Plans are underway to tap the further potential of the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Click here for more info. This is smart planning by city staff and Mayor Jim Lane and the City Council.
But these plans should not languish. They should be funded as soon as they’re completed.
Home to the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, arts festivals, Sunday concerts and souls that are enhanced every time they walk one of the city’s great municipal creations, the area can and should be more to help downtown.
With downtown Phoenix, Salt River Fields, a resurgent WestWorld, Tempe Town Lake and even Glendale seizing more festivals and special events Old Town needs an enhanced events venue.
The deficiency has been acute ever since the land along the Arizona Canal at the Waterfront, behind the Nordstrom parking garage, was developed. Once the site of ESPN broadcasts, concerts and energetic special events the city lost its ability to stage so when what was possibly the worst and ugliest apartment project in recent Scottsdale memory was developed there. Forward thinkers on the City Council should have been at the ready to purchase the land for another downtown Scottsdale park. Instead, it got a mustard monstrosity and lost its ability to animate the area with events.
That’s why enhancing the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall is so important. It’s taken too long to get to this point. But at least we’re here and let’s hope the City of Scottsdale funds the enhancements rather than miss another opportunity, as it did at the Waterfront.