Items Tagged ‘Phoenix’
Adapt-A-Building
Synopsis:
The editorial staff at the Phoenix Magazine in Phoenix, Arizona, is calling for an adapt-a-building program for the Phoenix area. While Phoenix is going through a remaking process to right the wrongs of its immense sprawl development, this call is to look at the potential of reusing some of the old buildings in the area for new purposes. The new CityScape complex in downtown Phoenix has the potential of bringing new, denser life to downtown, but something also needs to happen with the numerous vacant retail spaces in the area. With a 12.2% vacancy rate for retail space in Phoenix, there is a lot of opportunity. And that’s what the staff is hoping people see, especially with all the empty big box stores. An example is the new POOL in Mesa which is the result of a $3-million adaptation of the vacant Mervyns department store. POOL now houses a wide range of vendors in an upscale version of the flea market. So what else is in store for the Phoenix area?
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Synopsis:
History
Designed by Los Angeles architect Norman Marsh, the Monroe School opened to elementary grade students in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1913. Due to Phoenix’s urban sprawl, the population in downtown decreased significantly as residents moved further and further away from the center. With a shrinking downtown resident base to serve, the School District closed the building in 1972. It was later remodeled by the Department of Defense and used as a recruiting center.[1]
(Re)Developer
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix, originally founded in 1998 as the Phoenix Family Museum, is dedicated to the concept that learning is a joy. With a mission to engage the minds, muscles and imaginations of children and the grown-ups who care about them, the group provided a traveling exhibit program (Museum Without Walls) for its first ten years while they created a permanent home at the Monroe School.[2]
Outcome
In support of the museum’s intentions and role within the community, Phoenix residents approved $10.5 million in bond funds in 2001 to purchase and renovate the Monroe School into the new Children’s Museum of Phoenix. In addition to the bond funds, the Museum also launched the Childhood Dreams Built By You capital campaign to raise an additional $12.3 million in funding. The adaptive reuse project started in 2006 and was completed with doors opening in June 2008.[3]
The Monroe School is now alive and active with children once again. Once a venue for structured learning, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix provides a more free-form and interactive method for kids and their parents to learn and play. While the original school may have closed due to a shrinking downtown population, the Museum has been successful in drawing in people from all over the Phoenix area as well as the new residential base that has resurfaced in downtown.
Building Department to Enhance Services, Programs to Promote Development
Synopsis:
In a move to help spur activity in a down economy, the City of Phoenix has approved a number of policy changes and enhancements. One such change is to expand the Adaptive Reuse Program to include buildings up to 100,000 square feet and “big box” retail spaces. Adaptive reuse is a great way to help revitalize and stimulate communities. Phoenix’s investment in this policy furthers this concept. By expanding the buildings covered by this streamlined process, the city acknowledges that there are now a number of large structures becoming vacant due to store closings. These buildings tend to be newer and also are prime locations for new, more walkable reuses.
Three New “R”s: Rezone, Reuse and Revitalize — The City of Phoenix’s Adaptive Reuse Program
Publication Date:
December 22, 2009Written By:
Yuri ArtibiseSource:
Downtown Phoenix JournalRead more...
Synopsis:
As one of the ultimate expressions of sustainability, adaptive reuse takes buildings that are either historical, dated or in older, established areas of a city and ensures their presence and effect long into the future. While Phoenix has certainly seen many new buildings, many adaptive reuse projects have been occurring almost unnoticed. This process is noted as important for Phoenix not only in its endeavors to be more sustainable (after years of sprawl) but also encourages community revitalization and growth. As of April 2008, the city ran a pilot Adaptive Reuse Program to help streamline the process to convert and modify existing buildings. Due to its success, the council approved expansion of the program.
“The expanded plan now includes buildings constructed prior to the year 2000, increases the size limits from 5,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet and allows for occupancy change flexibility. This expansion of the program provided increased opportunities to rezone, reuse and revitalize vacant strip malls, big box centers and other blighted community areas and keep them out of the landfill.”
Phoenix Adaptive Reuse Program Receives Valley Forward Environmental Excellence Award
Synopsis:
In recognition of the growing success of its adaptive reuse program, the City of Phoenix has received a first-place Crescordia Award at the 2009 Valley Forward Environmental Excellence Awards. Starting as a pilot program in April 2008, it was created to streamline the process of modifying older buildings for new business uses. The main aspects of the program are guidance, expedited timeframes, and reduced costs to customers looking to adapt old buildings. The Environmental Excellence Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the physical environment in communities around Metropolitan Phoenix.
“Adaptive Reuse preserves our history, helps small business owners be successful, creates unique restaurant and business settings for all of us to experience and it’s environmentally friendly,” said Mark Leonard, director, Phoenix Development Services Department.
New Ideas and Old Buildings: Grand Avenue Adaptive Reuse Tour
Publication Date:
September 22, 2009Written By:
Yuri ArtibiseSource:
Downtown Phoenix JournalRead more...
Synopsis:
A tour along Phoenix’s Lower Grand Avenue provides insight into the many adaptive reuse projects that have converted buildings from their industrial uses back to the original small retail and offices that once lined the street. “New owners have preserved parts of the existing vintage structures while making necessary concessions to the realities of modern life. The result is a varied collection of shops, galleries, cafés and living spaces scattered throughout the neighborhood.” The arts and business community of the district have seen new life as more buildings are adapted for new uses. The tour took residents to see: Tilt Gallery, Jordre Studio, Paisley Violin and Paisley Town, Motley Design Group, Rehbein Grocery, and Bragg’s Pie Factory.
Grand Avenue Festival Promotes Arts, Culture and Adaptive Reuse
Publication Date:
September 17, 2009Written By:
Si RobinsSource:
Downtown Phoenix JournalRead more...
Synopsis:
Phoenix commemorated the character and history of Grand Avenue with the Grand Avenue Festival. As a way to promote and celebrate the revitalization that this street has experienced, a festival of free live music, art exhibits, historic building tours and more was planned for this past September. A key element to this revitalization has been the adaptive reuse of a number of the buildings along the strip. Tours of these adapted spaces were offered: Tilt Gallery, Paisley Town, Motley Design Building, Arnold’s Auto Body Shop, and the old Bragg’s Pie Factory building.
City Cuts Red Tape for Older Buildings
Publication Date:
November 27, 2009Written By:
Sadie Jo SmokeySource:
The Arizona RepublicRead more...
Synopsis:
Sadie Jo Smokey outlines efforts by the city of Phoenix to help promote adaptive reuse of its vacant and underutilized building inventory. The Development Services Department established an adaptive reuse program last year to help streamline “the process of modifying older buildings for new business uses.” This program was in response to numerous complaints that it was cheaper to tear down a building and start anew rather than update a structure. While developers must still meet zoning, safety, and quality development requirements, the process has been altered to reduce cost and time. “The process is about recognizing what the existing building has to offer and not superimpose anything.” Smokey closes with three cases studies.
Downtown Voices: Creating a Sustainable Downtown
Synopsis:
Downtown Phoenix Arts Coalition (D-PAC) teamed up with Arizona Chain Reaction, Phoenix Coalition of Historic Neighborhoods, The Community Housing Partnership, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation to host the Downtown Voices conference. The purpose of the conference was to get the community engaged in the growth and planning taking place in their city. The organizers wanted “to insure that plans for downtown (Phoenix) revitalization are the most comprehensive, inclusive and the best that they can be.” The report outlines a number of steps the city and community should take to meet this goal. Adaptive reuse comes up a number of times as a way to: preserve historic buildings that are too young to be registered, provide additional space for a growing arts community, and preserving a sense of place and community.