Tempe Town Lake is 10 years old. It took the gifts of many people and organizations to take what used to be a barren, polluted riverbottom and turn it into one of Arizona's finest destinations for events, residential living and business locations.
The generousity of spirit for this project has ranged from creativity to financial investment. The lake cost about $240 million to create, from the dams holding the water to the park space and pathways around it, to the SRP Town Lake Marina, Tempe Center for the Arts and the Cox Splash Playground. In return, the lake has generated more than $415 million in economic impact and investment.
The generousity continues next Saturday, Dec. 12, as Tempe hosts a birthday party for the lake. About a dozen of the area's finest chefs have created birthday cakes and other concoctions to celebrate. Cookies From Home is producing a 6' replica of the lake -- in cookies! People will be able to taste these amazing structures for a donation of $1 per slice. Proceeds go to Tempe Community Council, to help the city's neediest residents.
Parks and Rec staff will give free kayak rides from 2 -5 p.m. Arts and Crafts for the kids will be available from 3 p.m. until dark.
Musicians are donating their time for the party. Chuck E. Baby and the All Stars will lead a jam session that will feature some the best local performers Town Lake has heard. Hans Olson, Walt Richardson and others are making guest appearances. And at 6:30 p.m., everyone will sing Happy Birthday to Town Lake -- the song will be about 50,000 voices strong.
And the grand finale? The APS Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade of about 50 illuminated boats, featuring Santa and fireworks! APS' generosity has made this event possible for many years.
After the parade, try dinner at Monti's, Tempe's oldest enduring restaurant. They were the first to serve food at Town Lake, hosting the reception at the lake's first filling. And the aloft hotel on the north side of Town Lake is mixing a special martini for the event -- a dollar of each Tempetini will benefit the Tempe Community Council. Try it begining Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. or head over after the parade.
The 10 years have seen remarkable development around the lake, generous investments of businesses and developers. Companies such as KPMG, Davis, Smith Barney, SunCor and others have made a difference to Tempe's workforce and to our economy.
Tempe appreciates these donations of goods, services, money and opportunities. Thanks for a great 10 years.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Giving thanks for our community
Thanksgiving is traditionally time for gratitude, for family and friends, for turkey and trimmings and football. Most people, when they think of where they are spending the holiday, they don't think about the name of the city they will visit; they think of Grandma, Uncle Joe, Aunt Irent, Cousin Fred or Susan and Dave.
We go to to the people we care about. Sometimes, they're located in a really great place, like Tempe.
But a city isn't just buildings and real estate. It's a community of people. It's people who live there, work there and simply enjoy spending time there. As a community, Tempe has a lot for which to be grateful.
The City of Tempe Community Development Department is thankful for so many things.
We are grateful for Tempe Town Lake. The lake does more than return dollars to the city; it's a community gathering place. It's a place where people make memories. We've witnesses marriage proposals on its shores and weddings taking place in the parks. We've seen couples of all ages strolling around the edges, athletes competing in races and families hosting picnics.
We are grateful for the light rail line which runs from border to border in our city. The transportation carries people to and from work, to sporting events, to fun evenings out and to each other. We are grateful for the new developments and businesses along the line. We are especially grateful for all our partners who have helped make it successful, from Cafe Istanbul to the ASU students who use it, from developments like Campus Suites to smaller projects like Regency Condominiums.
We are grateful for our new businesses for taking a chance on opening in Tempe in this economy. We appreciate Smashburger, Dave's Electric Brewpub, Pancheros, Spark Design and many others.
We are grateful for those people who volunteer their time and give their money to Tempe's many charitable organizations. At this year's State of the City Address, 300 attendees gave about $1600 to feed the hungry through Tempe Community Action Agency. Tempe Community Council organizes volunteers through its Tempekarma.org website. So many people are needed and so many people stand up to help.
We are grateful for the innovators in our city. There are people in Tempe whose energy never ceases. They are constantly improving the way the world works. Whether they are inventing new products, curing disease, creating applications or writing code, their creativity makes our city crackle with excitement.
We are grateful for businesses that are hiring, like Terralever and Direct Alliance.
We are grateful to the people who are in Tempe, whether they are working, enjoying the weather, or living in the city. We appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of each person in our 40-square miles. People are the reason this community is great.
Have a wonderful holiday season.
We go to to the people we care about. Sometimes, they're located in a really great place, like Tempe.
But a city isn't just buildings and real estate. It's a community of people. It's people who live there, work there and simply enjoy spending time there. As a community, Tempe has a lot for which to be grateful.
The City of Tempe Community Development Department is thankful for so many things.
We are grateful for Tempe Town Lake. The lake does more than return dollars to the city; it's a community gathering place. It's a place where people make memories. We've witnesses marriage proposals on its shores and weddings taking place in the parks. We've seen couples of all ages strolling around the edges, athletes competing in races and families hosting picnics.
We are grateful for the light rail line which runs from border to border in our city. The transportation carries people to and from work, to sporting events, to fun evenings out and to each other. We are grateful for the new developments and businesses along the line. We are especially grateful for all our partners who have helped make it successful, from Cafe Istanbul to the ASU students who use it, from developments like Campus Suites to smaller projects like Regency Condominiums.
We are grateful for our new businesses for taking a chance on opening in Tempe in this economy. We appreciate Smashburger, Dave's Electric Brewpub, Pancheros, Spark Design and many others.
We are grateful for those people who volunteer their time and give their money to Tempe's many charitable organizations. At this year's State of the City Address, 300 attendees gave about $1600 to feed the hungry through Tempe Community Action Agency. Tempe Community Council organizes volunteers through its Tempekarma.org website. So many people are needed and so many people stand up to help.
We are grateful for the innovators in our city. There are people in Tempe whose energy never ceases. They are constantly improving the way the world works. Whether they are inventing new products, curing disease, creating applications or writing code, their creativity makes our city crackle with excitement.
We are grateful for businesses that are hiring, like Terralever and Direct Alliance.
We are grateful to the people who are in Tempe, whether they are working, enjoying the weather, or living in the city. We appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of each person in our 40-square miles. People are the reason this community is great.
Have a wonderful holiday season.
Friday, November 6, 2009
You Are Where You Eat
Tempe is about to start preparing for the holidays. Sure, it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but businesses start preparing for the winter holidays as soon as after school shopping is over -- often before that! The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year and certainly, no retailer can afford to miss the opportunities the season brings.
Tempe wants to support its local shops as best it can. Internally, we have an employee contest that offers prizes sponsored by local shops for those workers who bring in Tempe sales receipts. External, we send notices to media and put together lists for the public to view about great things you can buy in Tempe from our merchants. We try to highlight Mom and Pop shops, as well as those businesses that are new in town or have a particular local tie. We will start posting these lists on www.tempe.gov/shoptempe very soon. Before we published those lists, we wanted to get some opinion on which locally-owned businesses people liked best.
On the City of Tempe Facebook page and in a few other venues, we asked our fans which shops they liked best. With the exceptions of Changing Hands Bookstore, Bobbie's Flowers, Nash Barber Shop, Lulu's Moonfish and Love Child Style Exchange, almost every other mention was a restaurant or purveyor of food and beverages.
Riazzi's, Cookies From Home, Monti's, Romancing the Bean, Munch-a-Mania, Cafe Lalibella, in Season Deli, Chuckbox, House of Tricks, Mac's, Tops, Essence, Tea Infusion and many others were mentioned.
In a recent interview, longtime Tempe musician Walt Richardson said that the food on Mill Avenue and in Tempe contributes to the creative vibe that makes this city special. And it's true. Everyone eats. Food is more than sustenance. It does more than nourish the body, it feeds the soul. There's a reason it's called comfort food.
For our holidays, we prepare special foods - turkey on Thanksgiving, barbecue for Independance Day. Families pass on their recipes. When people arrive here from far away places -- Tempe is a remarkably diverse city -- they bring with them their cuisine. India Plaza, Cafe Istanbul and Phoenica Cafe all have markets to buy the ingredients for fabulous Indian and Mediterranean dishes. There are carnecerias all over the city.
Food brings us together and our local restaurants demonstrate the spirit of Tempe.
Tempe wants to support its local shops as best it can. Internally, we have an employee contest that offers prizes sponsored by local shops for those workers who bring in Tempe sales receipts. External, we send notices to media and put together lists for the public to view about great things you can buy in Tempe from our merchants. We try to highlight Mom and Pop shops, as well as those businesses that are new in town or have a particular local tie. We will start posting these lists on www.tempe.gov/shoptempe very soon. Before we published those lists, we wanted to get some opinion on which locally-owned businesses people liked best.
On the City of Tempe Facebook page and in a few other venues, we asked our fans which shops they liked best. With the exceptions of Changing Hands Bookstore, Bobbie's Flowers, Nash Barber Shop, Lulu's Moonfish and Love Child Style Exchange, almost every other mention was a restaurant or purveyor of food and beverages.
Riazzi's, Cookies From Home, Monti's, Romancing the Bean, Munch-a-Mania, Cafe Lalibella, in Season Deli, Chuckbox, House of Tricks, Mac's, Tops, Essence, Tea Infusion and many others were mentioned.
In a recent interview, longtime Tempe musician Walt Richardson said that the food on Mill Avenue and in Tempe contributes to the creative vibe that makes this city special. And it's true. Everyone eats. Food is more than sustenance. It does more than nourish the body, it feeds the soul. There's a reason it's called comfort food.
For our holidays, we prepare special foods - turkey on Thanksgiving, barbecue for Independance Day. Families pass on their recipes. When people arrive here from far away places -- Tempe is a remarkably diverse city -- they bring with them their cuisine. India Plaza, Cafe Istanbul and Phoenica Cafe all have markets to buy the ingredients for fabulous Indian and Mediterranean dishes. There are carnecerias all over the city.
Food brings us together and our local restaurants demonstrate the spirit of Tempe.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tempe's spirit of innovation shows in light rail station valuations
Land value surrounding the light rail route in Tempe has seen the highest appreciation in the Valley, according to a study conducted by ASU doctoral student Katherine Kittrell.
The number of new mixed use projects was one of the reasons for the increase. Tempe offers many of these buildings, including GRIGIO Metro, right at the station on McClintock and Apache Boulevard and Tempe Gateway at Third Street and Mill Avenue.
Land value appreciation was the highest along Apache Boulevard in Tempe, according to the study, and land around every single Tempe station experienced prosperity. The average increase for all sales transactions near Tempe stations was up 429 percent this year.
This increase is because of Tempe’s updated zoning codes, which allow for larger buildings that are in line with public transit-oriented development, according to the report. These codes and related services, such as Web site accessibility and development services have enabled Tempe to become successful in attracting new developers to the city.
While the tools for this appreciation might be updated zoning codes, the overarching reasoning behind this is innovation. Tempe is renowned for its forward-thinking; for seeing what the future will require and moving toward it.
The same holds true for Tempe's retail environment. When the economy slowed, Tempe did not rest. It moved forward with innovative ways of attracting new businesses. Earlier this month, the City of Tempe and the Downtown Tempe Community officially welcomed more than a dozen new businesses. The businesses set up sample tables of their wares on Fifth and Mill and mingled with the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, Mill Avenue District, Tempe City Council and media.
Whatever the issue, Tempe will find a way to be creative and lead.
The number of new mixed use projects was one of the reasons for the increase. Tempe offers many of these buildings, including GRIGIO Metro, right at the station on McClintock and Apache Boulevard and Tempe Gateway at Third Street and Mill Avenue.
Land value appreciation was the highest along Apache Boulevard in Tempe, according to the study, and land around every single Tempe station experienced prosperity. The average increase for all sales transactions near Tempe stations was up 429 percent this year.
This increase is because of Tempe’s updated zoning codes, which allow for larger buildings that are in line with public transit-oriented development, according to the report. These codes and related services, such as Web site accessibility and development services have enabled Tempe to become successful in attracting new developers to the city.
While the tools for this appreciation might be updated zoning codes, the overarching reasoning behind this is innovation. Tempe is renowned for its forward-thinking; for seeing what the future will require and moving toward it.
The same holds true for Tempe's retail environment. When the economy slowed, Tempe did not rest. It moved forward with innovative ways of attracting new businesses. Earlier this month, the City of Tempe and the Downtown Tempe Community officially welcomed more than a dozen new businesses. The businesses set up sample tables of their wares on Fifth and Mill and mingled with the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, Mill Avenue District, Tempe City Council and media.
Whatever the issue, Tempe will find a way to be creative and lead.
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