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I'd say closing it for 11 days would be the better option than having it cut down to 1 lane while ASU is in session. That would be an absolute nightmare.
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University Square Is Full Steam Ahead
Some last minute lease issues to be resolved but University Square is proceeding with prepping the site. :tup:
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=80862 The Arches falling in Tempe By David Woodfill, Tribune December 19, 2006 Tempe residents will soon bid farewell to a piece of local history. The Arches, a 42-year-old fixture of student life near Arizona State University, will be replaced by a dirt lot buzzing with construction workers. A group of developers planning an ambitious $500 million development called University Square, featuring condos, offices, retail space and a hotel, will begin flattening the complex on University Drive sometime next week. The buildings, which are recognizable for their slightly outdated facade of arched windows and faux-adobe “slump block,” has served as a revolving door for chain businesses and locally owned restaurants and shops since its construction in 1964. Many of its businesses throughout the years consisted of restaurants, coffee cafes and copy shops, all geared to ASU’s student population. “It’s kind of sad because it’s (had) a lot of student-oriented businesses that have been there serving the campus community,” said Bud Morrison, owner of Tempe Bicycle, which is located in the center. Morrison, like many other business owners at the center, is preparing to shutter his doors and relocate. Tony Wall, president of 3W Companies, which partnered with two other developers to build University Square, said his group is negotiating compensation with the remaining seven tenants. He said the three buildings that make up the Arches, as well as the neighboring Lorenzo’s Pizza Pasta & Cafe at 106 E. University Drive, will be completely vacated by the end of the month. The developers, who have already begun work on the property, will raze the easternmost building that used to house India Bistro. “The other three, we expect to take down (in) late February,” he said. But David Cheren, owner of Dave’s Dog House, said that deadline isn’t realistic. Cheren said he hasn’t reached an agreement with the developers to quit his lease. Dimitri Soris, owner of the Pita Pit, said his last day of business will be Wednesday. Andrea Perez, a hostess at Restaurant Mexico, said she’s not exactly sure when the eatery will close. She said the owners are opening a new location at Fifth Street and Mill Avenue. “We have a good following,” she said. “They claim they will follow us wherever we go.” Neil Calfee, deputy community development manager for Tempe, said other businesses are bound to spring up around ASU to fill the void left by the Arches’ shops. “The market will find its way,” he said. “I’m confident of that. It’s just a matter of where,” he added. Mark Vinson, the city’s architect and a former ASU student, said he has fond memories discussing “the current state of ASU football” at one of many local haunts at the Arches. Still, he said the buildings weren’t old enough to qualify for historic preservation. “The center is not what you would call truly historic,” he said. |
The old College Street Deli would be a great location for Dave's Dog House. I remember seeing an article that said they might move the Subway that was located in the Arches Plaza to that location, but I'd much rather see Dave's move in there. I think 3W Companies owns that building too, and that's where they wanted to relocate one of the restaurants.
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Looks like the Mosaic is going forward... :cheers:
Gentle Strength building yields to high-rise plan Katie Nelson The Arizona Republic Dec. 20, 2006 12:00 AM TEMPE - Stucco siding fell like cardboard Monday and Tuesday with each swipe of an excavation truck's clawed arm. Chunks of building, shelving and retaining wall clattered to the ground, relegating the old Gentle Strength Co-op buildings to organic food fans' memories. The aging structures at the intersection of University Drive and Ash Avenue are being ripped out to make way for a 21-story condo complex and a corporate health food store. The demolition taking place this week is the first visible sign to the community that the project is on its way to becoming a reality. advertisement "Its kind of sad to see it go," said Chris Corwin, who was working at the new Gentle Strength location at Mill and Southern avenues Tuesday. "But it's a dual thing. Everyone is trying to focus on our new future here." Developers also are scheduled to rip out at least three smaller buildings near University Drive and Forest Avenue in the coming weeks. The work will clear land for a massive mixed-use building with three towers, called University Square. One of the Arches buildings will be torn down, as will the building that housed the Trophy Den, said Tony Wall, one of the project's developers. The entire block could be cleared as early as February, Wall added. "Change is change," said Roy Hoyt, a neighborhood activist who lives near the demolition sites. Hoyt said he remembers patronizing the shops and restaurants in the Arches when he was a student at Arizona State University, and when the Gentle Strength buildings housed a lumberyard. He has mixed feelings about the progress and planned high-rises. "I'm afraid we're going to see the same phenomenon in Tempe as in central and north central Phoenix where buildings are being torn down and all of the sudden the land becomes too valuable to build on," he said. "We're seeing it happen all over. Developers pay big bucks, and now the market is no longer there, and we get to see vacant land for a decade or more." That won't be the case at the Gentle Strength site, said Justin LaMar, the developer. Construction is slated to start this summer, he said. The Mosaic condo is scheduled to have 215 units. The first two floors will be a Whole Foods Market. |
:previous: Can anyone living in Tempe get over to the old Co-op, take a few pics, and post them here? I'm unable to, as I getting ready to leave town, and I don't have the time. I did notice that they were about half-way thru tearing it down when I drove by last night.
This is just for posterity... |
I'm planning on getting some updated Tempe shots this weekend and would drive by tonight but the wife's making me do some christmas shopping with her so I don't know if we'll be in the area. I'll definitely get some pictures of the site this weekend, although the building will probably be gone by then.
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Well, I get some pictures of it regardless. I liked Gentle Strength, but I'm really excited about the Mosaic. I wonder how long before they begin excavation?
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They said next summer, kind of a long way off. I hope it happens, it would be a shame if the developers still end up trying to flip this property instead.
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Looking at the progress bar graph on the City of Tempe page, it seems that Mosaic is fully permitted and their next step would be construction. It is unfortunate that they are waiting that long to begin, but I think the market in Tempe will help this development along. There's too much stuff going on here to miss out.
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Gentle Strength photo
Sorry, see next posts.
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photo problem
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Gentle Strength photo (corrected)
As requested, this is a photo of the Gentle Strength taken on 12/2/2006, after the move and before teardown. I took it from the roof of the Centerpoint parking lot.
http://www.fastq.com/~williard/gentlestrength.jpg |
Centerpoint construction
Photos of my future home! These were taken 12/2/06, during the arts festival.
http://www.fastq.com/~williard/cp1.jpg http://www.fastq.com/~williard/cp2.jpg http://www.fastq.com/~williard/cp3.jpg http://www.fastq.com/~williard/cp4.jpg http://www.fastq.com/~williard/cp5.jpg |
^ Nice. Thanks for the photo updates.
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In an article about Tempe public safety officials responding to highrise development at a community forum was this gem of a list: I did not know about 7th and Mill--tho another article indicates a Renaissance ClubSport will be in it. I'm pretty sure 300' is way past the height limit given that it's on Mill directly.
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Updated Tempe pics...
Looking north to the North Shore development... http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8836/imgp0042zh8.jpg Had to work Sun Devil Stadium in some how... Looking east from approximately the west end of the Pier 202 development... http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/5199/imgp0040jd8.jpg Speaking of Pier 202, there was some heavy equipment on sight (i.e. the back hoe in the pic and a huge dozer, along with what appear to be sewer lines), not sure if these are for 202 or somewhere else though... http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1614/imgp0044nf6.jpg Hayden Ferry development, and the Tempe Garage Mahal... http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4844/imgp0047th0.jpg Looking south from the Hayden Ferry Lakeside development to Centerpoint... http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6772/imgp0067eu1.jpg Centerpoint from the Avenue Communities parking lot (aka McDuffy's)... http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1318/imgp0069dv3.jpg Tower 1 and 2 of Centerpoint... http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/6659/imgp0071mu7.jpg Had to work in a shot of the creepy giant bunnies at the Centerpoint fountain... http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7784/imgp0073dn4.jpg Looking east to ASU and the future site of University Square... http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/5457/imgp0075du9.jpg The old Hogi Yogi building at the Arches has already been torn down and most of the rest of it is fenced off except for the middle building housing Dave's Dog House and the interim Tempe Bicycle (hard to tell from the pic, but take my word for it)... http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/2803/imgp0076lj8.jpg The 30 story Centerpoint tower... http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1245/imgp0084xt5.jpg Gentle Strength has been cleared to make way for Mosaic... http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3071/imgp0086bj8.jpg And what I thought was the best pic of the day... http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/8969/imgp0082gb8.jpg |
Nice update of the goings-on in Tempe sundevilgrad! :tup: Do you really think the giant jackrabbits are creepy??? I've always loved them and hope they will be part of the redo of the Centerpoint complex.
The crane across the way at Northshore is interesting. I wonder what part of the development is going up. Thanks for the pics! :D |
fabulous pictures and commentary!
I like the jackrabbits too- they're creepy in deed- but unique... |
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The tower crane has been at the Northshore development for months now, and they don't seem to be doing much. The pics of Northshore only show 6 stories, so there isn't much height. ... And yes, the rabbits are creepy, kinda like a giant Alice in Wonderland scene or something (minus the illicit drugs and colors)... |
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