Tempe Development Thread - Page 59

PHX31 · #**1161** Posted **Oct 13, 2007, 6:06 PM**

/\ How will Monti's be saved? Are they still planning on building the highrise on the top of it, or are they putting the building to the side?

tempedude · #**1162** Posted **Oct 13, 2007, 6:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX31

/\ How will Monti's be saved? Are they still planning on building the highrise on the top of it, or are they putting the building to the side?

From my understanding, they will build the high rise over and around Monti's and the steakhouse will remain at that location.

ill look for some renderings

shawneriksmith · #**1163** Posted **Oct 13, 2007, 9:18 PM**

Tempe Gateway is separate from the Monti's project. Tempe Gateway will feature 235,000 sq ft office space and 25,000 sq ft of retail.

HooverDam · #**1164** Posted **Oct 13, 2007, 10:05 PM**

So with the ASU-Washington game today, I was thinking about the sad state of tailgating at ASU. There isn't nearly enough available grass near the stadium, and what is available isn't often allowed to have alcohol (i.e. various on campus sites). Most people tailgate in the lots around the north and east sides of SDS, but its all asphalt and its a somewhat lousy experience. With this as the germ for my idea, I came up with this quick idea:

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3406/lawnstructuresor5.jpg

The Cardinals stadium has a "great lawn", something like this for SDS/Tempe would be great. I'm envisioning a partnership between ASU and Tempe, it would be Tempe's equivalent to St Louis' Forrest Park, Chicago's Millennium Park, etc. You'd have to have Rio Salado Pkwy dip a bit, and perhaps put a small birm in the middle of the park.

Obviously, this cuts into some of ASU's parking, so the red squares indicate possible places where garages could be placed. The one further to the West would have to be limited to only 2 or maybe 3 stories in order to preserve views of the butte. It could have retail and/or office along the North side and perhaps the East side as well, facing the park. The garage further to the East could also have retail facing Rio Salado and possibly even Packard.

The blue squares are meant to represent possible condo/office midrises that could eventually be developed. I don't think there's currently any firm plans for that area of the shoreline, so incorporating a park could be possible. Connecting the lake with SDS/ASU via a large park would be very visually appealing and would make the midrises even more desirable of a location. Obviously retail facing Rio Salado Pkwy would be key.

I suppose the only thing (other than the obvious costs and difficulties of getting ASU and Tempe to work together) that would possibly be a negative is that this could detract from Tempe Beach Park. Perhaps there wouldn't be enough of a need for two parks so near each other, however w/ all the development along Rio Salado, it could be.

Anyway, enough of my silly dreaming, thoughts?

tempedude · #**1165** Posted **Oct 13, 2007, 11:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawneriksmith

Tempe Gateway is separate from the Monti's project. Tempe Gateway will feature 235,000 sq ft office space and 25,000 sq ft of retail.

ok the gateway project is right next to montis project...was a little confused there. Then gateway has broken ground if its next to US Airways and Montis. Its fenced off and there is already a large hole in the ground next to the parking garage for US Airways...no kidding... was by there today...ill try to get some pics...

for now im off to support my school at the game

go sun devils

ASU over Washington by 10

vertex · #**1166** Posted **Oct 14, 2007, 12:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHX31

/\ How will Monti's be saved? Are they still planning on building the highrise on the top of it, or are they putting the building to the side?

Well, to answer that question, you need to define what 'saved' means. In this case, the tower will be build on top of the LaCasa footprint, with columns slicing thru the existing structure.

Basically, this is Sun Merc part II, only this time we are talking about the overall integrity of the building, not just the roof.

vertex · #**1167** Posted **Oct 14, 2007, 12:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tempedude

From my understanding, they will build the high rise over and around Monti's and the steakhouse will remain at that location.

ill look for some renderings

Built over, around, and through....

Don B. · #**1168** Posted **Oct 14, 2007, 3:18 AM**

HooverDam, that's a dandy of an idea. You need to get that ball rolling because I believe that entire south shore of the lake is slated to be developed - probably Marina Heights.

--don

Cranetastic · #**1169** Posted **Oct 14, 2007, 3:30 AM**

Hooverdam, if I remember right Suncor has approval to go ahead with their Marina Heights project on the land North of Rio Salado. They aren't expected to finish everything until 2029 according to a May article. I believe someone here posted that they had all approvals necessary, but I could be wrong.

I was down by the lake today just sitting on a bench with my wife chillin' out. It was a beautiful day. I was a little bummed that the paddle boats stop being rentalable at 1:00pm on Saturday. What's with that?

I really like the Hayden Ferry - Lakeside project, this is a nice front to the lake and I just see huge potential for the area. I wish Phoenix and Mesa had decided to partake in the "Rio Salado" project when they had the chance. If downtown Phoenix had some kind of waterway - riverwalk thing like this I think it would be pretty neat to have skyscrapers line it.

Tempedude, I saw that fence up and asphalt piled pretty high above it. They are doing some work there. It also looks like there is a fence around the old mill and part of the building has been torn down, either that or there is one serious "oops" door that goes outside from the fourth floor down to your imminent death if you walk through it.

KEVINphx · #**1170** Posted **Oct 14, 2007, 4:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vertex

Well, to answer that question, you need to define what 'saved' means. In this case, the tower will be build on top of the LaCasa footprint, with columns slicing thru the existing structure.

Basically, this is Sun Merc part II, only this time we are talking about the overall integrity of the building, not just the roof.

It's also a SLIGHTLY more historically significant building. Personally, I am totally against building on top of this building, but who am I?

tempedude · #**1171** Posted **Oct 14, 2007, 4:59 PM**

Historic Monti's building

Tempe transit center and a light rail station under construction

Hayden Ferry Lakeside

This was for fun - Beerfest

vertex · #**1172** Posted **Oct 14, 2007, 6:29 PM**

Anyone notice that Tempe's 5th St. and 3rd St. stations are the largest and most bad-ass ones in the system?

flyer84 · #**1173** Posted **Oct 15, 2007, 4:35 PM**

I was reading the Weekly Update on the City of Tempe website and there are some new renderings of the Monti's 100 Mill Ave. towers. They look really tall and the design is quite nice I think. But I'm wondering if the FAA will approve the height with city of Phoenix officials at Sky Harbor already not happy with 300 ft. Also, these buildings are just about in the flight path. The Centerpoint Condos are just a little south though so there is still a possibility that they could get approved although I'm almost certain there is gonna be some disagreement. All I can say is that this project would make the Tempe skyline look amazing. The only thing I'm worried about is the fact that both Rio Salado Pkwy and Mill Ave are only 2 lanes and Mill is just one downtown. These towers are gonna create a lot more traffic for that intersection. Any thoughts on this?

Also, there was a rendering of the proposed apartment tower that the ASU Catholic Newman Center is building. Let me know what you guys think on both the Monti's project and the Newman Center.

Here is the link to the page since I don't know how to post photos saved on my computer. Does anyone know how to post photos that you save on your hard drive or does it have to be from a web page?

http://www.tempe.gov/comdev/WeeklyUpdate/12OCT07.pdf

Also, please be sure to scroll down when reading the article because there is a full elevation rendering further down the page of the Monti's project.

HooverDam · #**1174** Posted **Oct 15, 2007, 5:09 PM**

^It has to be from a webpage, so you need to upload it.

Use a free service like http://imageshack.us to upload.

Don B. · #**1175** Posted **Oct 15, 2007, 6:15 PM**

This 100 Mill Ave project slated to go on top of Monti's is a monstrosity. For once, I have to be a NIMBY on this:

--don

sundevilgrad · #**1176** Posted **Oct 15, 2007, 6:40 PM**

I agree Don. Something on the scale of the Hayden Ferry Lakeside development would be much better...

combusean · #**1177** Posted **Oct 15, 2007, 6:51 PM**

The height isn't so bad, but it's really Sun Merc Redux. It's been a while since I've been to Monti's, but I have a hard time believing they can preserve the integrity of the building (both historically and structurally) by building a parking podium and then a highrise on top of it.

A cantilevered design shouldn't be out of the question.

desertdj · #**1178** Posted **Oct 15, 2007, 7:13 PM**

well i think its great they are somewhat saving monit's, but dang you will bearly notice the monit's under that huge building. I like the comparison in that rendering of the mill next to the building, it makes that mill look soo small! As for the FAA, I say forget them already, I think I remember reading before that they can still build above what the FAA recomends, maybe monti's can sue under that prop 207 since they are trying to "change the use of the land" without giving due compenstation lol.

Also for the design of the building, I think it looks pretty unique and will fit well in Tempe, I love the roof top garden too. As for the Newman Center, it dosen't look to spectacular, but the more highrises the better right? As long as we have a good number that break out of the mold then a some plain buildings are all good.

JAHOPL · #**1179** Posted **Oct 15, 2007, 7:28 PM**

In the same link is a rendering of what the 22-story dormitory behind Newman Center would look like.

andrewkfromaz · #**1180** Posted **Oct 15, 2007, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundevilgrad

I agree Don. Something on the scale of the Hayden Ferry Lakeside development would be much better...

No way. The intensity of uses at Hayden's Ferry is very suburban-scale compared to development coming to the rest of DT Tempe. Look at the lack of human-scale buildings, the grade-break at Mill Ave., as well as the total failure to address the Rio Salado streetscape, and Hayden's Ferry is a one-time project that had too much land and not enough ambition, reflecting developers' unwillingness to modify broken master plans partway through the development process (blame is due here in no small part to the City as well, although Tempe's Planned Development system is no worse than many other cities'). The Monti's project, on the other hand, with flat access from all directions, and a key, key location, SHOULD be built at this density as designed (unless the FAA starts butting in again).

The historic preservation side, on the other hand, is a different matter. I really don't see why the developer and preservationists wouldn't be able to come to a reasonable solution that preserves the original structure while allowing the tower and parking structure to be built. Just because they COULD come to such a solution doesn't mean they will. Phoenix has an very significant lack of HP experts and institutional knowledge on the subject, and though I really like DFD, I don't think they have the wherewithal to make this project. The developer needs to call in an HP consulting firm from Chicago or NYC to help DFD's team, the City, and Monti himself come to a solution. Expensive, perhaps, but doable.
I'll be interested to see to what degree if any Prop. 207 limits the city's ability to preserve the structure through conventional zoning means, but it all depends on the site's existing zoning and preservation status.

This intersection, instead of being one of Tempe's greatest, is among the lamest in downtown. This project would go much farther than 1/4th of the way towards making it great.