Tempe Development Thread

[combusean]

You're looking at the back of the project from 8th st, why they chose that rendering/viewpoint is beyond me.

[muertecaza]

Couldn't get a good picture of all the cranes on 7th St. in one shot, but I like all the activity.

[Forrester1998]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

Couldn't get a good picture of all the cranes on 7th St. in one shot, but I like all the activity.

Its nice to see construction happening on these three projects. Once the Revelry construction kicks off in the spring as seems to be the plan, that will be four of the six downtown high rise projects that were introduced during the very busy spring/summer of 2023 being in the construction phase (The Samuel, Astria, 7th Street Residential, and the Revelry). Im including 7th Street here as they actually presented their PAD to the historical preservation committee in 2023 with full renderings and everything, even though the process surrounding the historical structures ended up taking until 2025 to resolve. The remaining two are 16 East University (which would replace the Tempe Town Centre office building and parking structure which used to hold the old Wells Fargo branch) and Skye Tempe (NW corner of University/Myrtle, which is shovel ready now but used to be the Salvation Army worship center). Both of these projects have had activity as recently as 2025 in the form of minor PAD/DPR amendments etc so neither project seems dead, I imagine these two are both waiting on financing. Notable that Shady Park which was part of the noise ordinance controversy ended up shutting down last August, so I wonder if either developer has been thinking about purchasing that lot of anything like that and modifying their project. Either way it would be great to see movement on these two in the near future.

Moving to a different area of town, the developers for Sterling Tempe recently filed for building permits.

https://epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess...0A3&agencyCode=TEMPE&IsToShowInspection=

As a reminder, Sterling Tempe is an approved 5 story 256 unit (755 bedroom) multifamily development proposal at the SE corner of Lemon and Terrace (currently the site of the University Valley apartments + the dirt lot to the east of the complex). This isnt a huge step up in height (4 stories to 5) but its a big step up in density (115 total units to 256 and probably a higher bedroom/unit ratio) and it will definitely be good to replace the structure which was constructed in the 60s. This proposal was part of a big rush of proposals in this area back in 2023/early 2024 along with Verve Tempe, the Rambler, and the Marshall (all of which are planned to complete construction this summer) as well as the Vale Student Housing project which is planned at the current site of the Moxy Tempe but hasn't had any recent updates. I guess for Sterling Tempe the timing is weird because University Valley apartments is primarily student housing so I imagine most of their leases end in the summer, but maybe the devs are just applying very early. Either way, once again its good to see movement on this and I guess its nice that the University Valley apartments (a relatively large complex among the old student housing stock in the area) isnt being taken out of the inventory until a huge influx of new projects in the area (Verve, Rambler, Marshall) are complete.

[AZSunHiker]

https://www.tempenews.com/news/tempe-get...765f21b-2c50-4984-8d7b-9d6a6d525fcd.html

Tempe City Council recently approved the 250 Rio tower as condos rather than rentals. Seems like it's been quite a while since a condo high rise has been approved.

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by AZSunHiker

https://www.tempenews.com/news/tempe-get...765f21b-2c50-4984-8d7b-9d6a6d525fcd.html

Tempe City Council recently approved the 250 Rio tower as condos rather than rentals. Seems like it's been quite a while since a condo high rise has been approved.

This rendering is giving me 2007 vibes.

[Forrester1998]

A few interesting items from the Tempe permits portal, including a big one:

1) The developers for Skye Tempe, an approved 27 story 306 unit high rise with ground floor commercial at the NW corner of University and Myrtle (formerly the site of the Salvation Army worship center), have applied for building permits. Would obviously be the 4th high rise under construction in the downtown core in addition to the Samuel, Astria, and 7th Street.

https://epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess...1JA&agencyCode=TEMPE&IsToShowInspection=

2) New Preliminary Site Plan Review (PSPR) to construct a 120 unit multifamily building at 825 S. 48th street. This lot contains a vacant building that used to be a Dennys, this is essentially the SE corner of University and the I10. Honestly, sort of a weird location, theres no other residential uses near this spot.

https://epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess...J2Q&agencyCode=TEMPE&IsToShowInspection=

3) Lastly, new Planned Area Development (PAD) for the Tempe Oasis Re-Use project, which seeks to convert the Tempe Oasis hotel at the SE corner of Scottsdale Rd and Lilac to multifamily use. This has been in the works for awhile, good to see some movement.

https://epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess...1HF&agencyCode=TEMPE&IsToShowInspection=

[combusean]

They got that Denny's site for less than a million an acre and they're maximizing density so they must think the margins are there.

Honestly not that bad a site for a tenant who wants to be close to ASU but still in a quiet area at night.

And yeah, that condo tower certainly gives 2007 vibes... i think it's been a while since we had patios the size of whole apartments.

[Forrester1998]

Originally Posted by Forrester1998

A few interesting items from the Tempe permits portal, including a big one:

1) The developers for Skye Tempe, an approved 27 story 306 unit high rise with ground floor commercial at the NW corner of University and Myrtle (formerly the site of the Salvation Army worship center), have applied for building permits. Would obviously be the 4th high rise under construction in the downtown core in addition to the Samuel, Astria, and 7th Street.

https://epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess...1JA&agencyCode=TEMPE&IsToShowInspection=

2) New Preliminary Site Plan Review (PSPR) to construct a 120 unit multifamily building at 825 S. 48th street. This lot contains a vacant building that used to be a Dennys, this is essentially the SE corner of University and the I10. Honestly, sort of a weird location, theres no other residential uses near this spot.

https://epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess...J2Q&agencyCode=TEMPE&IsToShowInspection=

3) Lastly, new Planned Area Development (PAD) for the Tempe Oasis Re-Use project, which seeks to convert the Tempe Oasis hotel at the SE corner of Scottsdale Rd and Lilac to multifamily use. This has been in the works for awhile, good to see some movement.

https://epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess...1HF&agencyCode=TEMPE&IsToShowInspection=

My mistake...that multifamily development being planned for the former Dennys site is at the SE corner of University and the 143, not the I10.

[builder03]

Looks like demo is complete and ground has broken on the new John McCain Library on the NEC of Mill Ave and Curry Rd.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/pol...d-museum-groundbreaking-asu/88415420007/

[azsunsurfer]

Does anyone know what’s going on with the Kimpton hotel parcel on Mill. It’s been sitting vacant forever with no movement.

With phoenix being so short of hotel rooms and has room for growth for conventions im surprised tempe hasnt made a push to take some of that pie being so close to the airport. I think a nice smaller convention center on the lake would be attractive and drive more hotel demand. The metro market is big enough i think it could support it.

[combusean]

[deleted]

[builder03]

I heard from a friend who works there that they plan to operate the hotel for the general public as well when not in use for corporate events.

Definitely a unique investment for a construction company, should bring a lot of activity to this part of Tempe.

https://www.abc15.com/news/business/mcca...otel-for-27-5m-to-create-training-campus

[builder03]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

Smaller potatoes, but from the Tempe historic preservation commission and development map, it looks like there's an adaptive reuse proposal in the works for "Marlatt's Garage" near Four Peaks:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1920+E..._ep=EgoyMDI1MTExNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

It's a little surprising to me that there haven't been more efforts to draft off the success of Four Peaks in building up 8th St. with more commercial uses. I hope this goes somewhere, could be cool.

Some renderings of the Marlatt's Garage adaptive reuse project from a recent Tempe Tribune article:



This is the SWC of 8th Street and Doresy.

[Forrester1998]

Fun look at the construction of the Samuel, where the deep excavation necessitated the use of the crane to lift the CAT vehicles out of the site.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jill-brog...eamwork-ugcPost-7425226708880068608-7s9o

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by Forrester1998

Fun look at the construction of the Samuel, where the deep excavation necessitated the use of the crane to lift the CAT vehicles out of the site.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jill-brog...eamwork-ugcPost-7425226708880068608-7s9o

Very cool, thanks for posting

[azsunsurfer]

Technically Mesa but it’s right on the border…..

Plans to develop a 5 story apartment and 4 story candlewood suites at the corner of Rio Salado and the 101 at the site of the old Maricopa County Animal Control Center. Plenty of surface parking along Rio Salado to make parking easier!

https://mesa.legistar.com/LegislationDet...UID=CF4291E9-889A-4DDC-97ED-21F426C3F45F

[bidwillsbiggestfan]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

Technically Mesa but it’s right on the border…..

Plans to develop a 5 story apartment and 4 story candlewood suites at the corner of Rio Salado and the 101 at the site of the old Maricopa County Animal Control Center. Plenty of surface parking along Rio Salado to make parking easier!

https://mesa.legistar.com/LegislationDet...UID=CF4291E9-889A-4DDC-97ED-21F426C3F45F

adding in density along this route is good, since the streetcar extension will likely run along here...i just don't love that they set the apartments all the way back from the street

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by bidwillsbiggestfan

adding in density along this route is good, since the streetcar extension will likely run along here...i just don't love that they set the apartments all the way back from the street

I agree, and I think the previous comment praising the surface parking was bait that shouldn't be taken.

[Forrester1998]

Originally Posted by bidwillsbiggestfan

adding in density along this route is good, since the streetcar extension will likely run along here...i just don't love that they set the apartments all the way back from the street

I dont mean to burst anybodys bubble about this but every story I have read about this development is that this is going to be 1) a hotel plus 2) multifamily units SPECIFICALLY for Cubs players and staff during spring training only, no common use multifamily. Unclear what these units would be used for, if anything, for any other part of the year (presumably when the Cubs come to town to play the DBacks? Lol) better than nothing but not exactly prime urban development. And I think this makes clear why it is set back from the street, as it is prioritizing proximity to player facilities rather than to the street.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...cubs-housing-and-hotel-mesa/88614733007/

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by Forrester1998

I dont mean to burst anybodys bubble about this but every story I have read about this development is that this is going to be 1) a hotel plus 2) multifamily units SPECIFICALLY for Cubs players and staff during spring training only, no common use multifamily. Unclear what these units would be used for, if anything, for any other part of the year (presumably when the Cubs come to town to play the DBacks? Lol) better than nothing but not exactly prime urban development. And I think this makes clear why it is set back from the street, as it is prioritizing proximity to player facilities rather than to the street.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loc...cubs-housing-and-hotel-mesa/88614733007/

Thanks. That link adds a lot of context. Those apartments could become short-term rentals when not in use by the Cubs. While I'm not thrilled with the design, I still see this as a positive development because it's more likely to keep the Cubs in Mesa for the long term.