Under Construction
I’ve lived on the outskirts of Phoenix for my entire life, and Downtown is not the same place it used to be.
I can’t help but feel like I’ve grown up with the city, and it’s a realization that I just made myself- while writing this story. Just like me, Downtown Phoenix has been under construction for years, growing and coming into its own every day.
This once quiet city has changed tremendously in the past ten years, and more people find themselves moving here. Thus, creating a need for more housing and lifestyle accommodations. High-rises are popping up every second and more apartments are being created in what experts say is the 6th largest city in the nation.
People used to come downtown to work and sometimes for special events, but the night almost always ended with a long drive back home to the outskirts of phoenix. Then, the city would be quiet until the next work day or the next major event.
Today, downtown is a place where one can live, work and play. No need to drive forty minutes home when you can just walk or bike a couple of blocks to work, grab a coffee at one of the many local shops, and hit happy hour at a bar near you on your way home.
People make jokes constantly about Phoenix being under construction nonstop, but when there are thousands of people moving here every year, the city needs to keep up.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication brought even more life to downtown. Located in the heart of downtown, the school was in the middle of all the action. With it, came the need of students who were looking to find a place to study and hang out with friends. More coffee shops started popping up and more restaurants stayed open later for those late night study session snacks or meals.
This new construction has also impacted the city in a cultural and social way. First Fridays became a right of passage for first year students and also anyone new to the city. More people mean more attention to local gatherings and bringing more business to local businesses. This in turn, completely changed the atmosphere in the city.
No longer are people driving away from the city at night. Instead, more and more people find themselves walking the streets and discovering new things every time they go out. Slowly the city has been giving what the people want and it is becoming a more social place. And just as it continues to grow and come into itself as a city, the construction in downtown becomes a beacon of hope for a brighter future.
