Proving Downtown Livability & Answering the Why's of Developing and Investing in Downtown Phoenix

As I was thinking about the process I went through in proposing the high rise apartment project at Central and Adams, reviewing PCA's 5-year action plan, and considering what is needed to make downtown and adjacent areas desirable for development, consider if we built a digital model around answering the WHY question of developing and investing in downtown and using livability as a focus for development using aggregated, quantifiable data that creates a compelling story.

It seems to me that we spend a lot of time on the what, a fair amount on the when and who, a reasonable amount on the how, but we often stop before asking the why. For instance, why is downtown a good place to build (mixed-use, residential) developments? Why is now a great opportunity to build these projects? Why is downtown worth the risk and effort (especially compared with the ease of suburban development)? Why should we build high density projects with mixed uses now with so much empty land? Why is having commercial/retail space on the first floor of new projects a good bet when other first floor commercial spaces are empty still? Why do we need so much parking in a dense TOD area? Why can't we demonstrate to financiers that minimal parking will work in the downtown core (with a little more in adjacent areas)?

We also don't convey the livability of downtown as a viable option for those who it would suit. We have about 90% of the things that make downtown livable with a grocery store (not necessarily a supermarket), filling in the spaces between exist structures and accessible spaces for startup and young businesses to occupy as well as expanding retail options being the core of the other 10%. And that 10% will come with infill investment.

To answer these questions, I'd like to consider using readily available tools and technology to create the various digital and visual models that would demonstrate the variety of solutions and how they would work together. We have lots of data sources, many aspects of the development process and urban environment to incorporate, and the community to consider, which can be integrated with dynamic models that allow each stakeholder group to understand what's going on, and the trade-offs and needs, to make these many projects work together and create the urban core we are dreaming of. 

Using visualizations that a lay person can understand while factoring in the complex issues that go into developing projects, we can create compelling cases for developers to fight over the many opportunities available and the community support to push these project through, with the least amount of political friction and public funding possible.

Build increasingly sophisticated models maintaining ease of use and access

Start with volume models in 3D showing full extents based on current conditions and add constraints for viability, build ability, zoning requirements, etc. 

Additional parallel model demonstrates workforce and resident base socioeconomic and demographic data in an aggregated way that makes it easy for developers, city staff and others to understand people dynamics of downtown.

Add data elements to database for residential, commercial and public spaces that inform big picture.

Construct component for office towers that dynamically illustrate in 3D office space utilization, availability, costs and sizes

Models can be used to test codes, plans and proformas by community organizations, city staff, developers, financiers and consultants

Access to model can be benefit to members of PCA with basic access to community and civic groups at no charge. This could increase membership of potential developers, financiers, real estate professionals and allied field both local and national. 

Information and data sets to work with:

Demographics of downtown workers and residents, Maricopa county and AZ

Socio-economic data of same population as above

Existing residential options in downtown and central Phoenix areas with sizes, costs and quantity

Downtown employee's residences and downtown residents' employment location

Existing infrastructure and utilities, public amenities and environmental conditions (temp, sun exposure intensity, shading, etc)

People and vehicle movement

Zoning and neighborhood plans

Build ability and financability