Photos by Kaard Bombe
ASU is transforming downtown Phoenix, including the landscape of entrepreneurship in the area, and the university’s influence on business in Phoenix is up for debate.
Tuesday’s Downtown Devil Discussion, titled “Risk Takers and Game Changers,” focused on entrepreneurship in downtown Phoenix, including the effect of the Downtown campus on businesses, parking problems near local shops and other issues affecting the downtown area’s entrepreneurs.
The panel consisted of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton; Beatrice Moore, a neighborhood activist and local artist; Jenny Poon, founder of CO+HOOTS; and Arielle Hurst, a journalism student focusing on digital entrepreneurship at ASU.
While the panel agreed that entrepreneurship in Phoenix slowly flourishing, Moore had a few criticisms for the city in terms of foot traffic and small-business accessibility.
“Parking is a huge issue in this city,” Moore said. “When parking is affected and taken out and people are speeding down Grand Avenue, that kills foot traffic, and it’s bad for small business.”
Hurst seemed more hopeful about the city and its growth, especially as it lies in the hands of the city’s youth. She pointed out that even though many students move in and out of Phoenix within short periods of time, it is young people who are the future of the city and who will play an integral part in bolstering small business.
Stanton shared his thoughts on the demographic changes that Phoenix has been going through, especially the influx of students and younger “creative types” that have been migrating to the heart of the city.
“Demographic trends are on our side,” he said. “With the law school coming down in the very near future, it is something we are very excited for.”
Additionally, Stanton said many young people affected by the recent economic recession are more inclined to live in an urban setting because it can save them money.
“People don’t necessarily want a big house or a couple of cars,” Stanton said. “They are willing to give up their cars to save money and use public transportation in the city.”
Poon offered input on the problems an entrepreneur can face when setting up a business. Poon spoke of deterrents such as property taxes, legal liabilities, marketing and zoning in a city that can sometimes be less than optimal for a budding entrepreneur fresh out of college. With regards to what the city can do to help, Poon believes that Phoenix has a way to go.
“Phoenix does need to continue to improve and improve,” Poon said. “The people that live here want that, and we need to continue to build that infrastructure that we have now.”
Like the other panel members who congregated in the Walter Cronkite School’s First Amendment Forum, Stanton was firmly optimistic about the direction in which small business is heading in downtown Phoenix.
“We need to think of the city as a neighborhood,” Stanton said. “If the city of Phoenix were a stock, I would say, ‘Buy it.’”
Contact the reporter at dvalente@asu.edu
