A CityScape Christmas
The ability of Phoenix to do a half-assed job never ceases to amaze me.
Remember a few weeks ago when Keith Earnest, the vice president of development for RED Development, announced the outdoor skating rink at CityScape and they kept saying it would be “like Rockefeller Center”? We all had a good chuckle and said, “Riiiiiiight.”
Now, it’s no secret that I think CityScape is the ugliest development I’ve ever seen. However (and this is a big however) I do like the businesses CityScape is bringing downtown. (Even though this could have been done better and cheaper.) I like the idea of an annual outdoor skating rink. I like the idea of having something to do downtown after 5 p.m. This is a step in the right direction, so I went downtown to go ice skating.
I had a great time! The rink is not huge and you won’t see anyone doing a triple-toe double axel or whatever it is the kids are calling it, but the experience was very pleasant. I liked the holiday music playing, the hot chocolate cart, and the twinkling lights. It felt like winter and I was full of holiday cheer.
Until I noticed the Christmas tree.
This tree is an appropriate symbol of CityScape: a grand idea promised by people who can’t deliver, so we get a half-assed attempt.
The CityScape Christmas tree is like a backhanded complement. It’s like when someone says, “I really like your new sweater… it makes your neck look thinner.” Baffled and unsure what to say you answer, “Thank you?”
I’m baffled by this tree. I mean, c’mon, this tree cost what, 60 bucks?! And they put, what, 12 ornaments on it? Wow! Thank you (?) RED Development! This is exactly like Rockefeller Center:
Seriously, the tree at Tempe Marketplace is a zillion times better than the one at CityScape. It’s not like Phoenix didn’t have an example to follow. It’s not like they had to think creatively. If Phoenix wants to copy suburbia, why not copy the best parts of it?
But sadly I find myself echoing what I’ve said before, that sad self-depreciating phrase that keeps this city resigned to mediocrity, “At least it’s better than nothing.”
An appropriate symbol of CityScape indeed. Even Charlie Brown could have found a better tree.
Guys, I agree the tree is a little lame, but don’t you think they might be a little tapped out? Even the “big” developers aren’t rolling in cash like they once were …
The tree made of sagebrush in Chandler is pretty nice. They even closed down an entire block of downtown to light it!
PS…why is CityScape, and not the city, doing things like tree lighting?
Hahaha that is pretty weak… somebody failed miserably…
@Tyler many cities have eliminated “publicity” stuff like Christmas trees because of budgetary concerns…not to mention that Christmas is a tricky holiday because it is a religious-based observance.
The truth is that everyone wants city services like these; as y’all recognize a city is a much better place to live when these amenities are provided. However, very few people want to pay for them (increased taxes, etc.), especially when the economy is bad.
Bubba – budget issues totally make sense, but CityScape promised Rockefeller center and showed up a with tree that’s paltry at best.
Either do it well or don’t do it at all!