Tempe Development Thread

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by Obadno

Wtf is the city doing.

This: https://www.tempe.gov/government/communication-and-marketing/refresh-tempe/downtown-tempe-refresh

[azsunsurfer]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

Actually, looks like they are presenting to the HPC tonight, so there is a public packet that has the details:

https://www.tempe.gov/home/showdocument?id=110834&t=638689246336220614

They are indeed still looking to preserve the Sanctuary portion of the church, and to move the Harry Walker House. Pretty good looking proposal.

This proposal looks so much better than the first one that had the big bulky podium!

[azsunsurfer]

I was looking at the Tucson forum and I was watching the video that was posted about the new intercity rail line. It looks like for Tempe one of the suggested station locations would be next to the Macayo's Depot site. I wonder if that development would serve as the potential station? Another route looks like it puts it somewhere along Rural and Curry...not sure there is an existing rail line there now....

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

I was looking at the Tucson forum and I was watching the video that was posted about the new intercity rail line. It looks like for Tempe one of the suggested station locations would be next to the Macayo's Depot site. I wonder if that development would serve as the potential station? Another route looks like it puts it somewhere along Rural and Curry...not sure there is an existing rail line there now....

I know there were some stipulations in the Macayo's/Depot development approvals that allowed for Tempe to use the station for future intercity rail. So that would make sense.

[az_daniel]

Well that would really add a significant layer of importance to this project, as it would be a major passenger rail station AND the first light rail transfer station on the PHX/TUC route. Hopefully the design has been updated because the renderings that came out a few years ago were awful lol and absolutely do not do the history or the importance of the site justice.

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

Quoting my last picture of these for comparison ~2 months later.

[Forrester1998]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

Quoting my last picture of these for comparison ~2 months later.

Obligatory joke about the pace of The Pier development, but the Tempe town lake skyline is gonna be unbelievable in the next few years.

[azsunsurfer]

I forgot to mention that the first tenant for the new Herberger Center on Mill has it's sign up and it's Protein House...good fit for the area. We'll see who else opens up there soon...

[builder03]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

I forgot to mention that the first tenant for the new Herberger Center on Mill has it's sign up and it's Protein House...good fit for the area. We'll see who else opens up there soon...

There's a Loopnet listing showing other future tenants for the building.

https://www.loopnet.com/viewer/pdf?file=...1065ASUretailflier%2520100824%2520v2.pdf

[azsunsurfer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN0o7fmDEqs

Kinda cringy video...especially where he says "Mill Street" over and over....but good summary of most of the new projects in Tempe including a rendering of the Food City property on Apache.

[ASUPope]

We were just downtown last weekend for the Festival of the Arts and House of Tricks is in such disrepair. Very sad to see, whoever owns it now is clearly not going to keep it in its previous/current state and just looking to sell the land I assume?

Originally Posted by CBar

https://www.abc15.com/entertainment/even...fter-three-decades-owners-plan-to-retire

House of Tricks in downtown Tempe to close after three decades, owners plan to retire
They plan to stay open through June 2022

... The restaurant property was sold to new owners on Wednesday, Dec. 15, and the Tricks will lease the property from them for the next six months
...
The new owners were not identified and the future of the property is still being finalized

[combusean]

The House of Tricks building will be moved as part of a larger development.

[azsunsurfer]

So it was posted on Instagram that the Devil's Advocate owners took a lease buyout from the landlord and have ceased operations immediately! Hopefully this means that the (Aria?) development will start soon? We might have four towers under construction on that stretch of University sometime next year. If only the X/ Basecamp site got it's act together...will make for some good density east of Downtown.

[Phxguy]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

So it was posted on Instagram that the Devil's Advocate owners took a lease buyout from the landlord and have ceased operations immediately! Hopefully this means that the (Aria?) development will start soon? We might have four towers under construction on that stretch of University sometime next year. If only the X/ Basecamp site got it's act together...will make for some good density east of Downtown.

Legitimately bummed how quickly DA already closed their doors. Maybe I’ll feel better when construction is underway but I’ll hold my breath until that happens. North Tempe has lost some solid spots (IMO) over the years to redevelopment.

On another note, I have it on good authority that the College/University underpass is no more.

[builder03]

Originally Posted by Phxguy

Legitimately bummed how quickly DA already closed their doors. Maybe I’ll feel better when construction is underway but I’ll hold my breath until that happens. North Tempe has lost some solid spots (IMO) over the years to redevelopment.

On another note, I have it on good authority that the College/University underpass is no more.

That's good news IMO, the city/ASU should invest in pedestrian safety improvements at the street level, rather than spend a bunch of money on a tunnel people will avoid anyways.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by builder03

That's good news IMO, the city/ASU should invest in pedestrian safety improvements at the street level, rather than spend a bunch of money on a tunnel people will avoid anyways.

Agreed. I'm not even sure why this tunnel was needed given the existing crosswalk and traffic signal at College Avenue and the pedestrian bridge just a short distance to the east. I'd rather see any construction investment in that area go towards the proposed elevation of light rail at University and Rural.

[Forrester1998]

Yeah I tend to agree that if the University/College underpass isn't moving forward that's good news. I don't really think it's usually pedestrians who ask for pedestrian underpasses (or overpasses, for that matter) it's usually drivers who are tired of having to stop for pedestrians at a particular point. I definitely don't think we should invest in a project that would probably make the pedestrian experience worse in order to speed up traffic on University.

[azsunsurfer]

I personally think Rural and Uni and Rural and Apache should have Vegas style overpasses for pedestrians complete with elevators and glass panels for selfies.

[azsunsurfer]

Looks like Mellow Mushroom Pizza will be closing their doors on Mill soon...the space is being marketed by a local broker.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

Looks like Mellow Mushroom Pizza will be closing their doors on Mill soon...the space is being marketed by a local broker.

There has been so much turnover on Mill lately. I was there earlier today and noticed that Slices pizzeria is gone and Phoenicia, a few blocks away, is closing this month.