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Improvements to The Clark Report
I know. The Clark Report is long. Really long. Especially the "anchor" stories about politics or urban redevelopment.
I don't apologize for this. I still think there is room in this world of hyper-short communication for a little in-depth analysis.
The Clark Report is the Anti-Tweet.
However, I will no longer force you to scroll down millions of pixels in order to see all the gloriously cool stories I have to share. (Yeah. I said "gloriously cool.")
Each story will now have a summary lead paragraph, with a "read more" link, which will take you to the full story at www.GetYourPHX.com.
Hey, I've got the web site. I might as well use it.
Please let me know what you think.
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September Get Your PHX: NINE05
 The goal of Get Your PHX is to show up, en masse, to support those who pioneer new restaurants, stores, bars and event spaces. We want to provide them a boost as they put their sweat, tears and wealth on the line to make life great downtown. Plus, we want to provide a chance for you to meet others like you, who want to get the most out of Phoenix.Russ Haan and Mike Oleskow were stellar hosts for the August Get Your PHX. I'm told that we broke another attendance record, too. And special thanks again to Eleanor and John Clements of Fresh Gourmet to Go for their generous contribution of nosh. If you are planning parties or events, give them a jingle. The September Get Your PHX will see the debut of the long-awaited NINE|05, the successor to the old Fate restaurant at 905 N. 4th St. Chef and owner Matt Carter purchased the faltering Fate restaurant and is looking to create a foodies Mecca of the three buildings at 4th and Garfield. The buildings now known as NINE|05 were constructed between 1910 and 1925. They have survived the slow dismantling of the old Evans-Churchill neighborhood, the first middle class neighborhood in Phoenix, who's streets were first subdivided in 1888. It is difficult to see here, but  check out the metalwork by sought-after local artist Peter Deise. We will get to see more inside the new restaurant at Get Your PHX. Carter envisions an amusement ride of cultural niche cuisine; just like "It's a Small World" only without the music. By November they will transform the building next door into a European Gastro Pub called "Canteen." Canteen will feature re-envisioned classic dishes from many European countries. I'm told there will be spaetzle. I'm excited. Following Caneteen, Carter will open "El Rey," a taqueria featuring a rooftop bar and lounge. Matt Carter is a formally-trained chef who studied in Paris and built his reputation in Phoenix at places like Christopher's, The French Laundry and Michael's at the Citadel. I look forward to seeing you. I'm told there will be drink specials. Maybe even a drink named after Get Your PHX! September Get Your PHXThursday, September 17th from 5:30 to 7:30NINE05905 N. 4th St.Phoenix, 85004Please RSVP to me via email or through Facebook so I can get an accurate count. |
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PHX Livin'
I get to troll through the MLS listings all the time. I also like to share with you some of the houses that I really like, from the tiny to the grand.
 In FQ Story, at $239,000 and completely modern on the inside. 
This house matches the coolness of the stove at $229,900
 Just listed this week at $129,900 Watch it go under contract in under 7 days. 
This is one of the few in-fill bungalows that went up in downtown in the last 8 years, at $175,000.
I don't list these properties, but I can help you see them. Email me at clarkreport@kenclarkforaz.com. |
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Michelle's House: First Year Anniversary
Most of you know that I've been at this real estate thing for about a year. I'm proud to say that I've learned a lot in that time and I think I've done a pretty good job. (See here for testimonials.)
I want to tell you about my first client, Michelle Harrington, as we just passed the one-year anniversary of closing on her house around 15th Ave and Indian School.
This was Michelle's first house and she did an incredible job sprucing up the property on a budget.
Click here for more.
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Last Month's Market Highlights
New Insurance can Pay Your Mortgage if You Lose Your Job
There is a nifty new insurance that you can get when you close on a house or refinance. It will pay up to 24 months of your mortgage if you lose your job. Click here for more.
Can I Say "I Told You So?"
The Case-Shiller Index came out this month to tell us that home prices are on the rise --something we knew since April 10th. Click here for more.
How NOT to Sell Your House
Try not to let Google drive by and take photos of your street while the cops are arresting people in front of your house. Not that it can be helped, but this points out how much we rely on Google for a first impression of a neighborhood. Click here for more. An economy can only go so low before people start buying again. Here are a couple examples of leading economic indicators in our back yard. This has nothing to do with how much iron you get in your diet. Arizona is/was/maybe is again an anti-deficiency state. Find out here why it is a huge threat to you if we make AZ a deficiency state. |
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Downtown Venue Review
Sorry folks, the Venue Review is taking a little vacation this month. I am taking suggestions for reviews of new restaurants and I'd love to hear of any new ones that you hear of opening up soon.
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PHX Community
Lots going on this summer, despite the heat. Here's a summary.
Wiki the Phoenix General Plan!!
The city of Phoenix is working on a new General Plan. They do a new plan every ten years and their last one was adopted in 2001. We need to use the power of Wikipedia to make the Phoenix General Plan more relevant and meaningful. Go here for more.
Sunnyslope Art Walk
Sunnyslope is a little north of CenPho and out of my usual beat, but they are doing a great job of community building through art. This is a call for entries. Read more here.
Trashy Sculpture Show Call for Entries
Beatrice Moore, one of our great arts leaders downtown, sent me this call for entries for the Trashy Sculpture Show at the September 26th Grand Ave. Festival.
Night Rail
We had a huge success with Night Rail, a last-minute, all social network-driven, flash mob-style effort to show support for later light rail hours.
Gettin' to Know Ya
I just wanted to point out a couple great sites to see what networking events are happening around town.
Mitra Khamendoost of NetworkingPhoenix.com has been very cool about posting all of my events. This site reaches all across the valley and allows you access to their newsletter, too. The same goes for Brian Shaler at Eventification.com. This site is more directed toward those who work in tech circles, but has a lot of activity downtown.
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Central City Profile: Bill Scheel
The same people who are making decisions today are some of the same people who fought against "The Man" in decades past. How do they feel about being the ones in power now? Are they happy with where we've come to?
I got to thinking about this when I went to the Cityscape topping off event downtown last
month, which followed the news that Cityscape was
going to have all locally owned establishments as tenants. This was great news
for Arizona. Purchasing locally provides as much as 75% more tax revenue for
our state.
 It was a testament to the many people who communicated to the Cityscape planners to
remind them that to support local businesses. I wonder if if
Cityscape developers, Red Development, pushed for local tenants because their
planned franchisees bailed on the project, or because they really wanted local
ownership.
So, as I watched the proceedings and tried not to sweat too
much, I got to thinking about all those folks who have been working at Phoenix
redevelopment since the 1980s or before.
These folks got started in a time when
politics in Phoenix was dominated by the mysterious "Phoenix 40," only a few
years after Don Boles was assassinated outside the Clarendon Hotel for exposing
mob connections around town. (Read more about that group here.)
What was it like to "come up" in that time? What did they
fight against? What are the parallels and lessons for today? Is the downtown they see today what they were hoping for almost 30 years ago?
 I got to thinking that the Mayor's Chief of Staff, Bill
Scheel, in particular, is an interesting study. I've known Bill since about
2001, but I never got his full story, other than that he ran for city council
back in the 1990s.
Here is a guy who may very well be the most important person
in Phoenix government, next to Phil Gordon.
---Read Full Story Here---
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Got any good downtown tips? Send 'em my way!
And, as always, I respect your right not to be bothered with annoying spam email. If you would like to be removed from my email list, just let me know. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Ken Clark
  
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