Tempe Development Thread

[skiesthelimit]

I know we all joked about this day, but Shorehaven (South Pier Phase 1) apartments are actually coming online as we speak… idk if it’s the slow process of The Pier next door or what but it feels like they built those three towers insanely fast to be online already. I also am not a fan on the exteriors with the yellow bits and then random blue cladding on the lake side, but maybe that’s just me.

https://liveshorehaven.com/

Hopefully we see tower one of The Pier open in 2040 and tower two by 2050.

[azsunsurfer]

Shorehavens site claims that the Pier will start leasing this fall….fingers crossed…

[az_daniel]

Originally Posted by skiesthelimit

I also am not a fan on the exteriors with the yellow bits and then random blue cladding on the lake side, but maybe that’s just me.

It is not just you. I like the blue panels but they should have been a single color or a gradient from the ground up. I can't wait for the day the trend of staggering everything dies..

[combusean]

The side with the blue is tasteful. The side with the random yellow bits is very, very bad.

[Forrester1998]

Finally happening: ASU is in the process of demolishing Best/Irish/Hayden halls, to be replaced with new denser dorms to be completed in 2028:

https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/04/community-construction-dorms-tempe-2026

[azsunsurfer]

I went by the Marshall the other day and I can’t decide if I like the building or not. At times it looks not finished and other times I think it looks ok. I wish that the second phase was the actual design for the building fronting Apache and vice versa. Maybe I’ll try to snap a pic of it next time now that it’s wrapping up.

By contrast the Rambler looks so good from the street level however from the Lemon St. side it looks identical to the building next door. Wish there was more contrast for being such large buildings…

[azsunsurfer]

So I had no idea the house of tricks development (Hub on Campus) was going to be student housing? I thought the mayor was bragging about how it was going to house young families and young professionals who wanted to live Downtown. They advertise that they’re going to be renting by the bed.

[Forrester1998]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

So I had no idea the house of tricks development (Hub on Campus) was going to be student housing? I thought the mayor was bragging about how it was going to house young families and young professionals who wanted to live Downtown. They advertise that they’re going to be renting by the bed.

Glad to see somebody else say this because I remember this the exact same way. The developers for this project specifically said they wanted to emphasize giving families an opportunity to live downtown. Definitely feels like a rug pull, which is frustrating to me because otherwise this is just a great development. Especially bitter because literally every recently developed high rise in downtown Tempe (Union, Atmosphere, Oliv) currently exclusively rents by the bed for multiple bedroom units.

This is frustrating enough that I think the city should consider adding a condition of approval for future developments prohibiting them from renting by the bed for like 5 years after the certificate of occupancy or something. If you want to be student housing, you should be up front about it when seeking approval. If you say you arent going to be student housing, the city should enforce that.

[azsunsurfer]

I feel like the only areas that are not like Downtown are literally the lake, Novus and maybe the developments far east on Apache. I feel like the Downtown Core is a lost cause but the good news is that these buildings can be converted over time…

[azsunsurfer]

I forgot to mention that the old FoodCity on Apache is fenced off…so construction seems like it might happen soon…at least for “affordable housing”

[azsunsurfer]

It seems like people are really mad for the fact that Tempe spent $2 million dollars for some cut out letters that spell "Mill Ave." I myself am thankful for the signage since I am too lazy to read the street signs at the intersection. I know it was part of the larger Mill Ave upgrade budget. I am wondering if any of you are hearing the same feedback?

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

It seems like people are really mad for the fact that Tempe spent $2 million dollars for some cut out letters that spell "Mill Ave." I myself am thankful for the signage since I am too lazy to read the street signs at the intersection. I know it was part of the larger Mill Ave upgrade budget. I am wondering if any of you are hearing the same feedback?

No one in my ambit is complaining, but I don't doubt there are some naysayers.

I'm neutral on the sign, I don't really care. Just today though, I was thinking that I actually really like the streetscape redesigns. I could take or leave the the gray brick, but the big expanded street corners and improved curb cuts make for a nice walkabout.

[MiEncanto]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

No one in my ambit is complaining, but I don't doubt there are some naysayers.

I'm neutral on the sign, I don't really care. Just today though, I was thinking that I actually really like the streetscape redesigns. I could take or leave the the gray brick, but the big expanded street corners and improved curb cuts make for a nice walkabout.

I'm often skeptical of governmental vanity projects but this is a celebration of a neighborhood/locale, not a politician. I hate it when they name a park after themselves. This type of signage is kinda cool.

[azsunsurfer]

The Regency Apartments are for sale. Interesting the marketing information says it's available for an immediate redevelopment opportunity! But more importantly look at that view of Tempe with all the recent developments!

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1100-E-Lemon-St-Tempe-AZ/40304792/

[Forrester1998]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

The Regency Apartments are for sale. Interesting the marketing information says it's available for an immediate redevelopment opportunity! But more importantly look at that view of Tempe with all the recent developments!

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1100-E-Lemon-St-Tempe-AZ/40304792/

This is interesting to see. Back in 2024 there were a few filings made for this property seeking to move towards getting this approved for a high rise mixed use project (probably student housing) but it didn't go anywhere at the time. I recall this being referred to as another "Verve" project but dont currently see that in the permit application history for the address.

https://epermits.tempe.gov/citizenaccess/Cap/CapHome.aspx?module=Planning&TabName=Planning

Maybe once Verve is finished it will be more attractive to start work on this site. There are a few potential student housing projects in the area further along in the process (Vale Tempe at the site of the Moxy, Sterling Tempe at the site of University Valley apartments both approved, plus another application for Sakara which would be at the site of the Greenhouse apartments) but honestly the Regency apartments are probably the worst of this bunch for land use/current condition so I would be happy to see this be the next to move forward.

[Forrester1998]

Theres some interesting development and related stuff happening in recent/upcoming Tempe city council meetings.

1) From last night's council meeting, looks like the Northbend project (SW corner of Curry and Miller roads) will be moving forward with its 2nd phase soon. They are requesting a height/density reduction (essentially chopping 1 floor and ~60 units off the 2nd phase) which is somewhat disappointing although it brings the 2nd phase height more in line with the 1st phase. 2nd phase will bring 285 dwelling units, down from the original plan of about ~340. (Total units for this project will end up being ~590 instead of the originally planned 650).

2) Also from last night's meeting, the city council had the first meeting to reduce speed limits in a variety of locations throughout the city.

Last night's meeting agenda packet: (this is a large file)
https://tempe.hylandcloud.com/Agendaonli...tType=5&meetingId=1848&isAttachment=True

3) From the DRC meeting earlier this week, the commission recommended for approval a 5 story ~1000 unit apartment complex at 1600 North Priest Drive (???). This is a very large project and would replace the office building at the listed address as well as all of the adjacent parking lots. Seems like they plan to build in four phases (one building per phase) TBD on timing. Interesting location. Its near light rail so thats something but development had stalled in this area in recent years, hope it moves forward.

This week's DRC agenda packet: https://tempe.hylandcloud.com/Agendaonli...tType=5&meetingId=1888&isAttachment=True

4) At the upcoming meeting in two weeks, the DRC will consider a project to convert the Tempe Oasis hotel (located at the SE corner of Scottadale and Lilac) into a multifamily residential building with 142 units. This has been in the works for awhile.

5) Also at this meeting the DRC will consider a blanket sweep reduction in parking requirements for downtown and the light rail corridor.

No agenda packet yet for the upcoming DRC meeting but item 5) was discussed at this week's DRC study session.

Upcoming DRC Agenda: https://tempe.hylandcloud.com/Agendaonline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=1899&doctype=1

This week's DRC study session agenda packet: https://tempe.hylandcloud.com/Agendaonli...tType=5&meetingId=1889&isAttachment=True

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by Forrester1998

3) From the DRC meeting earlier this week, the commission recommended for approval a 5 story ~1000 unit apartment complex at 1600 North Priest Drive (???). This is a very large project and would replace the office building at the listed address as well as all of the adjacent parking lots. Seems like they plan to build in four phases (one building per phase) TBD on timing. Interesting location. Its near light rail so thats something but development had stalled in this area in recent years, hope it moves forward.

1600 N Priest is (or maybe was) an SRP building, the one with the pyramid on top. Is it no longer in use? I always though it was their headquarters.

[azsunsurfer]

I was hoping they were just going to repurpose the office building as apts and then develop the land around it. It's not really "iconic" per se but would've been cool to see that building renovated vs. what's being proposed to replace it....

[combusean]

Regarding converting the 1600 N Priest tower...

I doubt SRP could find a master developer that wants to take that risk and there's very little upside potential anyways. The architecture and site plan is 1991 institutional Phoenix office building at the end of the day.

It's weirdly situated with huge setbacks, deep floorplates, 1990s car circulation in the front and that's even before you figure out the plumbing and other hard issues that makes these conversions difficult. There is especially no way you make the back of this building make sense either.

Nobody is going to miss the 50 feet of height that two floors and that stupid pyramid on top gets you either.

It is vastly easier and more logical to blade it and start over.

[plinko]

About 25 years ago I got farmed out to do drafting for SRP in that building. It’s dark and unfriendly inside. I suppose if you cut a hole in the middle you could build a circa 1990s Embassy Suites type hotel or apartment building
But it would structurally be a mess.

That being said, I always liked the pyramid top from a distance.