Urban spaces along the METRO light rail
Posted on 06. Apr, 2010 by Tony Arranaga in Featured, News
This is a continuing series on open spaces along the METRO light rail in Phoenix. I’m documenting the locations here on the blog and encouraging comments from readers as to what they would like to see in these structures. All of them are located in the heart of the city and within walking distance of the light rail. Whether it’s a restaurant, retail space or maybe a place for creatives to come and work – these open spaces could use entrepreneurs who are passionate about downtown Phoenix.
Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the historic Westward Ho hotel (618 N Central Avenue, near Central station). In its heyday, the building was an economic engine for the area. The hotel fell on hard times and is now a home for low income senior citizens. The common areas on the ground floor are stunning – beautiful, ornate detail in the architecture and design give the visitor a glimpse of what times were like back when crews first built the structure in 1928. Standing 208 feet, the building was the tallest in the state, a title held for almost four decades (source).
The ground floor has two fairly large open spaces, both of which look out to Central Avenue. I hear a restaurant owner is considering one of the spaces for a brewery – a good idea since the building is a short walk from two light rail stations. What would you like to see here? What do you think would be a good fit in this part of town? Be sure to post your comment below.
This blog post is part of a 30 day blogging challenge (#30daybc) with friends Irene, Seth and Ryan. Please take a moment to check out their blogs. Thank you!
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