trade in the CityScape deal.

What stands in the space now is a paved forum with fountains and trees -- a divisive reminder of what's today considered "urban landscape."

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.