Toes In The Water Ass In The Sand is a post from: Rail Life

Is it time to bring sand to the beach? According to some prominent Tempeans, the time is near.

On Tuesday, November 29th at 11am, we will all have the opportunity to hear about a proposal to create a swimming beach, complete with sand, at Tempe Town Lake.

Yes, really.

One of the candidates for Mayor of Tempe,  Michael Monti along with city council candidate Dick Foreman will be discussing plans to make their beach plan a reality for tens of thousands of people to enjoy each year

You’ve heard of Zonies, right? Heck, I’ll bet a buck or two that you are or have been one. With just a 4-5 hour drive to get to the beach at San Diego, many of us head there each year to put our toes in the water, our ass in the sand. Maybe we can keep some of those travel dollars closer to home? Yeah, that’s a bit of a stretch to compare the ocean with Tempe Beach Park, and yeah, their beach is pretty cool, but this idea just might make some $ense.

The Tempe Beach announcement was released November 23rd and has caught the curiosity of many people in and around Tempe. I spoke with Chris Lee of Arizona Stand Up Paddling this week about the possibility of having a place where people could come enjoy a day of beach activities right here in Tempe. Chris seemed cautiously optimistic.

“I think it would be cool” said Chris.

The obvious question arose of the swimming conditions of the lake. Many people are under the impression that Tempe Town Lake is not safe for swimming. It’s my understanding that the lake IS safe to swim. Heck, look at all of the “Iron man” events held there.

Clearly, I’m not an expert on water safety and, clearly, I’m not an attorney, nor have I ever played one on tv. My hunch is that next week’s press conference will answer questions that many will have about the creation of a public beach at Tempe Town Lake. If you want to hear the information straight from the horses candidate’s mouth, join them at the Pedestrian Bridge near the Tempe Center for the Arts on the south side of Tempe Town Lake. The address for the TCA is 700 W Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe.

Beach Front Property?

I can see it now, beach blankets and picnic baskets in the arms of light rail riders heading to Tempe Town Lake. We all know there are almost endless activities already happening along the line at any given time, but this idea is really interesting, in that there are hundreds of households already located on the south side of the lake. Places like 525 Town Lake, Regatta Pointe and, of course, the Hayden Ferry Condominiums are just a short distance from the shores of the lake now, but there isn’t currently a sandy beach setting like we assume could be on the horizon. 

What Do You Think?

Well, what do you think? Are you ready to stick your toes in the water and plop your ass in the sand? Would you swim in the lake? Is this a good thing for Tempe? Plusses and minuses? We will get questions answered on Tuesday at the official announcement of their proposal. I’ll be there, hopefully, you will be as well.

Shop Local – Ride METRO with New App is a post from: Rail Life

What’s near light rail? Thanks to the super cool people at Local First Arizona and at METRO, we will soon have a mobile application to help find all kinds of awesome located within 1/2 mile of our light rail stations. Kimber Lanning and Local First Arizona have been long time supporters and advocates for our communities and this project is a welcome addition to the people living, working, playing and owning businesses along the line. Yes, We have an app for that!

Check out today’s announcement, there will be a LOT of follow up on this one. :)

Campaign Launches Aimed at Connecting Riders to Locally-Owned Restaurants, Shops, and Fun Along Light Rail>

Local First Arizona Partners with METRO Light Rail to Show Riders Where the Unique Businesses Are Located Within a Half Mile of Each Stop

Phoenix, Arizona  (October 7, 2011) – Local First Arizona (LFA) has launched “Shift the Way You Shop,” a campaign aimed at strengthening the local economy, increasing civic pride, and changing consumer buying patterns to increase the economic and cultural sustainability of the region. During this economic downturn LFA has identified a plan that will assist in economic recovery. It will also improve our environment, create jobs and enhance community development.

To celebrate all of the wonderful local businesses in the valley, Local First has partnered with METRO to create a light rail wrap and a full marketing campaign to run through the holidays that will include a mobile app which riders can use to find any locally-owned retail store, restaurant or entertainment within ½ mile of each light rail stop. The mobile app is free and will be available at http://m.shiftarizona.com/ on Wednesday, October 12^th.

“Many people don’t realize how many locally owned businesses are located near the rail,” explained Kimber Lanning, Executive Director of Local First Arizona, “and that choosing a local businesses to patronize means residents are keeping more money right here at home in Arizona.”  Lanning cites several studies that prove that buying locally actually increases community wealth and creates jobs.

For the launch, several notable people in the valley will identify their favorite light rail stops and join riders, local first fans, and others to ride and explore their community.

In Tempe, Councilmember and METRO Board member Shana Ellis will join Local First for a “ride along” where guests and riders will be encouraged to visit her top two light rail stops in Tempe: the Mill Avenue/Third Street station and the Tempe Transportation Center (Veterans Way/College Avenue). Kimber Lanning of Local First will act as tour guide and will offer up bits of history, interesting landmarks, and great new businesses that have opened in the Tempe area.

Those interested in joining the fun should meet at the Dorsey/Apache Boulevard station at 5PM and ride to the Tempe Transportation Center on October 12. The group will be visiting such Tempe establishments as House of Tricks, Here on the Corner, and Canteen and will learn about biking opportunities, community gardens and other little known gems about Tempe.

In Phoenix, Councilmember and METRO Board Chairman Tom Simplot will host stops at Osborn/Central Avenue and Washington/Central Avenue, which are his two favorite stops on the line. Guests will visit an urban living environment along with great infill projects like Hanny’s, Cartel Coffee and more. Again, Kimber Lanning will act as tour guide and will offer up little known facts and history about the Phoenix area. Interested riders should plan to meet the group at Central Avenue/Cameback station at 5 PM on October 18th.

Other local notables will take part in “ride alongs” in October to celebrate the program’s launch. Stay tuned with Local First Arizona for more details.

Prizes will be given away to some lucky riders, so join in the fun and explore the community by learning more about the local businesses that make us proud to call the Valley home. Lanning says, “We’ll even be spreading the word about great local deals like where you can buy a great locally made lunch for only $5.99.” 

”Local businesses are assets to our line,” said METRO CEO Steve Banta.  “The partnership with Local First Arizona is another opportunity for us to connect with these businesses and provide value to our transit riders.”

Shift the Way you Shop was inspired by a study that was recently completed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that examined the spending patterns of residents and businesses. The study determined if all 600,000 people in Grand Rapids county simply shifted 10% of their spending from national to local businesses, the result would be 1600 new jobs, an additional $130 million invested in the local economy and an increase of $50 million in local wages within one year. 

Encore On Farmer Coming to Mill Avenue District is a post from: Rail Life

Mill Avenue has had it’s ups and it’s downs, for sure. In the past, there have been some cool places come and go but the overall feel is that cool things are happening in what is arguably the state’s most urban environment. Lately, there has been quite a buzz about the West 6th buildings and the fact that they have been having quite a bit of success in pre-leasing before their August opening.

When you think of Mill Avenue, do you think of old people? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Soon, that might change as people learn more about Encore on Farmer.  Encore is going to be 56 units of age and income restricted living for seniors 55 and older just outside of the heart of the Mill Avenue District. Located on Farmer Street between 6th and 7th streets, this would seem like a pretty convenient location for any age group. Having senior citizens directly west of West 6th is going to bring an interesting mix of people living in the area.

Construction entrance, Encore on Farmer – West 6th in the background:

Recently, I spoke with the developer of Encore on Farmer and heard him say more than once that more and more seniors are looking to live in urban, walk able neighborhoods. The proximity to public transportation is a big draw and our light rail system can help retired adults enjoy access to restaurants, shops, sporting activities, the arts centers and more. Yes, many people think of Mill Avenue as a college area, but living near ASU can be so much more than books and beer bongs.

This 56 unit project seems to have kind of snuck in under the radar of many people in the area, but construction for Encore on Farmer is already underway and is scheduled ( tentatively ) for a December / January opening.

View Homes Near METRO light Rail in a larger map

The Mill Avenue District is certainly undergoing some changes and there will be literally hundreds of new occupants come this time next year. This location for Encore on Farmer seems to go well with the plan to stretch the Mill Avenue District a bit with the proposed Tempe Modern Streetcar system that is said to be coming down Ash Avenue.

Plenty of changes are in store in downtown Tempe. Don’t push grandma out of the way during nickel beer night, she might whack you with her cane…

*Update: here is a pic the developer sent to us. It shows what the finished product will look like*

Encore of Farmer

What’s In A Name? is a post from: Rail Life

So, what’s in a name? There are actually two name games I can think of when it comes to METRO system in the Phoenix area.

The first topic is what some people call the long, confusing and downright improper use of the METRO station names which can apparently be a detriment to the riders experience.

“Stations need proper names to establish a sense of place, foster community pride, and make the system easy to talk about.” – ARPA

The Arizona Rail Passenger Association has long suggested changes to what they feel can be confusing or unclear station names. What they would like is for METRO to have sensible station names for use with maps, signage and audible alerts on the trains. While many people may not give this topic a ton of thought, others feel it is worth discussing.

These are suggested ( by the ARPA ) names for the stations followed by their current names:

• Bethany / Chris-Town – Montebello & 19th Avenue
• 19th Ave & Camelback – No change suggested yet. The area is in transition.
• Melrose – 7th Ave & Camelback
• Uptown – Central & Camelback
• Central High – Campbell & Central
• Indian School – Indian School & Central
• Park Central – Osborn & Central
• Midtown – Thomas & Central
• Heard Museum – Encanto & Central
• Library – McDowell & Central
• Cathedral – Roosevelt & Central
• Central Station – Van Buren & Central & 1st Avenue
• City Hall – Jefferson Street and Central Avenue and Washington Street and First Avenue
• Convention Center – 3d Street and Washington and 3d Street and Jefferson
• Eastlake / 12th Street – 12th St. & Washington and 12th St. & Jefferson
• 24th Street – 24th St. & Washington and 24th St. & Jefferson
• GateWay – 38th St. & Washington & Jefferson
• Airport – 44th St. & Washington & Jefferson
• Papago Park – Priest Drive & Washington
• Mill – Mill Ave & 3d Street
• Sun Devil – Veterans Way & College
• University – University Drive & Rural Road
• Dorsey – Dorsey & Apache
• McClintock – McClintock & Apache
• Smith-Martin – Smith-Martin & Apache Boulevard
• Loop 101-Price – Price-101 Freeway & Apache
• Dobson – Sycamore & Main

So, do you think the names are a big deal? Obviously, changing the station names and the signage, etc. would cost money and we have heard METRO say, many times, that money doesn’t exactly grow on trees. Is it too late to try and right the ship a little bit going forward and looking at the Mesa light rail stations? Check out the photo below with some suggestions for the upcoming Mesa extension.

The second topic has to do with what to call the trains. Do you ride the light rail? Do you ride the METRO? Do you ride a train or a trolley? Do you care what it is called? “Technically” speaking, our friends at ARPA say that you don’t ride a light rail. Here’s what I have heard…

“The vehicle is a trolley (or train, or tram) not a rail!

Do you ride the street? No, you ride the bus.

Do you board the river? No, you board the boat.

Do you ride the runway? No, you ride the airplane.

Same with trains. Otherwise language makes no sense.”

The photo below try’s to make the point a little more clearly:

Photos by Flickr user wlindley

So, many people, including METRO, say they "ride the light rail" – Does that make sense? Or is it important to note that the trolley rides on the rail and we ride on the trolley?

Hey, I don’t claim to have all of the answers, I’m just a geek that likes to blog… What the heck do YOU think?

Naked Woman Proves Stupidity Exists On The Trains is a post from: Rail Life

We know that an occasional person will drop their drawers along the METRO light rail line every once in a while. Heck, you would really have to be a prude to worry too much about some innocent fun like that, right?

Well, every once in a while, we hear about stupid people doing some really stupid things. Take the chick that was riding a train buck-ass naked last week. Turns out, she did some pretty stupid things.

Ok, so I’m not gonna lie, the first thought I had was that it sounded kind of funny. Hey, they have poles on the trains, maybe she was practicing her craft. After learning more about what happened, I didn’t really find it all that amusing.

After reading the AZCentral article that mentioned court documents revealing that the lady “removed all of her clothing on the light rail while it was moving near 19th Avenue and Camelback Road at about 7 p.m.” ( I have a feeling it wasn’t exactly what the train riders were expecting to see that evening.) When this “lady” decided to hit and spit on an officer, I think she lost the right to be called funny. Since this is a family-friendly show, I’ll try to refrain from too many remarks.

Our Phoenix Police officers have way more important things to do. I’m sure you will be shocked to hear that authorities believe she was under the influence of drugs during her little performance.

Hopefully, the next time we hear about someone dropping their drawers on one of the trains, it will just have been for fun…

Take A Ride, Save Some Cash is a post from: Rail Life

So, Arizona probably just missed making the Top 13 Best U.S. Cities for Public Transit list for the year. After all, people are flocking to our transportation system like crazy!

When reading articles about the successes of light rail and other transportation systems around the country, it’s always interesting to see what is happening in other areas.

I saw another article where the APTA reported that “in major urban areas, individuals on average save $9,656 annually by using public transportation instead of driving.”

So, with the added convenience of living near the light rail line, people are actually realizing that the old “drive until they qualify” mentality doesn’t always make $ense.

For many Americans, the idea of being able to live without a car is unthinkable. In Arizona, however, more and more are thinking it’s a possibility.  As fuel costs rise and the cost of housing in some great locations have become more affordable, people are beginning to think more about “location, location, location” again when choosing a place to live. Lifestyle becomes more of a factor as families, students, empty nesters, professionals, and more begin to think about the overall experience of where they choose to live.

While we might not be in the top 13 cities for public transit, the Phoenix area has come a LONG way in the past couple of years. I have a feeling that some of the smart money is looking very closely at some of the changes happening in our “city within cities” that make up the light rail district.

Downtown Phoenix Vision Survey – Take It! is a post from: Rail Life

Our friends in Downtown Phoenix have posted a survey where you can “take a few minutes to share your thoughts on progress in Downtown Phoenix.”

The survey is based upon a 2004 study where the Phoenix City Council approved “Downtown Phoenix: A Strategic Vision and Blueprint for the Future”.

Most of us know that a LOT has happened in the downtown area since 2004. People are encouraged to participate in this process and to help shape the future of the area.

From the survey we read:

“In December 2004 the Phoenix City Council passed “Downtown Phoenix: A Strategic Vision and Blueprint for the Future”. This was a road map created by all stakeholders in the community to lay out a vision for downtown, what was important and where attention and resources should be spent. Now, six years later in the ten year timeframe for the plan, we want to take stock of what we have accomplished and what we can continue working on given the economic constraints.”

Think about education, think about new business, think about old buildings, think about transportation, think about entertainment, think about development, think about your neighbors, think about open spaces, think about what you desire.

Take the survey, it will only take a few minutes of your time. Remember, silence is not always golden. Be part of the discussion!

44 Monroe Changing from Condos To Apartments is a post from: Rail Life

More details are becoming available about 44 Monroe in downtown Phoenix. About a week ago, my friend Gene Urban told us that the building would be converted into luxury apartments. Today, AZ Central is talking about the recent changes at 44 Monroe, as well.

Apparently, the new owners of 44 Monroe feel that their best bet to see any cash flow from their investment is to dip their toe into the Phoenix rental market.

According to AZ Central, the Phoenix condos will be converted into apartments and a revamped leasing office will open this month. No word yet on lease rates but we’ll try to find out soon.

To me, this is an interesting story on many levels. Let’s say they fill the building by leasing the remaining 196 units which potentially brings another few hundred people to live downtown. Does that help? Can it make a dent in what many hope is a downtown beginning to see some life?

The building at 44 Monroe is about as urban of an address as one will find in the PHX. CityScape obviously has high hopes for the area and several cool restaurants, coffee shops, and local attractions arein the area. Heck, 44 Monroe could be a sports lovers dream, not to mention all of the artsy-fartsy stuff close by ( or easily accessible via light rail ).

Without a doubt there has been a lot of interest in leasing homes near the light rail line lately. 44 Monroe is a gorgeous building with some very cool amenities and some views to die for. Hopefully, things are looking up in downtown Phoenix.

Could Transit Help Fuel A Recovery? is a post from: Rail Life

Around here, we have talked about the economic impact of the Phoenix light rail system many times. There have been several studies mentioned over the past couple of years to make those points, even though the obvious transformations have occurred. Known as a sprawling metropolis, the metro Phoenix area has indeed embraced a more urban lifestyle. The “drive until you qualify” mentality that was once so rampant is taking a back seat to a more realistic approach to housing affordability. Quality of life appears to be changing for large demographic groups of people, and they are taking into consideration a larger picture than just a house payment. Time on the road, along with the cost of a vehicle, fuel, and maintenance, are all being considered in the overall monthly outlay of resources.

Recently, my friend Jason Berman mentioned a very interesting article titled “The Next Real Estate Boom”. Knowing Jason as a super smart guy, and knowing my interest in the real estate business, I decided to take a close look at the article. The article speaks about many interesting topics – all of them seem to be very relevant to many discussions we have had here at Rail Life over the past few years. Given Jason’s mortgage background, I have a feeling that the talk of location efficient mortgages got his attention. While niche mortgages like green mortgages have been talked about here in the past, there is a lot of data suggesting that location efficient mortgages could be a significant part of an economic rebound.

“Fannie Mae has been experimenting with an interesting new product: “location efficient mortgages.” Instead of relying solely on credit score and income to determine whether a borrower qualifies for a mortgage, these loans use electronic map systems to take into account how much homeowners will have to pay for transportation.”

Part of the argument is this; You purchase a home near the light rail line and your cost of living is less, your carbon footprint is smaller and your quality of life is greater. After all, is that 2 hours spent behind the wheel of your car the most productive time of your day? Is living a more urban lifestyle something that millions of people may be looking to do over the next decade or so? Apparently, more than a few people think so.

According to this Brookings Institute article, the near future promises a huge demand for urban walkable neighborhoods.

“the Great Recession has highlighted a fundamental change in what consumers do want: homes in central cities and closer-in suburbs where one can walk to stores and mass transit. Such “walkable urban” real estate has experienced less than half the average decline in price from the housing peak.”

So, let’s go out on a limb and say that these mortgages become widely available. What’s the use? Is there enough demand for such a product on a large enough scale to attract people back to real estate as a viable investment in their future? Are there enough people looking at transportation and other costs when considering a monthly housing payment? Are greenhouse gas emissions even part of the overall equation?

The two largest demographics said to be leading the coming charge for a more urban lifestyle are baby boomers and the millennial generations, which are said to make up nearly half of the American population. Walkable neighborhoods near entertainment, conveniences, hospitals, and great public transportation systems are said to be where much of our future demand may lie. Creating ways to fulfill that demand will take proper planning along with public and private investment. Yes, there is a glut of property on the market right now, but what happens when the demand for walkable neighborhoods increase along with the demographics of growing sections of our populace? Will there be a resurgence in city living? Take a look at the Brookings article and see if it made you think of as many things as it did me. I’ll see if I can’t get one of my mortgage buddies to write some more about location efficient mortgages in the future. I’ll also see if we can’t dive a little deeper into the demographic shift that could be coming as well.

The map below shows a small sample of some of the homes near the METRO light rail system in the Phoenix area. We’ll be adding to the list in the near future. :)

View Homes Near METRO light Rail in a larger map

Centerpoint Condos Still In Limbo is a post from: Rail Life

Many people around here did the happy dance back around September when it was announced that the Centerpoint Condominium tower had been sold. The talk of bringing luxury rentals to the Mill Avenue District was welcomed with open arms by business owners, city leaders and just about anyone else watching this failed project.

It is being reported that the deal Centerpoint Tower deal has hit a snag and that there is an issue with approximately $20 million in liens on the property.

According to the Business Journal article, “the question surfaces about whether any viable deal is possible given the title issues.”

This has to be a huge bummer to MANY people on the developers side, the side of the title company ( not) insuring the transaction and to the many people looking forward to the completion of Centerpoint.

The story says the developer is upset with Fidelity National Title for not allowing them to proceed. Apparently, there are claims of numerous contractors and subcontractors having filed more than $21 million in mechanics liens against the Centerpoint project.

Obviously, there are two sides to every story. I sincerely doubt that Fidelity doesn’t want to close this deal and I am pretty sure Zaremba wants it to close. I spoke with a hotdog at Fidelity today and was told they don’t have a comment at this time. Once that changes, I’ll try to update the information. Interestingly enough, There is a great view of Centerpoint from the Fidelity corporate offices at Hayden Ferry.  I’m sure they will be keeping a very close eye on the situation.

For now, we can continue to see a vacant Centerpoint Tower. Hopefully, the lawyers figure out exactly what is next and there is a resolution to this mess soon. Anyone got an extra $20 million laying around to help get er’ done?