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Phoenix is seeking help creating an entertainment district to underpin the city’s downtown convention center. The city council voted unanimously at Wednesday’s public meeting to seek advice from the advisers.
The vote comes weeks after city staff first proposed the idea to some council members in mid-June. City officials said they hope to attract more out-of-state tourists and keep the city’s convention center competitive nationally.
Consultants will help the city government determine the best location for the area, organize outreach to the public, and develop an implementation strategy.
The Entertainment District will create a branded pedestrian zone around the Phoenix Convention Center, offering 24/7 nightlife and events, like Nashville’s Honky Tonk Freeway or Austin’s Sixth Street.
more: Phoenix takes first steps to create downtown entertainment district
The ground floor building floors should focus on restaurants and retail. Amenities could include small parks, “street performers, wayfinding kiosks, monumental public art and artistic lighting or projections” to animate the area, according to city documents.
Safety features such as landscaping and signage can make the area more walkable, city documents say, while a pedestrian path through Fourth Street on the ground floor of the Phoenix Convention Center’s south tower could improve the pedestrian experience.
The proposal for the entertainment district came after the city paid for a market study that indicated that the entertainment district and other upgrades would contribute to the Phoenix Convention Center’s ability to compete nationally. Other convention centers, such as those in Las Vegas, Dallas and Austin, are Phoenix’s main competitors.
A major renovation is currently planned for the South Building of the Phoenix Convention Center, including the addition of 150,000 square feet of convention center space and an adjacent 800 to 1,200-room hotel. The hotel may be connected to the upper South Tower.
The South Tower will also feature a new 34,000-square-foot ground-level “pocket park,” as well as a possible climate-controlled walkway along Fourth Street between the conference and ballroom spaces. City officials want the Fourth Street alignment to better connect Washington and Jefferson streets.
Attendance at the Phoenix Convention Center has increased over the past decade, except during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The facility saw its highest attendance in 2019 with 300,000 visitors and hosted the most events (80) in 2018.
A recent economic impact analysis of the Phoenix Convention Center estimated that it generated $30 million in net revenue for the state.
Taylor Seely covered Phoenix City Hall for the Arizona Republic. Contact her: tseely@arizonarepublic.comcall 480-476-6116 or Twitter @taylorseely95.
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