Nope! The blog is not dead, I’ve just been extremely busy. I promise to get back to regular updates soon, and add a couple new features to the site including a ‘wiki’ where approved users will be able to create and maintain project profiles. I’m happy to say that there is, and with any luck will continue to be, so much construction activity in and near Downtown Phoenix that I felt somewhat overwhelmed at the prospect of tracking it all.
In any case, there’s lots of work to be done. I’ve also realized how small of a niche this blog occupies, so as you might’ve noticed I tried to branch out to ‘new restaurant openings’ as long as it had an economic development angle. As you know, that restaurant never got its doors open (Condesa), but that doesn’t mean that’s the end of the road for non-construction-related articles.
Part of the re-brand/domain change from PHX Rising to PHX Urbanist (apart from avoiding an angry letter from the pro soccer club of the same name) was to re-gear towards anything that makes Phoenix more ‘urban’, and to advocate for Urbanist principles as it develops including walkability and pedestrian/bike infrastructure, mass-transit, tree coverage, historic preservation, mixed-use development, etc.
With all that said, I will need help to grow the blog and properly keep track of all the activity. If you’d like to become an editor for the wiki or would like to help write newsy-style short-form posts on new projects, construction updates, other downtown happenings, etc., please send a request via the contact form. I can’t pay anything, in fact this blog doesn’t even pay for itself (yet), but if you’re interested in the development of downtown Phoenix and can write, I’d love to have the assist.
I’m setting a goal this year of one update per week at a minimum, so expect to see a resumption of post activity. I’m very much looking forward to getting back into this blog and seeing your feedback.
Sincerely,
Anthony