City officials last week took a step toward creating a red-light district in downtown Phoenix, with the hope that it will become a major tourist destination like New Orleans' French Quarter or New York City's Times Square.
At the request of the administration, the City Council's Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee awarded a $529,000 contract to HR&A Advisors, Inc. for consulting services “to assist in the identification, establishment, and revitalization of entertainment districts.” It was approved unanimously. –
HR&A, a consulting group with offices in major cities nationwide, including Phoenix, has been helping real estate owners and investors, hospitals and universities, cultural institutions, community development organizations, and governments “create more” since 1976. We are proud of our support on our website. Create actionable plans and turn them into assets that create jobs and strengthen communities, resulting in fair, resilient, and dynamic communities.
In Phoenix's case, the property will be an entertainment district to expand its downtown reach, especially after drawing 294,374 attendees to the Phoenix Convention Center in the last calendar year. This is the highest convention attendance since his PCC was first established. he one year after the expansion was completed in 2009,” the city memo states.
It added that in the 2022-23 fiscal year, the center's 301,000 visitors translated into 312,000 hotel nights and $400 million in direct spending.
“Momentum is expected to continue, with convention hotel stay forecasts over the next eight years outpacing 14%,” the memo said, adding, “2024 attendance is projected to exceed 2023. ” he added.
But Kristin McKay, the city's economic development director, said the entertainment district isn't just for out-of-towners looking to have a good time.
“The entertainment district we envision is not just for convention attendees and downtown tenants, but actually involves everyone in Phoenix and around the Valley to participate in reimagining downtown,” she said. said.
“I like to say to people, we think we've got the perfect six-pack, but we're just missing that little plastic thing that holds it together and sets us apart in our marketing ability. ,” McKay said. Subcommittee.
Deputy Managing Director John Chan wrote to the subcommittee: “The entertainment district will provide convention attendees, visitors, and residents with a walkable, vibrant, safe, and easy-to-navigate area that includes hospitality facilities such as restaurants, bars, attractions, and a high concentration of street performers. Dew' public art, significant lighting and landscaping, scooter docks and electric vehicle shuttles.
The deal is the latest step in a planning process that began in 2019 but was interrupted by the pandemic.
Last year, at the direction of the City Council, the city sent out requests for proposals to 850 potential consultants, narrowed the bidders down to five in December, and ranked them based on characteristics such as experience, track record and ability to provide services. . Plan by early next year.
Ultimately, the city settled on HR&A, whom Acting Commercial Director Zandon Keating called “the industry expert in the red light district.”
“They've worked in many red light districts across the country and in cities like Cincinnati, Detroit and Philadelphia,” Keating said. “They're an international company, even in somewhat international Toronto, but they're a very, very local company.”
He said consultants will meet with various stakeholders, especially downtown merchants, to define everything from district boundaries to “what are the opportunities that we might not have considered?” Stated.
He stressed that creating a district “comes with a lot of things.”
“There is a vision document that will be created there,” he said. “We have to look at things like, what are our challenges and where are the good opportunities that we can really focus on to make this happen?” Looking at it from a code perspective, especially from a zoning perspective. Is there anything I should do?
“Are there things that need some relief that could help move these things forward?” Of course, there are boundaries, and there are future growth opportunities and future opportunities that may not be ready for you right now. What is it? But maybe we need to think a little more long-term?”
Keating also said, “We want to make sure we're doing this the right way.” We are taking responsibility and with this we are putting our resources in the right places. ”
He said the city has a “very aggressive schedule” in place to set the stage for the district's birth, soliciting public input and “looking at a kickoff a little later in the spring.”
He said an effort to solicit input from many citizens and stakeholders will begin this summer, allowing the city to begin distributing the draft plan with stakeholders this fall for a final draft to be submitted to City Council early next year. He also said that he would begin analysis.
McKay told City Council members that downtown merchants, hoteliers and other key stakeholders are regularly consulted, but that “the things I asked Keating, he also completely “We agree that these public stakeholder meetings should do the same.” That includes citizens outside the downtown market. ”
She said, “It's important to really engage and involve them and understand how they really envision the downtown Phoenix entertainment district.” So we would like to ask you to help us arrange a public meeting in your district so that we can also hear their feedback and opinions on it. I just wanted to make that clear. ”
McKay also suggested planners reach out to resorts far from downtown, like Desert Ridge, to “see how visitors interact with our downtown,” said Debra Stark. He praised the city council members.
“I think this is actually a great idea in terms of bringing more people from all over the city to this entertainment district,” McKay said.