In Mesa - City Endless? - More Cars + More $$$ For Parking Spaces ... What's Wrong With That?

. . . some thoughts from an architect buddy in Toronto  [images added  by MesaZona blogger]

Towards car-free living May 31, 2016 08:51 am Right now, there’s an apartment building in San Francisco that is trying to encourage car-free living by offering residents a $100 per month credit that can be used for Uber and/or for public transit. Prospective residents can even get a $20 credit to go check out the community. (The program is a partnership with Uber.) The reason this leasing strategy caught my attention is because we’re at a point where city builders are now trying to recalibrate themselves to this new emerging world. When I was at the Land & Development conference earlier this month, one developer brought up this exact point. He more or less asked: If you’re starting development on a new building today and you’re expecting approvals in 2 or so years and completion in another 3 or 4 years, what do you think the state of cars/driving will be at that point? Should you really be building all that underground parking? These are great question. And they highlight one of the challenges of development. It takes a long time to bring new supply to the market and a lot can change during that time period. My sense is that we are pretty clearly seeing downward pressure on driving and car ownership. That said, this isn’t the case in every city or in all parts of a particular city. I just got back from a trip to a Detroit where it’s pretty hard to imagine the city being oriented around anything but the car. But in cities like San Francisco and Toronto, car-free living is already a reality for many people and so we need to respond to that. How do you see yourself driving, or not driving, in the next 5 to 10 years? read more

Yes, A Charming Town > What's Missing? Clue = PEOPLE

Mostly MainStreet Images: People Seen: Mimes@MAC, teens on the sidewalk, lunch@ Margarita's

PICTURES ARE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
 Upper Left-hand Corner: Mesa Tribune Headline: TRUTH

An Important Part of A Downtown Vision = People

re·vi·tal·ize

verb: A verb is used to signify the performance of an action. 
Every verb needs a noun to perform its action.

One noun and one verb are the minimum needed to make a complete sentence—for example:

• People left.
• Committees plan.
• Sidewalks wait.

verb: revitalize; 3rd person present: revitalizes; past tense: revitalized; past participle: revitalized; gerund or present participle: revitalizing; verb: revitalise; 3rd person present: revitalises; past tense: revitalised; past participle: revitalised; gerund or present participle: revitalising

imbue (something) with new life and vitality

"a package of investments to revitalize the economy"

synonyms

:

reinvigorate, re-energize, boost, regenerate, revive, revivify, rejuvenate, reanimate, resuscitate, refresh, stimulate,   breathe new life into: LIKE THIS WITH PEOPLE  . . . Light Rail, no cars, green zone, people on the streets, activities, mid-rise buildings with vertical gardens, water-harvesting, urban gardens, solar roof panels: THAT'S A VISION for The New Downtown Mesa

The New Urban Downtown Mesa: Ideas City?

This posting is about another artist who is A SOCIAL ACTIVIST. [Readers of this blog are encouraged to read and watch Theaster Gates on a screen that pops up in an earlier post]. 

Readers are likewise advised that your blogger enjoyed life for many years inside The Big Apple, leaving Manhattan shortly after the destruction of the World Trade Center Towers - circumstances one could hardly imagine happening, but they did. He was there during the events of 2001 - What a Space Odyssey that was! - and now I'm here.

Too often we skim over or quickly scan words or initials: take for example "ozone" or "smog" or "HPA" or "precusors" or "ultraviolet radiation" - words and initials you see in an ADEQ Press Release, again in an earlier post on this blog. 

Sometimes it takes "a political stunt" by an artist to create a visceral response to a common man-made phenomenon: that HPA from ADEQ is one of many High Pollution Alerts

An Edible Geography piece from Nicola Twilley, the mastermind behind the smog meringue endeavor, offered a more compelling explanation for the whimsical treats:
"Our hope is that the meringues will serve as a kind of 'Trojan treat,' creating a visceral experience of disgust and fear that prompts a much larger conversation about the aesthetics and politics of urban air pollution, as well as its health and environmental effects

From The Huffington Post > Smog: A Frivolous Affair?

It's a Wonder-filled life: LRT reducing emissions of carbon monoxide - ya know, like from all those cars on the freeways getting to work by commuting from long-distance sub-urbs. 

Anybody ever think about 

what a day without cars might look like?

Art Assets & Good Bones? It Takes More Than That To Build a Better Downtown

Comic from Build a Better Downtown

The image here is from a May 20, 2015 post "Cindy Ornstein's Love Letter to Mesa" on another blog about Mesa Build A Better Downtown Mesa.
Please hit the link and read the whole article

Cindy Ornstein is the Arts and Cultural Director for the City of Mesa and the Executive Director of the Mesa Arts Center. 
She oversees the Arizona Museum of Natural History, the I.D.E.A. Museum, the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, and cultural events in the City of Mesa.
According to the post, Cindy got the job after an interview in 2010, not having seen Mesa or been to Arizona before that.

Put Some Meat On Those Bones!

Good Bones …  

It takes more than ‘good bones’

That's a phrase I've heard and used more than once.  It is admittedly casual and ill-defined.
In real estate it's usually used in the “distressed” property market that is our reality today.

The problem with the entire notion of good bones—to draw a further anatomical analogy—is that it lacks any discussion of the viscera: the bloodstream, neurology or fascia that flesh out, protect and inhabit this skeletal system. 

Cindy is quoted saying " . . . we manage facilities that are literally owned by the public. My mission is for every citizen to feel pride, ownership and engagement with these assets and resources. . . . It is really about finding the things that are going to be most effective, . . "
[See how the names of bones are turned into a visual in the image to the left]


A city with "good bones" would be one that is well thought out and works well for the people who live there.
Or, does saying that "Mesa has good bones" mean that we have an impressive infrastructure supporting our transportation network?

 

Here's A Vision: Light Rail on Main Street inThe New Urban Downtown Mesa

It's taken from a article by a Distinguished Professor of Architecture, Michael Sorkin City College of New York. Hit this link:  City Limits: How Localizing Is the Key to Our Urban Future

QUESTION: How does a vision like this get localized?
Although many people have questioned building light rail tracks running "right through the heart of downtown Mesa", when it could have been planned on the path of earlier railways from Mesa to Tempe and Phoenix on what is now University Drive, it will now become a warp in weaving the urban fabric important to both the original "One-Square Mile" extending for blocks on/off and north/south of Main Street while creating a long-range transportation corridor.

Mesa History Museum image

Keep in mind that Main Street was once a parking lot as you can see from the visual to the left. Traffic patterns have since moved to highways, freeways, shopping malls, sub-urban sprawls, corporate and industrial parks, technology corridors, and Aerotropolis.

Open Downtown space is now available to plan a clear vision for how the new urban downtown will evolve that is not car-dependent

What you do not see in the visual above are no cars at all - you see light rail and a lot of green with people and activities on the streets.
You see low-rise higher density buildings and vertical gardens, not asphalt-covered heat islands.

It may be a stretch of the imagination to figure out how to localize here in the New Urban Downtown Mesa the features in the urban future envisioned by Michael Sorkin, so let's imagine and seriously get together at a "grassroots" level to regenerate not only the vision of our new urban environment, but make it the world around us. If New York City can transform an old rusty abandoned elevated railway into the High Line surely we can do that on the ground here on Main Street.

Your blogger used to walk by this every day in Central Park: it stuck in my mind

You might want to contact your local organization called ULTIMATE IMAGINATIONS and find out what the Downtown Mesa Association is incorporating into their vision ....
Ultimate Imaginations Inc

You may say I'm a Dreamer, but let's trust I'm not the only one!

SOUTHMACD: Old & New Businesses Regenerate a Block Off-Main Street

Let's give it a name: SouthMacD
The block-long area on Macdonald Street, South of Main Street to First Avenue

Bill Wahl

Your MesaZona blogger wants to start off by going back to an opinion piece from the East Valley Tribune written by Mark J. Scarp on October 27, 2012 about Mesa: 
" . . . downtowns are more than just a collection of a few big-name projects. The large landmarks are the catalyst for an equally vital component to a strong downtown: small business. This includes places to eat, to be entertained, to buy interesting products and services not usually found in a shopping mall."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/columns/east_valley_voices/article_0321bf0e-1fc9-11e2-9957-0019bb2963f4.html 

When your blogger lived in New York City, everyone raved about SOHO, but I always said, "So What?" . . . After living in downtown Mesa for about a year-and-a-half there's no way not to get excited about the block of Macdonald Street South of Main. 
There's a back-access behind 101 Main Street and The Nile Theater that can be called "Arts Alley" -  maybe that should be called AASOM [Get it? Awesome] where you'll find a brick-paved passageway convenient for parking with colorful banners overhead on the sides of buildings for arts, theater and music organizations. 
A few steps away under the veranda sidewalk shade structures in place since the 1980's you can find the locations on the west side of the street for more than 60 years of two of the oldest "Mom & Pop" or just "Pop" service establishments in downtown Mesa: Mesa Typewriter Exchange with 3rd-generation family owner Bill Wahl and Lamb's Shoe Repair where a guy named George took over the business from his previous employer.
When asked how business is going, both owners said "Business is booming" . . . good to know these hands-on owners in skilled manual trades have been keeping customers happy and coming back for so many years when a lot of storefronts and commercial properties on Main Street have stood vacant for far too long.
Your blogger snapped Bill in the middle of taking a call from a customer from his office space at the back of the vintage typewriter displays. He's a busy guy but has taken the time on a number of days to chat about the business development of downtown and to exchange views about friendly politics.

The New Urban Downtown Mesa now has a convenience store. Just down the block a few steps from these two shops is what's called "The Inconvenience Store". It's operated by people from the Transitional Living Center, a nonprofit human services provider,  who lease space on the same side of the street. The Salt Mine Recording Studio is located on this side also.

National Historic Register Plaque

Across Macdonald Street between The Alhambra Hotel, one of the few buildings in downtown listed on the National Historic Register marking the same location since 1895, and the VFW Post at the corner with First Avenue katty-corner to Lenhard's Hardware, are two centers of activity getting fresh paint and/or new entrances or total renovations.

One, Broadway Boxing, a non-profit organization where someone told me a Gold's Gym used to be located, has been providing sports training, recreation, activities and physical conditioning for a younger group of Mesa's diverse population - not those Millenials or Baby Boomers that get so much attention as two desired demographics to attract to downtown.

Having lived in New York City for many years, and right on Broadway in the Upper Westside, there was no way not to notice this graphic on the sidewalk right in front of the door and had to ask, and find out, what's that all about?
The place was always dark inside with lights out when taking my usual morning or afternoon walking jaunts around the streets of downtown.

Click to enlarge

 It's usually open from 4-7 p.m, after normal downtown business working hours and after school times. 
Both tomorrow and Saturday the place comes alive with weigh-ins for boxers and their trainers starting at 7 a.m.  in a big event called "Battle on Broadway".
Bouts start Friday night @ 7, and Saturday afternoon starting at 2:00. Admission is $10, kids under 5 free.

Check out their Facebook page by going to the following link: 
https://www.facebook.com/BroadwayBoxingInc
Great pictures and great comments

There's training and competition for both boys and girls for local championships with outstanding competitors going on to regional finals in Utah.

Image from Broadway Boxing Facebook page

You'll have to wait until Friday, June 5th for the opening of the new next door business, Prime Cut & Sew - a Barbershop and Boutique @ 61 S Macdonald.

Stopped by yesterday noticing work was going on inside and talked to one of the owners Zeke Mendoza after snapping a few images. The front no longer looked like this; today - it had been totally opened up for the installation of new overhead doors.
There will be five cutting stations and a retail area in the front for men's clothing. There were already 3 wall-mounted large-screen HDTVs so look for something more than what you might expect inside a barbershop.

The owners already have a logo and a website
http://primecutandsew.com/

We wish them a great success and hope that it's a Prime & Prosperous Time for the new business owners here with a vote of confidence in the business potential of the New Urban Downtown Mesa.
Stop by on the First Friday Night in June while you're here for activities that fill the streets - It's Opening Night!


Before opening night on June 5th, you can contact one of the owners at this email address: zeke@primecutandsew.com 

SPOTLIGHT: Other Blogs About Downtown Mesa

1. Very nice to see a new posting from May 1, 2015 on the Build a Better Mesa blog ... the previous one was way back on December 31 of last year.
The article features a downtown business owner, Amy Del Castillo who is the co-owner of Lulubell Toy Bodega Lulubell Toys with both a brick-and-mortar retail store on Main Street and an online presence for toy manufacturers and distributors: 

NEDCO's (Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation) business assistance helped Lulubell Toys during the light rail construction. She says, "being a small business with no staff, the NEDCO assistance was a lifesaver!"

Her business mission is to bring art of all kinds to Downtown Mesa and have a place for all kinds of artists to be.

Here's a link to Love Letter To Mesa❤️: Amy Del Castillo 
http://buildabetterdowntownmesa.blogspot.com/2015/05/love-letter-to-mesa-amy-del-castillo.html 

2. The mayor of Mesa, John Giles, has his own blog called Next Mesa

 According to the blog and answering the question, What is NextMesa?, the mayor writes:

"I'm an old Mesa guy. I love reminiscing about the small city I grew up in. We live in a different Mesa now. It's changed and I'm okay with that. The Mesa our children will inherit will even be different from this one. It will be the one we plan and create now. I want us to continue to improve . . ."

On the average of about twice per month he has entries called "what's next food for thought" featuring going to Mesa restaurants usually with City officials, and details about the owners and the reason for the visit. In the posting for April 29, 2015 he had lunch at Orchard Eats with his wife Dawn, with personal, business and family details usually reserved for privacy for those  holding public office. The wife of Mesa's mayor is shown in an image prominently featured on the mayor's blog.

The mayor says the food, prices, location, decor and service at Orchard Eats were all excellent and rated Two thumbs up! by the mayor.

But if you look at the hand gesture in the image it's not two thumbs up .... and it's a gesture that in some cultures is vulgar and offensive. 

3. Mesa Arts Center, the city-owned $98 Million Dollar economic engine currently driving development of the New Urban Downtown Mesa, has its own blog that people may not be familiar with - it's great!
BlogSpot for Mesa Arts Center

Older image from 1EMain Blog

Your MesaZona blogger was particularly impressed with their report from April 16, 2015 about downtown artist Bill Barnhart, with an exhibition "Seattle Series" now on exhibit in the Mesa Contemporary Crafts Museum that runs until August 16th.
Entrance is free to MCAM - please take advantage of the opportunity while you're visiting downtown Mesa.

The New Urban Downtown Mesa is home to artists like Bill Barnhart who live and work downtown from a ‘work of art’ building [image to the right] that he created from scratch. It is located on Center Street just above University Drive on the west side. I've always wondered what that building was all about - it's his studio. 

Here's a 3:45 You Tube Video that was uploaded by the artist on January 18, 2012 of his new art studio that was built over two-and-half years. He says, "It was an amazing learning experience and a test of personal fortitude and determination to see the project to completion......well.....it is NEVER really complete," as he keeps adding new things to it - like the monumental sculpture installation in the left side in the front that was recently photographed.

 

Bill strives to make artwork that will lift, and inspire the hearts and minds of man.

Here's a link to his website: http://www.fineartist.com/home.html