Urban Life

The Rise of the Phoenix... No Small Wonder

Another great piece from Claudia Bullmore of Sky marketing... dowtown Phoenix's chief advocate.

The real voyage of discovery is not in finding new landscapes but in looking with new eyes.   Marcel  Proust
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I have lived in Phoenix for over fifteen years and have been patiently waiting for the sprawl to retreat back to our urban core. About ten years ago I moved from North Scottsdale and bought a  house in Phoenix because I worked for design firm downtown and hated the commute. Back then on my way to work I would drive past derelict looking houses, sandy parking lots, run down businesses and homeless people.

Gratefully, I see some positive changes happening as our downtown matures. But sometimes it is hard  to see the changes from inside of the fishbowl, or should I say dustbowl. Recently, I read an article by Andrew Bender who came to visit from Los Angeles, California. He was surprised to discover that over 10,000 people come out on a single night for First Fridays, making it one of the biggest grass-roots arts events in the country.

This phenomenon seems to indicate that people want a sense of community, something other than what they find in strip malls with their chain stores that all look and sound alike. Bender’s friends also showed him some of the cool, local spots such as Matt’s Big Breakfast, Carly’s Bistro, Cibo and Lux coffee bar. So often Phoenix has been regarded as a stepchild of Los Angeles; it feels encouraging to have Bender to point out that we have as many interesting places like you would find in LA or another West Coast city.

Every time I travel, I find myself defending Phoenix, assuring people that our city is not just composed of endless strip malls, sand-colored condo’s and parking lots. Unfortunately, that is the perception many visitors have of us.

For sure, the distincts and local businesses are what make a city memorable. As a growing city, we ought to do whatever we can to support and frequent local small businesses. Not only are we helping sustain the local economy, we are also bringing the tide back to city-center and build community at the same time.

Let’s take a stand and support the places and businesses that give Phoenix its unique appeal, to find the gems amidst the concrete, dust and stucco. This time of year when we have lots of winter visitors, I challenge you to show them some of the cool spots in town. Organize an outing for your friends on a Saturday and introduce them to a new boutique, coffee shop or record store or the Phoenix Public Market.

If you need a brush up on your ambassador skills, pick up a copy of Small Wonders, the guide to downtown places recently published by Local First and the unstoppable Kimber Lanning. You can also access that information by going to www.localfirstaz.com.  Every one of us has the potential to shift how we see Phoenix. It will take no small wonder for Phoenix to rise to its true greatness; we need to look with new eyes.
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Claudia Bullmore is chief strategist of SKY Marketing, a consulting practice geared towards design firms and entrepreneurs. Companies can select from a menu of marketing and communications programs developed to achieve better business results by design. 
http://www.skymarketingaz.com or 602-909-0157

Claudia’s passion for anything forward-thinking, creative and urban was the inspiration behind IGNITE phoenix, a networking group aimed to stimulate spirited dialogue among cultural creatives who care about how Phoenix evolves. If you would like to learn more about joining this group, please go to IGNITEphoenix.net and come to one of the monthly meetings.

CAVE CREEK HOUSE CONCERT

Attended the 3rd annual Cave Creek House concert yesterday and what a day it was. Some two hundred trop-rock enthusiasts from around the nation gathered to hear some great music.

The entertainers included Mark Mulligan, Kelly McGuire, and Gary Seiler. The 3some took the stage at 1:50. Gary led things off with a great presentation of American the Beautiful and Mark and Kelly joined in and  played until close to 6:00 with a little 3:30 food break.

Each musician played their fan favorites with the other performers taking backup roles. Kelly's "Blame it on Buffett" got the crowd going wild and Mark's "I want to love you like that" brought many to tears.

Dozens of great songs by all three artists wooed  the audience and made for an amazing day of music, fun, and food (provided by the party goers.)

If you would like to be on the invitation list for next year contact the gang at CCHouseConcert@AOL.com. Special kudos got to Tony Schindler for putting together a day to remember.

Gene Urban
The Urban Team

NO NEW HOME TAX INITIATIVE GETS GOING

Signatures are being collected to end the possibility of a real estate transfer tax. What is a transfer tax you ask? In some states across our fair nation legislation passed authorizing the state to change a special tax whenever a home is sold. The State of Washington charges 1.28%, Maryland .5%, Illinois up to .75% and so on.

Our Arizona legislature keeps proposing legislation that would authorize a sales tax on homes and, so far, it has been voted down. The "No New Home Tax" people would to end this possibility by putting it to a vote of the people. If the registered voters of Arizona vote to end this debate, the State would not be able to tax home sales in the future.

We are strongly in favor of ending the possibility of a home tax in Arizona for many reasons. We already pay property taxes and a sales tax would be double taxation. It would raise the costs of buying a home. It further reduces equity when we sell our home. (The average homeowner in New York can pay over $20,000 in transfer taxes.) It would hurt our economy by increasing housing costs and make it even more difficult for the first time home buyer to live the dream of ownership.

If this is an important issue to you, your family, your friends or your dog Fred, please take time to sign the petitions being offered around town.

Have a great weekend...

Gene Urban & Ron Urban
The Urban Team

ASU COLLEGE OF NURSING TO BREAK GROUD ON NEW DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

The ASU downtown campus is embarking on another adventure by adding a 5 story, 84,000 sq ft structure for the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation. 

The college opened its doors in 1960 and has grown to provide outstanding educational opportunities to over 7600 graduates. In 2008 it was ranked by US News and World Report as one of "America's Best Graduate Schools."

The new facility will provide new classrooms for nursing students and serve as a northern gateway to ASU’s  Downtown Phoenix campus. Located at Third and Fillmore streets, the modern glass and copper structure includes a 200-seat auditorium, student facilities and faculty office and research space. The building will include several sustainable elements and Silver LEED certification will be sought from the United States Green Building Council once construction is complete.

Where is the groundbreaking event: College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation lawn, 500 N. Third St., Phoenix 

When is the event: Tuesday, April 1, 8:30 to 10 a.m. 

Speakers for the event are scheduled to include: ASU President Michael Crow, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation Dean Bernadette Melnyk and nursing graduate student Dan Weberg.

For additional information, contact: Julie Newberg, Media Relations, ASU Downtown Phoenix campus

IGNITE PHOENIX MEETS AT LISA G'S

The March meeting of Ignite Phoenix (Claudia Bullmore and Catrina Knoebl brainchild alternative downtown brain-trust gathering) was held last night at Lisa G's.

The guest speaker was Nancy Levinson from the Phoenix Urban Research Laboratory, PERL.  Ms. Levinson discussed the difference between working in an urban environment like Phoenix verse Boston where she lived prior to taking the position at PERL 18 months ago.

Phoenix, Levinson says, is a dynamic environment where the rules and design policy are still in flux whereas Boston's design criteria is well established.

The group, comprising architects, designers, Realtors and historic neighborhood activists, had a lively discussion about the problems confronting both the City and residents who have a vision of the downtown region.

The dynamic of the group was a living example of the problems the region itself experiences... many opinions without a cohesive plan of action. I believe the Ignite Phoenix group can have an impact on the future of the downtown region once it establishes action plans and move from talk to accomplishments.

If you would like to join us at future meetings go to: http://www.urbanaffairaz.com/ignitephoenix/ and RSVP for the next meeting.

PHOENIX ZONING OVERLAY... GOOD FOR DOWNTOWN

In early April the Phoenix City Council will be voting on a proposed zoning overlay designed to streamline the process and make it more cost effective for small businesses to renovate and use older buildings in the downtown area.

Known as the Arts, Culture and Small Business Overlay, this modification to the existing zoning laws would relax parking requirements and allow up to a 25% expansion (up to 500 sq.ft.) without requiring additional parking.

According to Kimber Lanning, director of Local First Arizona/Chain Reaction, the zoning overlay would help in 3 distinct ways: 1) There is an economic advantage to adaptive reuse of older building that is made easier with the zoning change; 2) There is an environmental advantage to using what is already in place: 3) Successful cities integrate the old and the new to give a sense of culture and flavor to the urban area. Such integration encourages a diversity of dwellers and give both character and energy to the region.

The Urban Team is a proponent to this zoning change. First Friday festivities have shown us the potential of our inner city. The gaiety of the artist, music and cultural scene are making downtown Phoenix an interesting and fun place to visit. Encouraging the expansion of an art, culture and small business community will certainly help build and diversify the area.

If you agree, please contact your council person and let them know it is important to you as well.  Click here to find out who your representative is and contact them.

PANE BIANCO... A great place to lunch in Phoenix

Just joined Claudia B, one of our guest authors at Urban Life, for a bit of lunch at Pane Bianco. WOW! 

This littlehole in the wall restaurant is brought to us by the same folks who own Pizzaria Bianco and it is just as good.

I had a delightful sandwich with homemade mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil served on wood-fired focaccia bread. Claudia had a similar sandwich with roasted red peppers instead of the basil.

All I can say is that if you haven't been to Pane Bianco yet, GO. It's located on the west side of Central at 4404... next to Lux Coffee Bar. The place is take out only so plan on sitting outside on the patio they share with Lux, go to the park or take it back to the office and have your work mates drooling.

Enjoy... Gene Urban

The Media is Catching Up To Us

On March 10th we posted an article touting an upswing in the real estate market based on February home sales statistics.  Two weeks later, March 24, 2007, we are seeing the same story being told by The Wall Street Journal, Arizona Republic and other news stories.

The moral of the story is simple... if you want to be ahead of the pack, read UrbanLife. We endeavor to be at the forefront of real estate thought. Maybe that is why we were recently quoted on MSN Money.com.

Thanks for being loyal readers and we will do our best to keep you at the cutting edge.

Gene Urban & Ron Urban

A SMART TIME TO BUY A HOME

We attended a talk given by John Foltz, the designated broker and President of Realty Executives Phoenix. Mr. Foltz is a well know commodity in the national real estate field and has been called on by the Federal Reserve Board to give his opinion of the market.

In our opinion, the most significant aspect of the talk concerned analytical economics verses the social marketplace when evaluating conditions and future trends.

This graph show a simple sign wave and represents the typical ups and downs of the real estate market. The peak on the left occurred in the Greater Phoenix market in July 2005. The trough to the right is where we are heading. The big question is when will the Arizona market hit bottom and start on the next upward swing?

Foltz suggests the use of mathematical models will likely give false results. The better model may be socially based. Not a gut feeling, rather the conclusions reached by those whose lives are based in the industry... Realtors, Escrow & Title Officers, Home Inspectors, Appraisers, Lenders and such.  These people are the first to notice change.

With that in mind, what are the social experts saying. Without exception, lenders, escrow officers, home inspectors and appraisers are saying they are getting busier. When presented with a graph similar to the one pictured, these industry representatives feel we are near the bottom of the curve. The same outcome was reached by a broad base of Realtors who were asked.

We believe Mr. Foltz. We are often shocked by the "Talking Heads" in the media and government. Their analysis and forecasts usually lag behind what we are experiencing. When you think about it this should not be a surprise. They are relying on information, data and opinion often provided by real estate professionals and this information takes TIME to receive, evaluate and disseminate. Its no wonder they are behind the loop.

Based on what we know and hear, the Phoenix market may well be near the bottom of the cycle and the time to buy is coming up fast.

Gene Urban
Ron Urban
The Urban Team at Realty Executives

CEO's MAKE 460 MILLION FOR BEING INCOMPETANT

CNN MONEY had a great article that illustrates some of what is wrong in business today. Click here to read "3 CEO's MAKE $460 MILLION."

To summarized, the House of Representatives is investigating the CEO's of Merrill Lynch, CitiBank and Countrywide.  Each of these businessmen contributed significantly to the current financial crisis by allowing and supporting poor business practices at the firms they represented.

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to know that loaning money to people without certifying their capacity to repay the loan is poor policy. Yet, this is precisely what Countrywide Home Loans promoted and what Merrill and Citibank backed.

Prior to 2000 there were very few lenders who would accept a loan without documentation, and perhaps only one or two vehicles for a 100% LTV, no document loan. A brief survey of the lender market in 2004-2005 suggests there were well over 50 such loan programs available.

Merrill, Citigroup and Countrywide were players in the creation, implementation and backing of these high risk loans. Their CEO's were part of the brain trust that, somehow, thought such practices were reasonable and sensible. Time has proven the concept and support of these loan programs was reckless.

So, what happens to such inept business leaders? Well, Charles Prince, former CEO of Citigroup Inc.; Stanley O'Neal, former CEO of Merrill Lynch & Co.; and Angelo Mozilo., chief executive of Countrywide Financial Corp., were paid over 450 million for their fine leadership.

When will we start demanding good management practices from our business leaders. American stockholders rise up. Stop celebrating ineptitude with hugh payoffs. Most Americans are paid for performance, our leadership needs to live by such standards.

Gene Urban