High-rises, bungalows and light rail.
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Straightforward answers to the questions I hear most from buyers looking at Downtown Phoenix.
Downtown Phoenix breaks into distinct pockets. Copper Square is the high-rise core, with condo and apartment towers near CityScape, Chase Field, the Convention Center and light rail. Roosevelt Row, the arts district, sits to the north, where historic bungalows and converted warehouses hold galleries and murals. The Garfield Historic District, east of Roosevelt Row, is a preserved bungalow neighborhood with smaller single-family lots, a very different setting from the towers a few blocks away. South of the core, the Warehouse District mixes historic industrial buildings with lofts, breweries and event spaces near Chase Field. To the east, the light-rail corridor through the Discovery Triangle and the Phoenix Bioscience Core is where much of the newer development is happening.
Most everyday life centers on a few walkable hubs. CityScape is the retail and dining anchor in Copper Square, with restaurants, shops and offices stacked together downtown-style. Roosevelt Row is where people go for coffee, galleries and independent shops rather than chain retail, and it comes alive during the monthly First Friday art walk. The Warehouse District and Roosevelt Row both fill up on weekend evenings, and Heritage Square adds historic-building dining, including Pizzeria Bianco. Two of my favorite spots are Condesa, for tacos on homemade tortillas, and Pa'la, which has live music on weekends. The area around Chase Field and Mortgage Matchup Center gets busy on game nights, with sports bars and pre-game crowds.
Downtown Phoenix is one of the most walkable, car-optional parts of the Valley, though how much you need a car still depends on your daily routine. Valley Metro light rail runs directly through downtown along Central Avenue and the Washington and Jefferson Street pair, with several downtown stops, and it connects east to Tempe, ASU's campus and Mesa. At the 44th Street and Washington station you can transfer to the free PHX Sky Train, which goes to Sky Harbor Airport. Many residents combine walking and light rail for daily errands and keep a car for trips outside the core. Check current fares and routes with Valley Metro, and test your own commute before you buy.
Margaret T. Hance Park is the anchor green space, a 32-acre park built over the I-10 tunnel, with the Japanese Friendship Garden, Irish Cultural Center, Burton Barr Central Library and the Phoenix Center for the Arts around it. Heritage Square preserves the last remaining residential block of the original Phoenix townsite, with the Rosson House museum and small eateries. First Friday is the signature monthly event, a free art walk through Roosevelt Row and nearby streets, with gallery openings, live music and food trucks. The Arizona Science Center and the Children's Museum of Phoenix are close by, and the Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum are a short light-rail ride north on Central Avenue.
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