Archive for July, 2013

July 29, 2013

Post-War Architecture Task Force Seeks to Actively Protect Midcentury Modern Buildings in Phoenix

by: James Gardner

Tweet *We’d like to mark the passing of architect Frank Henry on July 28, 2013, a Taliesin Fellow who was instrumental in saving the David Wright House. Our condolences to his friends and family. His passing is a true loss for the architectural community in Phoenix.* Today’s post is by contributing writer James Gardner: A group of citizen experts involved in historic preservation in Phoenix have formed a task force specifically to protect post-war (1945-1975) architecture. Led by Modern Phoenix mastermind Alison King, the aptly named Post-War Architecture Task Force (PWATF) just held its first face-to-face meeting on Monday, July 15th….

July 24, 2013

Vesta Communities Works to Bring Cohousing to Phoenix

by: Nichole Reber

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Nichole Reber: “What would it look like if we lived in a community-oriented neighborhood?” Claudia Hartman asks. For her and Donna Niemann, real communities are places filled with different generations, socio-economic diversity, and sustainable daily living practices. They’re hoping to manifest this in an eco-hybrid model known as Vesta Communities. The duo took their search for best practices in design, affordability, sustainability and governance on a 2,500-mile journey across Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico—and of course the cohousing communities in Tucson and Prescott. They studied 20 private developments such as cohousing, pocket…

July 22, 2013

Can we Keep Earth from being the Next Krypton? Sustainability Lessons from Man of Steel

by: Lucky Sharma

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Lucky Sharma: It is summer, and when I am in Phoenix I find myself looking for things to do indoors. Last weekend, when I stood in line to buy tickets for a movie, I was not sure which of the summer blockbusters would entertain me. A split second decision led me to choose “Man of Steel”. I have always loved Superman, the Marvel Comics character from Krypton, and I thought it would be the perfect movie to watch. The theater was packed and I was early enough to grab a good seat. Little did…

July 16, 2013

Developer Wants to Abandon Alley in Downtown Phoenix Even though it Goes Against the Downtown Code

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet A developer by the name of DTR 25, LLC is applying to partially abandon an alley south of Fillmore Road between 1st and 2nd Avenues in Downtown Phoenix for the purposes of “future development”. The abandonment of this alley has future implications about walkability, how buildings will deal with their back-of-house needs, and the possibility of getting yet another surface parking lot in Downtown. Below are what John Glenn, the Vice Chair of the Central City Village Planning Committee, Arizona State University, and the Central City Village Planner think about what would happen if this alley was abandoned. John…

July 09, 2013

Bike Share in Phoenix: This is going to be big!

by: James Gardner

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer James Gardner. Check out James’s new blog about health and the built environment called Healthy Cities International. The City of Phoenix recently announced its next (baby) step toward a sustainable future city: a bike share program, and has awarded a contract to a vendor, Cyclehop, LLC, for the bikes to be shared. Cyclehop’s website states that the bikes will be state-of-the-art, with an integrated GPS system, allowing each bike to be tracked, and the bicycles can be custom built for each bike share program. According to Colin Tetreault from the Mayor’s office, as early…

July 03, 2013

Leslie Lindo Instills Sustainable Practices in the Business World Through Education

by: Nichole Reber

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Nichole Reber. After four years of traveling the globe Nichole has repatriated to Phoenix. There she is following her two passions: writing and the built environment. During the day she does marketing communications, social media, and journalism for those in AEC. At night she’s at work on her first book, a travel memoir about deportation, near kidnappings, hospitalizations, and the harsh realities behind travel’s glamour. Find her on her literary blog, and check out her portfolio. Leslie Lindo doesn’t see sustainability as just a buzzword. She sees it as a means to a better community. Working for…

July 01, 2013

How Art Interventions Could Totally Change Downtown Phoenix

by: Kirby Hoyt

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Kirby Hoyt: Back in March 2012, I penned an article for this site entitled Urban Appropriation through Art. Remember that one? Right, I thought as much. Anyway, I keep thinking about the urban condition of Phoenix and how even the small things can promote positive change. Phoenix has a condition of transitory land use wherein something like 40% of the downtown is vacant offers so many possibilities for a variety of ephemeral uses. The one I propose would become a sustainable model for Phoenix. Using art as a method of tactical urbanism could…