{"id":902320,"date":"2026-06-30T04:40:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T04:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/902320\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T04:40:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T04:40:26","slug":"atari-hotel-plan-sparks-fight-over-roosevelt-rows-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/902320\/","title":{"rendered":"Atari Hotel plan sparks fight over Roosevelt Row\u2019s future"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 An 11-story gaming, hospitality and entertainment hotel inspired by the Atari video game brand is planned for Roosevelt Row, set to replace a building that has been part of downtown Phoenix<\/a> history for more than 70 years.<\/p>\n

The project would demolish the former radio station building at Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street \u2014 once home to some of the Valley\u2019s most recognizable stations. The building is set to be demolished by the end of the year. The Atari Hotel is expected to be completed by 2028.<\/p>\n

Supporters and critics divided<\/p>\n

Supporters say the development will create a one-of-a-kind destination and bring new entertainment and investment to the area. Some locals said they were open to the change.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes away like the studio creative spaces and stuff, but at the same time, it\u2019s like it\u2019s part of the city growing and changing,\u201d Frankie Valverde said. \u201cMaybe it\u2019ll bring some more people, more business and stuff for like these little restaurants and shops.\u201d<\/p>\n

Artists and community members push back<\/p>\n

Others in the arts and music community say the project represents a broader loss of the culture that defined Roosevelt Row.<\/p>\n

Briannin Gross, a booker and promoter<\/a>, said the district was once driven by local artists, musicians and creatives, but that character has been shifting.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very autonomous, locally driven art space,\u201d Gross said. \u201cBut then that attracted investors, developers, businessmen, the nightlife district.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gross and others said the conversation extends beyond a single hotel project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sad to see that history erased,\u201d Gross said. \u201cWe want Roosevelt back and the hotel getting built is just a huge sign of us losing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Valverde, who works in the area, said she wished developers would take a different approach to the site.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish they would like just renovate what\u2019s there and maybe just do something cool that kind of fits this area a little more than like this giant gamer hotel,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here<\/a> with a brief description.<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 KTVK\/KPHO. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n