Downtown Phoenix
Encyclopedia
Downtown Phoenix is the central business district
(CBD) of Phoenix
, Arizona
, United States
. It is located near the geographic center of the Phoenix metropolitan area
or Valley of the Sun. Phoenix, being the county seat of Maricopa County and the capital of Arizona, serves as the center of politics, justice and government on the local, state and federal levels. The area is a major center of employment for the region, with many financial, legal, and other national and international corporations housed in a variety of skyscrapers. Major arts and cultural institutions also call the area home. Downtown Phoenix is a center of major league sports activities, live concert events, and is an equally prominent center of banking and finance in Arizona. Regional headquarters for several major banks, including JP Morgan Chase
, Wells Fargo
, US Bank
, Bank of America
, Compass Bank and Midfirst Bank
are all located within or close proximity to the area.
The City of Phoenix defines Downtown as the area between 7th Street and 7th Avenue, from McDowell Road on the north to Buckeye Road on the south. However, the majority of downtown development is concentrated in the smaller area surrounding the intersection of Washington St. and Central Ave (which is the point of origin of Phoenix street addresses and numbering). Downtown Phoenix is one of a few major business districts in the city; others include Midtown Phoenix to the north, and Uptown or the Biltmore District four miles northwest of downtown.
With the first survey of the new town, streets were laid out in a grid, with Washington Street as the main east-west thoroughfare. The north-south streets originally bore Native American tribal names, but were changed to more easily remembered numbers, with everything east of Center Street (later Central Avenue
) named as streets and everything west as avenues. The town continued to grow, and was eventually incorporated as a city on February 28, 1881 centered around downtown.
Throughout 1880's the newly incorporated city made many strides toward modernization with the construction of one the first electric plants in the West as well as the opening of the horse-drawn streetcar line. The Phoenix Street Railway system was eventually electrified and expanded to several different lines that connected Downtown Phoenix to other neighborhoods and cities in the Valley. Independence Day of 1887 heralded the arrival first Southern Pacific train. This opened up the economy of the young city, as goods now flowed in and out by train as opposed to wagon. As Phoenix became the center of commerce in the territory, the capital was moved to Phoenix, with temporary offices being set up in Downtown.
, Phoenix Museum of History, the Phoenix Art Museum
, the Rosson House
and the Burton Barr Central Library
.
Chase Field
is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks
and was the site of the Insight Bowl
from 2001 to 2005. In 2006 Chase Field was the host stadium for the World Baseball Classic. Chase Field has also hosted international soccer games.
The US Airways Center
is home to the Phoenix Suns
, the Phoenix Mercury
, the Arizona Rattlers
and the Phoenix RoadRunners
. US Airways Center hosted the NBA All-Star game on February 15, 2009. It was formerly known as America West Arena before the airline merged with US Airways.
. The Tucson based Arizona Opera
has staged many of its productions in Phoenix at Symphony Hall. Ballet Arizona
also stages many of its productions at Symphony Hall.
Orpheum Theater originally built as a grand movie house in 1927, had undergone a 12 year $14 million extensive renovation ending in 2002. The theater now stages everything from Beauty Pageants to Broadway shows.
The Herberger Theater Center
was built in 1989, has three stages and is home to 3 resident companies: Actors Theater, Arizona Theater Company and Center Dance Ensemble.
The Dodge Theater
, a Live Nation
venue, is a state of the art entertainment venue designed specifically for concerts, Broadway shows, family stage shows, and boxing. The Dodge Theatre seats up to 5,000 people.
, at 40 stories and a height of 483 feet (147.2 m), is the tallest. US Bank Center
’s 31 floors and 407 feet (124.1 m) tall is number two. 44 Monroe
, at 34 floors and a height of 380 feet (115.8 m) is Phoenix’s 4th tallest. One Central Park East
tops out at 26 floors and is 116.7 meters (382 ft) tall.
The architecture
of Downtown offers many examples of 20th century architectural styles including the Beaux Arts-style Security Building and Hotel San Carlos. Art Deco
design can be seen in Luhrs Tower
, Hotel Monroe (formerly the Professional Building) and the Orpheum Lofts. International Style
was popular from the 1960s to the 1980s and prime examples include Chase Tower
and US Bank Center
. The short-lived brutalist style has only one example in downtown Phoenix in the Wells Fargo Plaza
. Post modern, with its return to architectural ornamentation, can be seen in the Bank of America Tower
, both towers at the Arizona Center
and, most notably, in the crown of the Phoenix City Hall Building.
The recent trend of urban living has led to the conversion of the 1930s-era Phoenix Title and Trust building to condominiums called Orpheum Lofts; as well as the newly built residential towers 44 Monroe
and The Summit at Copper Square, with many more in the planning stages. Taylor Place, two 13-story towers which serve as the new residential community of the Downtown campus of Arizona State University, opened in August 2008. Alta Phoenix Lofts, a multi-level, 332-unit apartment project, is rising north of the Arizona Center.
The Lath House Pavilion, although completed in 1980, its design is heavily influenced by combining 19th Century concepts of a botanical conservatory, a gazebo, a beer garden and a pedestrian shopping arcade, all of which were common features of early Phoenix architecture. The Pavilion hosts many national and cultural festivals throughout the year.
The Rosson House is the cornerstone of a city block dating from the late 19th century. The Rosson House
has been resorted to its Victorian roots and offers tours.
The Duplex, built in 1923, is the youngest of the homes on the block. Its sleeping porches constructed with canvas and wood panels, let in the cool evening desert air.
The Carriage House is located in the center of the Square. It was built as a mule barn for the Teeter House in 1899.
The Silva House, a bungalow with neoclassical revival influences, was built in 1900. The Rose and Crown, an English Pub now occupies this historical home.
The Bouvier-Teeter House was built in 1899. It is now a Victorian Tea Room.
The Baird Machine Shop was a commercial structure when it was built in 1929. It is now home to Pizzeria Bianco, which has been named by various sources as the best Pizza in America.
The Thomas House was moved to block 15, of Historic Heritage Square in the 1980s to save the home from demolition. This 1909 neoclassical styled building houses Bar Bianco, an adjunct to Pizzeria Bianco.
The Stevens- Haugsten House was built in 1901 as a rental property. The building is significant for its representation of the historic California bungalow style built around the turn of the 20th century.
The Stevens House, built in 1901 with obvious midwestern influences, now houses The Arizona Doll & Toy Museum.
mixed-use area with a significant concentration of artists and other creative professionals." Since 1994 the monthly First Friday
s artwalk has grown to become the largest monthly artwalk in the United States. Increasing interest in this area has prompted Rooselvelt Row to becoming more pedestrian-friendly and is supportive of small local independent businesses that give downtown Phoenix character. The area's development is overseen by the non-profit Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation.
, North Encanto, Willo and Woodlea.
Encanto-Palmcroft Historic District
Rooted firmly in the City Beautiful movement of planning, the Palmcroft and Encanto Districts were developed starting in the late 1920s. With winding lanes, tree-lined streets, lush landscaping and nearby Encanto Park, this neighborhood resembles more of an English suburb than a Phoenician neighborhood. The district contains many larger, period revival manors, marking a time when it was a getaway from the hustle and bustle of early city life.
operates the Downtown Phoenix Post Office at 522 North Central Avenue.
.
Many movies have been filmed in Phoenix using downtown locations.
march 1956
Arizona Biltmore.2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ.(marilyn's favorite pool)
may 3 1956 to June 3 1956
Hotel San Carlos 202 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ.(she skinny dipped at this pool)
Westward Ho . 618 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ(she skinny dipped at this hotel as well.the parade from bus stop was filmed across central with the hotel in the back ground )
The Sahara inn .401 N 1st St Phoenix, AZ 85004.(was bought by remada inn .towrn down in 2010,marilyn lived in the penthouse)
greyhound bus stop.347 N 1st St Phoenix, AZ 85004(replaced with a newer skyscraper)
Arizona state fairground 1826 West McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ 85007-1612
Live in Roosevelt Row:
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
(CBD) of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located near the geographic center of the Phoenix metropolitan area
Phoenix Metropolitan Area
The Phoenix metropolitan area, often referred to as The Valley of the Sun, is a metropolitan area, centered on the city of Phoenix, that includes much of the central part of the US state of Arizona...
or Valley of the Sun. Phoenix, being the county seat of Maricopa County and the capital of Arizona, serves as the center of politics, justice and government on the local, state and federal levels. The area is a major center of employment for the region, with many financial, legal, and other national and international corporations housed in a variety of skyscrapers. Major arts and cultural institutions also call the area home. Downtown Phoenix is a center of major league sports activities, live concert events, and is an equally prominent center of banking and finance in Arizona. Regional headquarters for several major banks, including JP Morgan Chase
Chase Tower (Phoenix)
The Chase Tower in Phoenix, Arizona is the tallest building in the state of Arizona. Built in 1972, it is 483 feet tall. It was originally built for local financial heavyweight Valley National Bank, which Bank One merged with in 1994...
, Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo Plaza (Phoenix)
The Wells Fargo Plaza is a high-rise skyscraper located on 100 West Washington Street in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It opened as the First National Bank Plaza on October 25, 1971. It is 372 feet tall. It is designed in the Brutalist style, an architectural style spawned from the...
, US Bank
US Bank Center (Phoenix)
The US Bank Center is a highrise in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the second tallest building in the state of Arizona. Built in 1976, it is 407 feet tall. When it was built, it served as the headquarters for The Arizona Bank. Bank of America then occupied the tower until 2000 when the Bank of America...
, Bank of America
Bank of America Tower (Phoenix)
The Bank of America Tower is a highrise in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The tower is the centerpiece of the Collier Center, a multi-use office and entertainment complex. The tower was completed in 2000 and serves as the state headquarters for Bank of America. It rises 360 feet , topping out at 23...
, Compass Bank and Midfirst Bank
Renaissance Square
Renaissance Square is a high-rise complex located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The complex includes two towers: One Renaissance Square at with 26 floors, and Two Renaissance Square at with 28 floors. Although a part of the same complex, Tower 1 was completed in 1986 while Tower 2 was...
are all located within or close proximity to the area.
The City of Phoenix defines Downtown as the area between 7th Street and 7th Avenue, from McDowell Road on the north to Buckeye Road on the south. However, the majority of downtown development is concentrated in the smaller area surrounding the intersection of Washington St. and Central Ave (which is the point of origin of Phoenix street addresses and numbering). Downtown Phoenix is one of a few major business districts in the city; others include Midtown Phoenix to the north, and Uptown or the Biltmore District four miles northwest of downtown.
Territorial era
In 1870, a meeting was held to select a town site for the influx of pioneers coming to the recently recognized town of Phoenix. 320 acres were purchased for $50 raised by popular subscription. This original site, the whole of the town of Phoenix in that day, encompasses what would presently be the Downtown Core, bordered by Van Buren Street south to Jackson Street, and Seventh Street to Seventh Avenue.With the first survey of the new town, streets were laid out in a grid, with Washington Street as the main east-west thoroughfare. The north-south streets originally bore Native American tribal names, but were changed to more easily remembered numbers, with everything east of Center Street (later Central Avenue
Central Avenue
Central Avenue is an often used road name. Major thoroughfares with this name include:Canada* Central Avenue India* Chittaranjan Avenue, in Kolkata, IndiaUnited States* Central Avenue Corridor in Phoenix, Arizona...
) named as streets and everything west as avenues. The town continued to grow, and was eventually incorporated as a city on February 28, 1881 centered around downtown.
Throughout 1880's the newly incorporated city made many strides toward modernization with the construction of one the first electric plants in the West as well as the opening of the horse-drawn streetcar line. The Phoenix Street Railway system was eventually electrified and expanded to several different lines that connected Downtown Phoenix to other neighborhoods and cities in the Valley. Independence Day of 1887 heralded the arrival first Southern Pacific train. This opened up the economy of the young city, as goods now flowed in and out by train as opposed to wagon. As Phoenix became the center of commerce in the territory, the capital was moved to Phoenix, with temporary offices being set up in Downtown.
Attractions
Downtown Phoenix has many points of interest including museums, sports venues, performing arts venues and a thriving art scene.Museums
Downtown's cultural attractions attractions include the Arizona Science CenterArizona Science Center
Arizona Science Center is focused on inspiring, educating, and entertaining people about science. The Center is located in Heritage and Science Park in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Home to over 350 permanent hands-on exhibits, the Center is able to provide their 400,000 annual visitors with...
, Phoenix Museum of History, the Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix art museum
The Phoenix Art Museum is the Southwest United States' largest art museum for visual art. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the museum is . It displays international exhibitions alongside its comprehensive collection of more than 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western...
, the Rosson House
Rosson House
The Rosson House was built in 1895 and still sits in its original foundation in downtown Phoenix’s Heritage Square. Originally named for Dr. Roland Lee Rosson and his wife Flora Murry, this house changed hands numerous times before finally being purchased by the city and restored very accurately to...
and the Burton Barr Central Library
Burton Barr Central Library
The Burton Barr Central Library is the central library in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the flagship location and administrative headquarters for the Phoenix Public Library....
.
Sports
Downtown Phoenix has a large sports presence.Chase Field
Chase Field
Chase Field is a baseball stadium located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. It opened in , just in time for the Diamondbacks' first game as an expansion team...
is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and was the site of the Insight Bowl
Insight Bowl
The Insight Bowl is an NCAA college football bowl game played in Arizona since 1989. From 1989 to 1999, the games were played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. The game moved to Phoenix in 2000 and was played at Chase Field until 2005. After the 2005 playing the Insight Bowl moved to Sun Devil Stadium...
from 2001 to 2005. In 2006 Chase Field was the host stadium for the World Baseball Classic. Chase Field has also hosted international soccer games.
The US Airways Center
US Airways Center
US Airways Center is a sports and entertainment arena located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It opened in 1992, and is the home of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena...
is home to the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
, the Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
and the Phoenix RoadRunners
Phoenix RoadRunners
The Phoenix RoadRunners were a minor league ice hockey team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They played in the ECHL, beginning in the 2005–2006 season and ceasing operations at the end of the 2008-2009 season...
. US Airways Center hosted the NBA All-Star game on February 15, 2009. It was formerly known as America West Arena before the airline merged with US Airways.
Performing arts
Phoenix Symphony Hall is home to the Phoenix SymphonyPhoenix Symphony
The Phoenix Symphony is a major United States symphony orchestra based in Phoenix, Arizona.Founded in 1947 when Phoenix had a population of less than 100,000, the orchestra began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year...
. The Tucson based Arizona Opera
Arizona Opera
Arizona Opera is an opera company which operates in both Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.Arizona Opera was established in 1971 as the Tucson Opera Company, under founding general director James P. Sullivan, and presented its first production, of Rossini's The Barber of Seville, in 1972. By 1976 the...
has staged many of its productions in Phoenix at Symphony Hall. Ballet Arizona
Ballet Arizona
Ballet Arizona is a professional ballet company in Phoenix, Arizona directed by Ib Andersen. The company was created in 1986 by a merger of three smaller Arizonan dance companies that were struggling to survive...
also stages many of its productions at Symphony Hall.
Orpheum Theater originally built as a grand movie house in 1927, had undergone a 12 year $14 million extensive renovation ending in 2002. The theater now stages everything from Beauty Pageants to Broadway shows.
Herberger Theater Center
Herberger Theater Center is an indoor performance venue featuring three stages in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Each year, approximately 175,000 patrons, including 30,000 school-aged children share the unique experience of live performing arts on their stages....
was built in 1989, has three stages and is home to 3 resident companies: Actors Theater, Arizona Theater Company and Center Dance Ensemble.
The Dodge Theater
Dodge Theater
Comerica Theatre is an indoor concert hall and arena in Phoenix. The venue seats 5,500 people and hosts many musical artists and shows...
, a Live Nation
Live Nation
Live Nation is a live-events company based in Beverly Hills, California, focused on concert promotions. Live Nation formed in 2005 as a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, which then merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment....
venue, is a state of the art entertainment venue designed specifically for concerts, Broadway shows, family stage shows, and boxing. The Dodge Theatre seats up to 5,000 people.
Architecture
About twenty-five mid-rise and high-rise buildings ranging up to 40 stories tall pierce the skyline. Three of the five tallest skyscrapers in the state of Arizona are in Downtown Phoenix. Chase TowerChase Tower (Phoenix)
The Chase Tower in Phoenix, Arizona is the tallest building in the state of Arizona. Built in 1972, it is 483 feet tall. It was originally built for local financial heavyweight Valley National Bank, which Bank One merged with in 1994...
, at 40 stories and a height of 483 feet (147.2 m), is the tallest. US Bank Center
US Bank Center (Phoenix)
The US Bank Center is a highrise in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the second tallest building in the state of Arizona. Built in 1976, it is 407 feet tall. When it was built, it served as the headquarters for The Arizona Bank. Bank of America then occupied the tower until 2000 when the Bank of America...
’s 31 floors and 407 feet (124.1 m) tall is number two. 44 Monroe
44 Monroe
44 Monroe is a $70 million , residential high-rise building, located at the northeast corner of Monroe Street and First Avenue in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona...
, at 34 floors and a height of 380 feet (115.8 m) is Phoenix’s 4th tallest. One Central Park East
One Central Park East
Freeport-McMoRan Center is a highrise located in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It is located adjacent to Arizona State University's Downtown campus. Upon completion in 2009, the building was the first high-rise office tower to open in Downtown Phoenix in nearly eight years...
tops out at 26 floors and is 116.7 meters (382 ft) tall.
The architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
of Downtown offers many examples of 20th century architectural styles including the Beaux Arts-style Security Building and Hotel San Carlos. Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
design can be seen in Luhrs Tower
Luhrs Tower
Luhrs Tower is an Art Deco skyscraper office building in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It is located at the southeast corner of First Avenue and Jefferson Street, on the south side of the former Patriots Square Park. Built in 1929 by George Luhrs, a prominent local businessman, the tower reaches a...
, Hotel Monroe (formerly the Professional Building) and the Orpheum Lofts. International Style
International style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
was popular from the 1960s to the 1980s and prime examples include Chase Tower
Chase Tower (Phoenix)
The Chase Tower in Phoenix, Arizona is the tallest building in the state of Arizona. Built in 1972, it is 483 feet tall. It was originally built for local financial heavyweight Valley National Bank, which Bank One merged with in 1994...
and US Bank Center
US Bank Center (Phoenix)
The US Bank Center is a highrise in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the second tallest building in the state of Arizona. Built in 1976, it is 407 feet tall. When it was built, it served as the headquarters for The Arizona Bank. Bank of America then occupied the tower until 2000 when the Bank of America...
. The short-lived brutalist style has only one example in downtown Phoenix in the Wells Fargo Plaza
Wells Fargo Plaza (Phoenix)
The Wells Fargo Plaza is a high-rise skyscraper located on 100 West Washington Street in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It opened as the First National Bank Plaza on October 25, 1971. It is 372 feet tall. It is designed in the Brutalist style, an architectural style spawned from the...
. Post modern, with its return to architectural ornamentation, can be seen in the Bank of America Tower
Bank of America Tower (Phoenix)
The Bank of America Tower is a highrise in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The tower is the centerpiece of the Collier Center, a multi-use office and entertainment complex. The tower was completed in 2000 and serves as the state headquarters for Bank of America. It rises 360 feet , topping out at 23...
, both towers at the Arizona Center
Arizona Center
Arizona Center's fortunes are expected to revive as a 30-story Sheraton Phoenix Downtown hotel opened in the fall of 2008. Also, several high-end condo projects in the downtown area are either under construction, newly opened, or in the planning stages....
and, most notably, in the crown of the Phoenix City Hall Building.
The recent trend of urban living has led to the conversion of the 1930s-era Phoenix Title and Trust building to condominiums called Orpheum Lofts; as well as the newly built residential towers 44 Monroe
44 Monroe
44 Monroe is a $70 million , residential high-rise building, located at the northeast corner of Monroe Street and First Avenue in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona...
and The Summit at Copper Square, with many more in the planning stages. Taylor Place, two 13-story towers which serve as the new residential community of the Downtown campus of Arizona State University, opened in August 2008. Alta Phoenix Lofts, a multi-level, 332-unit apartment project, is rising north of the Arizona Center.
Historic Heritage Square
Historic Heritage Square is part of Heritage and Science Park on the east end of downtown. It encompasses the only remaining group of residential structures from the original town site of Phoenix.The Rosson House is the cornerstone of a city block dating from the late 19th century. The Rosson House
Rosson House
The Rosson House was built in 1895 and still sits in its original foundation in downtown Phoenix’s Heritage Square. Originally named for Dr. Roland Lee Rosson and his wife Flora Murry, this house changed hands numerous times before finally being purchased by the city and restored very accurately to...
has been resorted to its Victorian roots and offers tours.
The Duplex, built in 1923, is the youngest of the homes on the block. Its sleeping porches constructed with canvas and wood panels, let in the cool evening desert air.
The Carriage House is located in the center of the Square. It was built as a mule barn for the Teeter House in 1899.
The Silva House, a bungalow with neoclassical revival influences, was built in 1900. The Rose and Crown, an English Pub now occupies this historical home.
The Bouvier-Teeter House was built in 1899. It is now a Victorian Tea Room.
The Baird Machine Shop was a commercial structure when it was built in 1929. It is now home to Pizzeria Bianco, which has been named by various sources as the best Pizza in America.
The Thomas House was moved to block 15, of Historic Heritage Square in the 1980s to save the home from demolition. This 1909 neoclassical styled building houses Bar Bianco, an adjunct to Pizzeria Bianco.
The Stevens- Haugsten House was built in 1901 as a rental property. The building is significant for its representation of the historic California bungalow style built around the turn of the 20th century.
The Stevens House, built in 1901 with obvious midwestern influences, now houses The Arizona Doll & Toy Museum.
Roosevelt Row
Roosevelt Street is an east-west corridor that runs through the northern edge of Downtown. Roosevelt Row, roughly bounded by 3rd Avenue to 7th Street, has reinvented itself from a blighted, drug infested area to the epicenter of the Central Phoenix art scene. This neighborhood has become home to artist live/work spaces, gallery spaces and studio spaces. It has been described as "a dynamic, walkable urbanUrban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
mixed-use area with a significant concentration of artists and other creative professionals." Since 1994 the monthly First Friday
First Friday
"First Friday" is a name for various public events in some cities that occur on the first Friday of every month....
s artwalk has grown to become the largest monthly artwalk in the United States. Increasing interest in this area has prompted Rooselvelt Row to becoming more pedestrian-friendly and is supportive of small local independent businesses that give downtown Phoenix character. The area's development is overseen by the non-profit Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation.
Historic neighborhoods
Downtown and Central Phoenix are home to several historic neighborhoods ranging from turn of the 20th-century Victorian to mid-20th-century modern architecture. Some of them are more established and in-demand like the Willo and Encanto-Palmcroft districts, while others are still redeveloping. Some of the more well-known districts include Coronado, Encanto-Palmcroft, FQ StoryF. Q. Story Neighborhood Historic District
The F. Q. Story Neighborhood Historic District is located in central Phoenix, Arizona, USA. The neighborhood runs from McDowell Road south to Roosevelt Street and from Seventh Avenue west to Grand Avenue. The neighborhood as well as many of the individual houses are listed on the National Register...
, North Encanto, Willo and Woodlea.
Encanto-Palmcroft Historic District
Rooted firmly in the City Beautiful movement of planning, the Palmcroft and Encanto Districts were developed starting in the late 1920s. With winding lanes, tree-lined streets, lush landscaping and nearby Encanto Park, this neighborhood resembles more of an English suburb than a Phoenician neighborhood. The district contains many larger, period revival manors, marking a time when it was a getaway from the hustle and bustle of early city life.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Downtown Phoenix Post Office at 522 North Central Avenue.
Downtown Phoenix in film and television
Mel's Diner, on the outskirts of downtown has been an old Phoenix landmark for decades. It's famous for being the setting for the TV sitcom AliceAlice (TV series)
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to July 2, 1985 on CBS. The series was based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job...
.
Many movies have been filmed in Phoenix using downtown locations.
- The 19601960 in filmThe year 1960 in film involved some significant events, with Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho the top-grossing release in the U.S.-Events:* April 20 - for the first time since coming home from military service in Germany, Elvis Presley returns to Hollywood, California to film G.I...
film, PsychoPsycho (1960 film)Psycho is a 1960 American suspense/psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins. The film is based on the screenplay by Joseph Stefano, who adapted it from the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch...
features the Downtown Phoenix skyline in the opening shot. Originally Alfred HitchcockAlfred HitchcockSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
wanted a helicopter shot to fly through downtown into the window of a hotel, but the shot was changed to a series of pan and fade shots. - In the 19981998 in film-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...
remake of PsychoPsycho (1998 film)Psycho is a 1998 American horror film produced and directed by Gus Van Sant for Universal Pictures, a remake of the 1960 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock...
Gus Van SantGus Van SantGus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
filmed the opening shot using a helicopter and zooming into the 8th floor of the Westward HoWestward Ho (Phoenix)Westward Ho is a skyscraper located at 618 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona, formerly occupied by a hotel of the same name. When completed in 1928, the 208-foot hotel was the tallest building in Arizona, a title it held until 1960....
. - The mall scene in Bill & Ted's Excellent AdventureBill & Ted's Excellent AdventureBill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction–comedy buddy film and the first film in the Bill & Ted franchise in which two metalhead slackers travel through time to assemble a menagerie of historical figures for their high school history presentation.The film was written by...
was filmed in Metrocenter Mall. - Parade scenes for the 1956 Marilyn MonroeMarilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
film, Bus StopBus Stop (film)Bus Stop is a 1956 film directed by Joshua Logan for 20th Century Fox, starring Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Arthur O'Connell, Betty Field, Eileen Heckart, Robert Bray and Hope Lange...
, were filmed in front of the Westward HoWestward Ho (Phoenix)Westward Ho is a skyscraper located at 618 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona, formerly occupied by a hotel of the same name. When completed in 1928, the 208-foot hotel was the tallest building in Arizona, a title it held until 1960....
. - In the film Waiting to ExhaleWaiting to ExhaleWaiting to Exhale is a 1995 romance film starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett, directed by Forest Whitaker. The movie was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Dennis Haysbert, Michael Beach, Gregory Hines, Donald Faison and Mykelti...
, Lela RochonLela RochonLela Rochon is an American actress who is best known for her role as Robin Stokes in the movie Waiting to Exhale....
is shown in front of the Phoenix City HallPhoenix City HallPhoenix City Hall is the city hall for the City of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Located in Downtown Phoenix, the building rises 20 floors and in height. Designed by architect Langdon Wilson, Phoenix City Hall began construction in 1992 and was completed in 1994. This city hall replaced the...
building in her character’s introduction scene. - In the film The Gauntlet, the open shots feature the Phoenix skyline. Downtown is also used in the final climatic shoot-out between Clint Eastwood'sClint EastwoodClinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
character and the Phoenix Police, ending in front of the Phoenix Symphony Hall. - In the film Ninja III: The DominationNinja III: The DominationNinja III: The Domination is a 1984 film directed by Sam Firstenberg, and stars Lucinda Dickey as Christie, Jordan Bennett as Officer Billy Secord, and James Hong as Miyashima...
, a car chase uses the streets of downtown. - Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The MovieBlue Collar Comedy Tour: The MovieBlue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie is a 2003 stand-up comedy film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It stars renowned comedians Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall and fellow Blue Collar comics Ron White and Larry The Cable Guy. The movie is similar in nature to that of The Original Kings of Comedy...
was filmed at The Dodge TheaterDodge TheaterComerica Theatre is an indoor concert hall and arena in Phoenix. The venue seats 5,500 people and hosts many musical artists and shows...
in 2003. - In the 1978 made for TV movie A Fire in the Sky, a comet crashes into EarthEarthEarth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
west of the city which destroys downtown Phoenix. Many landmarks are shown during the destruction. Wells Fargo PlazaWells Fargo Plaza (Phoenix)The Wells Fargo Plaza is a high-rise skyscraper located on 100 West Washington Street in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It opened as the First National Bank Plaza on October 25, 1971. It is 372 feet tall. It is designed in the Brutalist style, an architectural style spawned from the...
and the Hyatt Regency PhoenixHyatt Regency PhoenixThe Hyatt Regency Phoenix is a convention hotel in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA. It is 317 feet tall and has 24 floors. It was completed in 1976. The top floor has a revolving restaurant. It was designed by Charles Luckman and Associates to complement the Phoenix Civic Plaza and Phoenix...
are shown collapsing while the glass skin of the Chase TowerChase Tower (Phoenix)The Chase Tower in Phoenix, Arizona is the tallest building in the state of Arizona. Built in 1972, it is 483 feet tall. It was originally built for local financial heavyweight Valley National Bank, which Bank One merged with in 1994...
, is blown from its steel skeleton. The antennaAntenna (radio)An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
of the Westward HoWestward Ho (Phoenix)Westward Ho is a skyscraper located at 618 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona, formerly occupied by a hotel of the same name. When completed in 1928, the 208-foot hotel was the tallest building in Arizona, a title it held until 1960....
falls to the ground as a result of the impact blast. This film should not be confused for the 1993 alien abduction movieFire in the SkyFire in the Sky is a 1993 film based on an alleged extraterrestrial encounter, directed by Robert Lieberman, and written by Tracy Tormé based on Travis Walton's book The Walton Experience. The film stars Robert Patrick in the leading role as Walton's best friend and future brother-in-law, Mike...
of the same name. - In The Banger SistersThe Banger SistersThe Banger Sisters is a 2002 American comedy film produced by Fox Searchlight Pictures about the reunion of two middle-aged women who used to be friends and groupies when they were young. The movie starred Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon and Geoffrey Rush...
, the skyline is featured. - In the film The GetawayThe Getaway (1994 film)The Getaway is a 1994 crime thriller and a remake of the 1972 film of the same name. The film stars Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Michael Madsen, James Woods, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jennifer Tilly, and was directed by Roger Donaldson.-Plot:...
, Phoenix stands in for Albuquerque with Kim BasingerKim BasingerKimila Ann "Kim" Basinger is an American actress and former fashion model.She is known for her portrayals of Domino Petachi, the Bond girl in Never Say Never Again , and Vicki Vale, the female lead in Batman . Basinger received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture...
navigating through downtown’s streets and alleys. - The Arizona CenterArizona CenterArizona Center's fortunes are expected to revive as a 30-story Sheraton Phoenix Downtown hotel opened in the fall of 2008. Also, several high-end condo projects in the downtown area are either under construction, newly opened, or in the planning stages....
is used in the opening scenes of the 1998 film, Phoenix. - The Paul NewmanPaul NewmanPaul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
film, Pocket MoneyPocket MoneyPocket Money is a 1972 film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, from a screenplay written by Terrence Malick and based on the novel Jim Kane by Joseph P. Brown...
, used the Westward HoWestward Ho (Phoenix)Westward Ho is a skyscraper located at 618 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona, formerly occupied by a hotel of the same name. When completed in 1928, the 208-foot hotel was the tallest building in Arizona, a title it held until 1960....
courtyard for scenes in 1972. - Olympic gold medalist Mitch GaylordMitch GaylordMitchell Jay Gaylord , is an American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist.Gaylord was born in Van Nuys, California, son of Fred and Linda Gaylord. While attending UCLA, he won the All-Around in the 1983 and 1984 U.S...
was filmed in the final competition scenes for 1986’s American AnthemAmerican AnthemAmerican Anthem is a 1986 American film produced by Lorimar Motion Pictures and released in North America by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by Albert Magnoli, and starred Mitch Gaylord and Janet Jones. The subject of the film was a football player turned gymnast that was seeking to join the...
at the now-razed Phoenix Union High School gym. - In October 2008, Luke WilsonLuke WilsonLuke Cunningham Wilson is an American film actor known for his roles in Old School, Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums, Legally Blonde, Idiocracy and Death at a Funeral.-Early life:...
shot scenes throughout downtown for Middlemen. - Marilyn Monroe in phoenix AZ.
march 1956
Arizona Biltmore.2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ.(marilyn's favorite pool)
may 3 1956 to June 3 1956
Hotel San Carlos 202 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ.(she skinny dipped at this pool)
Westward Ho . 618 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ(she skinny dipped at this hotel as well.the parade from bus stop was filmed across central with the hotel in the back ground )
The Sahara inn .401 N 1st St Phoenix, AZ 85004.(was bought by remada inn .towrn down in 2010,marilyn lived in the penthouse)
greyhound bus stop.347 N 1st St Phoenix, AZ 85004(replaced with a newer skyscraper)
Arizona state fairground 1826 West McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ 85007-1612
External links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwHa8a6ZcJw - Video celebrating Phoenix Architecture
- Phoenix Museum of History
- Downtown Phoenix formerly Copper Square - Downtown Phoenix Partnership
- Phoenix Convention Center
- Art Link
- Copper Square news regarding Phoenix Convention Center
- Roosevelt Row
Live in Roosevelt Row:
- http://www.roosevelt11.com
- http://www.metro4twelve.com