Phoenix | Barrister-Jefferson Place | 350 FT(est.) | 29 Floors
 

Here is a new thread for the Barrister complex. :)

Edit: found the renderings

http://azbex.com/wp-content/uploads/...ster-Plans.jpg

Lots more renderings: http://kjzz.org/sites/default/files/...n%206.1.16.pdf

Here's the best I've seen, I'll edit if I see a better one.

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/6a36...-rendering.JPG

Source

I wish I were in charge of naming this building... The Hitchcock.

Love that idea! Perhaps a bar at the back of the building called Rear Window? Highlight the building where the camera came in from a distance in the movie Psycho.

I took a spin around downtown yesterday and checked out Barrister. The section of the parking lot that is fenced off and being torn up is where the high-rise would go. So I assume the high-rises going up first?

http://i.imgur.com/s7DODI4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qWpNYJc.jpg

I have always thought a rooftop bar called " The Bates " would be awesome... regardless, something should honor its history.

Would there be a Master (bartender) at The Bates?

A couple of more ideas to honor Hitchcock at the project:

Rooftop Aviary: The Birds
An office for Joe Arpaio: Psycho
A bungee jump contraption from the roof: Vertigo
A shop or bar on the corner of the Barrister building at 1st Ave and Jefferson: North by Northwest :cheers:

Delete

Does this development have a website?

Does anyone know what is going on at Barrister now? They cleared out the old broken up asphalt, repaved that section and removed the fence this morning. Not sure if any of this has anything to do with the project, if they are using the surface parking for the NCAA events (lots of cars parked across 1st from TSA), or if it is optics (the city trying to make prominent downtown lot look nice for this weekend since there is no other sign of construction). Any ideas?

I would laugh (out of frustration) if they scrapped it because of likelihood of the GPLET program going away.

It's probably not the case but it would be kind of funny.

Did they apply for a GPLET for Barrister? I don't recall them doing so

Correct, this project didn't depend on GPLETs

Any updates for this project now that March Madness is over? Is any fencing back up?

Well it's not over yet... championship is tonight... I doubt they would go jackhammer the pavement as soon as the weekend was over haha

Ha, goes to show how little I care about the games!

Phxguy, I am with you now... I hope this beings to move. How great would it be to see this and Block23 going up at the same time? Anyone been by the site the last couple days?

With the misinformation & guesswork going on here, figured it would be helpful to share an update on the Barrister condominium development a.k.a Jefferson Place.


1) They are under contract to purchase the Barrister building and adjacent property from the City of Phoenix. 100% under contract - but not 100% finalized to my knowledge.
2) They have begun the lengthy pre-construction process of developing the building.
3) Between design, engineering, financing, legal, presales, and further City approvals, they are still 9-12 months from the 'official' start of construction.
4) If all of the above occurs without a hitch, we might see construction begin in the 7-8 month timeframe. Sounds like that's a big if, however.


To emphasize: No, Jefferson Place hasn't begun construction. No, the sky isn't falling. No, the GPLET debacle didn't sideline this project.

And yes, the Downtown Phoenix market can still support more residential developments. :)

Great news and excellent update!

Thanks for the well-informed information.

Found this video from May on history and renovation of Barrister:

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/54321...#sp=show-clips

Hello All -

Providing an update on the Barrister/Jefferson Place development as there seems to be some confusion/speculation...



The project has been on hold for several months due to a challenge from the Urban Phoenix Project. The UPP is trying to block the acquisition of the alley that bisects the property. There is a City Council hearing to, hopefully, resolve the issue on October 18th.

From what I understand, without the alley, the Barrister high-rise condo plan is not financially viable and dead in the water.



I am NOT a fan of the Urban Phoenix Project. The group does much more harm than good. They were successful in stopping a Hines project last year - so the Barrister folks are taking this seriously.

Fingers crossed... we are SO CLOSE to having an INCREDIBLY dense residental core in DT Phx!!!!

I could be missing something but I really don't understand the willingness to delay and derail projects like this over alleys. Seems like cutting if you're nose to spite your face. I understand the position that preserving the alley will result in better urban design. But surely the project without the alley is better for the urban fabric than a parking lot.

What was the hines project?

Could not agree more and you're not missing anything. Sean Sweat and Jeff Sherman (individuals in charge of UPP) have their organization completely backwards. Here is the Urban Phoenix Project's official position on the subject:



We have just appealed the abandonment of the alley behind the Barrister Building. (Southeast corner of Central & Jefferson.)

The abandonment would be a material change from the project that received approval by the City's RFP process, and the decision to approve the abandonment neglected to consider the Council-approved criteria for abandonments in downtown.

Alleys are important for our downtown, giving us ways to keep utilitarian functions off the street, reducing driveways which are dangerous to people on foot and bikes, and forcing better urban design through smaller building footprints. Our alleys must be preserved.



Talk about a load of nonsense!!! What is unfortunate is this delay has NOTHING to do with GPLET. Nothing to do with market enthusiasm. Nothing to do with the developer pulling back. Truly unfortunate.

I hope (and anticipate) the City Council will brush off this appeal and allow the Barrister developers to press onwards.. we should know by the end of next week.

Wow that is incredibly dumb, if I remember correctly the site plane literally preserves 80% f the ally it just no longer connects to Washington.

Edit: Yep, alley still exists http://kjzz.org/sites/default/files/...n%206.1.16.pdf

11 story, 400 apartment project that would have taken up the whole parking lot on NE corner of Filmore and Central.

That's the one. If memory serves, it was going to be called The Canyon... but could be wrong or referencing a different development.

What a bunch of B.S.! All that is there now is a vacant building, a parking lot that is never more than a 1/4 full and homeless vagrants that use the back of Barrister as their personal toilet. I can't tell you how much gross stuff I have seen shortcutting through the Barrister parking lot. So they want to kill this redevelopment over an alley (which as Obadno stated, appears to still be there).

As long as it has taken to develop this property...all the failed proposals...and someone FINALLY comes along with nearly a concrete plan to build a really good development and these jerks pull a Matt. Do they not realize, by killing this development, it could be another 5 years for another developer to propose something else??

I really shake my head at the amount of opposition that occurs in this city. :koko:

Quoting UPP.....

Unfortunately the project was significantly re-designed after the RFP was awarded by the City. The original design, which we supported, maintained the alley and fully developed the southern parcel. The new design moves all trash and vehicle access directly off of Madison. This makes Madison a a complete dead side of the project with multiple curb cuts. The only development now left South of the Alley is 4-5 Town-homes facing Central Ave.

As is often the case, the Downtown Devil is providing the best coverage: https://downtowndevil.com/2017/10/13...rrister-alley/

I haven't followed this case closely, but base on what I've read so far, I lean towards UPP's position. Phoenix has said yes to far too many mediocre developments (Collier Center, Arizona Center, and CityScape are a few examples) because we thought that they were better than vacant lots or empty buildings. We're no longer in a position of such desperation There's enough interest in Downtown that we can wait for someone to get it right.

Maybe it really is true that the developer can't make this work without the alley abandonment, but it's concerning that this detail was revealed after the RFP was awarded, making this seem like a possible bait-and-switch. If my schedule permits, I might attend Wednesday's hearing to learn more. I encourage others to do the same, regardless of how they feel about this case.

Careful with the thinking that the first thing available is the best, that's how people end up with Kias.

I gotta say that I’m at least partially onboard with the UPP position. I know some advocacy groups take their positions too far but I think this is a reasonable position. Not to say that I couldn’t be swayed, however.

Based on the document on the first page that was generally always the plan though?

And I really don't understand the ally is in the site plan unless that has all be scrapped and redone?

But you didn't mean to offend anyone driving a Kia, did you Smallus Weinus?

Are you offended? I'm sorry. I was just making the comparison to illustrate my point, sometimes if you wait you end up with something better i.e. not a Kia.

Kia makes a damn good car. Just saying. You can't really call anything coming out of South Korea junk in autos. Maybe Detroit (still) or Europe...but not South Korea.

I'm taking a leap here, but I'm guessing, based on your past posts, you must be a delight to be around.

Anyone going to the abandonment hearing tomorrow? I would be very interested to know what comes out of this!:cheers:

More coverage of the alley abandonment:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/...ilding-9773606

Not mentioned in this article is the point that the alley is apparently already partially abandoned. That one fact might make me lean in the developer's direction.

A lot will depend on timing. The City Council is expected to meet in executive session on another matter at 1 PM. That could delay the actual council meeting, which is scheduled to start at 2:30. Depending on when the council gets started with the meeting, I'll either go over and watch in person or watch it live on YouTube.

I'm watching the meeting on YouTube right now--first time I've done so. I need to do this more often. Fireworks right now as the Council gets lectured on Burton Barr library failures. Very entertaining.

EDIT: Apparently Barrister building is now planned for 32 stories. Nice.

Holy cow... nice! Keep the updates coming!

:banger:

Alley abandonment passed unanimously. Everyone involved seemed thoughtful and reasonable, and as exit2left mentioned, it mostly came down to the fact that the alley is already abandoned on the east half of the block, so it's not really functional anyway.

The alley abandonment was upheld unanimously by the council. When Kate Gallego and Mayor Stanton announced their support, it was obvious to me this would be the outcome since they're generally the two most pro-urban voices on the council.

So, we have 3 potential 350' towers! The Link, AZ Center and now Barrister! :cheers:

Was a new rendering presented? I didn't get to watch the whole meeting.