PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Phoenix city leaders want to transform the downtown area around the Mortgage Matchup Center, Chase Field and the Phoenix Convention Center into an entertainment district.<\/p>\n
On days where there are games, events, or marquee shows in town, there\u2019s different energy in that stretch of downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially for those that are not heavy into the bar scene or anything like that, there\u2019s not much else to do about from those things,\u201d said one fan at Monday night\u2019s Suns playoff game.<\/p>\n
The implementation plan was scheduled to be heard and possibly voted on by the city\u2019s Economic Development and the Arts Subcommittee this month, but it was withdrawn at the meeting after city staff asked for more time to talk to stakeholders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m disappointed that I heard about it this morning and that we can\u2019t get the entertainment plan up and going and being able to be heard,\u201d Councilwoman Laura Pastor said during the April 8 meeting<\/a>. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not a reflection of anybody in the work. It\u2019s just, this is a high priority for the committee.\u201d<\/p>\n Proposed changes<\/p>\n A more than 160-page study<\/a> outlines what the city could be trying to do, including building more public plazas where surface lots are, redeveloping the convention center\u2019s south building and making the area more walkable.<\/p>\n It would also create more shaded areas, streetscapes, retail activation, and new marketing.<\/p>\n The goal is to create activity in the area even when there aren\u2019t shows or games drawing fans.<\/p>\n Downtown Phoenix has 14 music venues and more than 245 restaurants and bars. City officials want to turn the area into what they call a vibrant, sustainable, urban core.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s Economic Development and the Arts subcommittee is next scheduled to meet on May 14.<\/p>\n The City of Phoenix is actively advancing work on the proposed Entertainment District Implementation Plan, which would\u00a0provide guidance for\u00a0improving\u00a0access and connectivity to existing entertainment assets in Downtown Phoenix. This analysis is part of a broader effort to plan for the continued growth and vibrancy of downtown. Additional information and the implementation plan can be found on InvestInPhoenix.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n