The city of Phoenix is transforming its downtown area with an expanded central business district and a new entertainment district surrounding the Phoenix Convention Center south building.
The target area is between Jefferson and Washington streets and Third and Fifth streets just north of the Footprint Center and Chase Field. Phoenix officials hope the changes will attract more tourists and enhance the business prospects of the convention center.
Phoenix officials envision a vibrant entertainment district that not only offers 24/7 nightlife but also improves safety and walkability through the integration of pedestrian pathways, enhanced landscaping design and clear signage. To add to its allure, the district will be home to an array of restaurants, bars, attractions, street performers and public art installations, and will also feature well-lit streets, beautifully landscaped areas, scooter docks and electric vehicle shuttles.
Included in the proposed blueprint is an expansion of the Phoenix Convention Center’s exhibit hall, adding 150,000 square feet of space. Additionally, a thoughtfully designed park, spanning 34,000 square feet, will find its place between a future residential tower and a new hotel.
“Green space is something that is desperately needed,” Jerry Harper, deputy director of the Convention Center, told KJZZ “Having this space in what could potentially be a highly trafficked area with pedestrian activity could be activate not only by our meeting planners that like to use this space but also by any of our other downtown partner, whether it’s the Phoenix Suns or the Arizona Diamondback with this being located right in between those two sports venues”
To maintain a competitive edge in the convention business, Phoenix commissioned a market study that revealed the need for 800 to 1,200 additional hotel rooms. Consequently, the city has set plans in motion to construct a new hotel near the convention center within the next six to 10 years.
“I would say that’s one of the most important things right now when we look at the type of business that we are losing to our competitors is the lack of walkable hotel rooms within a half mile of the convention center,” says Ron Price, president and CEO of Visit Phoenix.
The Phoenix Convention Center has experienced consistent growth in attendance and events over the past decade, hosting nearly 80 events in 2018 alone. These proposed developments are vital to sustaining Phoenix’s upward trajectory, as the convention center, a premier destination for conventions and events, generates an estimated $30 million in revenue.
