Tempe Development Thread

[Jsmscaleros]

I'm pretty sure they are referring to the block just north of University, where Z Gallery, Abercrombie, Borders, Long Wong's, and the old Cafe Boa still have not been replaced (I know I'm missing a few, as well). That's a lot of holes still left unfilled. But I agree with you; Suckerpunch Sally's (awesome for late late night Navajo Tacos), Robbie Fox's (much better Whiskey selection and a little more breathing room on the weekend than Rula Bula), JJ's (you get your sandwich before you get your receipt), and Five Guys (cheapest veggie sandwich in town @ 2 bucks and change) are all quality places I've paid several visits to already.

[ciweiss]

As I travel down Mill it is starting to look dead to the south. Eg. Borders/Centerpoint complex etc. I think the economy plus Tempe Marketplace - as said before were the nails in the coffin. I think now would be the time to do better planning. Why hasn't a used book store or public library moved into the borders spot. Heck - Even CVS could have moved in there although I'm sure they wanted the corner lot for visability and parking. They have a new bank being built next to CVS. Once again leaving more buildings on Mill empty. All the new buildings eg Gateway and parking garage next to the transit center - empty. DT Tempe needs more residents to sustain these places for sure. Cheaper places to live. I think a couple new hotels would bring more people to the area and I'm sure we will see them being built once the economy gets better. Could a Trader Joes fit into that new parking garage/retail (next to transit center). That would be sweet. The centerpoint shops have been empty for a long time. Time to lower rent owners. The Scottsdale rent rates dream is now gone and you really need to wake up before people don't walk that extra block because they don't think anything is down there because of all the empty storefronts.

[Vicelord John]

Note to self, never take restaurant advice from jsmscarlos

[nickkoto]

Aside from maybe the theater, I don't think Tempe Marketplace is taking much away from Mill, not as it's sometimes made out to be. More likely, it cannibalized business from Scottsdale Pavilions, Chandler Fashion Square, and any number of other freeway shopping centers within 10 miles. It's not like the old crowd that went to Those Were the Days or Z Gallerie suddenly started going to the Target instead because there's more parking. And Borders was doomed anyway, as are most brick & mortar bookstores.

More likely, the problem is landlords like in the above article who say things like "Rent is higher because of the desirability to be on Mill. The economy has affected us but not as much as the rest of the Valley" while some units are going 3-4 years unoccupied. For whatever reason, they're still content to collect nothing rather than lowering rents enough to attract tenants.

[nickkoto]

Centerpoint auction is today. Hopefully things will move forward and someone will figure out a way to complete it soon.

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/southe...lock-with-8M/_i4IwWPZQE2qznoO-zyPxA.cspx

TEMPE, AZ -- For the first time in nearly two years, the Centerpoint Towers in Tempe will see some progress.

The high-rise buildings will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at 10 a.m. Thursday morning.

"It's to nobody's benefit in the condition they are now," said Dominic Jones, who owns Robbie Fox's Public House directly next to Centerpoint.

[nickkoto]

Centerpoint's auction yields no bids; lender forced to take over project

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic...0409tempe-condo-centerpoint-auction.html

The Centerpoint condominium towers in downtown Tempe failed to sell at a foreclosure auction Tuesday, forcing the lender, ML Manager LLC, to take over the property.

Peoria-based ML Manager, the successor to real-estate lender Mortgages Ltd., asked a minimum bid of $8 million to sell the property at the foreclosure auction. Because there were no bidders, ML Manager now owns the property.

Awww bummer... I guess it'll sit untouched for a couple more years.

[SimPhoenix]

no takers


http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2010/04/09/20100409tempe-condo-centerpoint-auction.html

[Don B.]

There are single family homes in Paradise Valley that sell for more than $8 million. This is just absurd.

--don

[Vicelord John]

Yeah. Im in those homes every day. In no way would anything in tempe compare.

[TAZ4ate0]

Only 8 million bucks, minimum, for the whole Centerpoint project, and still no takers?

Holy crap...this thing is doomed, unless someone comes forward fast. I had at first laughed at the possibility of it being imploded, but not so much anymore.

[nickkoto]

I was thinking that it would be nice if ASU could divert a few percent from their new construction projects to buy Centerpoint, finish cladding it, and then let the engineering and design schools go hog-wild with various class projects to make it somewhat more complete. How cool would that be for the Construction Management majors to have some of their classes in a half-finished condo tower, where they can apply some of what they're learning?

[ciweiss]

Originally Posted by nickkoto

I was thinking that it would be nice if ASU could divert a few percent from their new construction projects to buy Centerpoint, finish cladding it, and then let the engineering and design schools go hog-wild with various class projects to make it somewhat more complete. How cool would that be for the Construction Management majors to have some of their classes in a half-finished condo tower, where they can apply some of what they're learning?

I like that idea. They could even finish the first condo tower for condos. Make the 2nd tower into a hotel or apartments and the bottom floors for classrooms etc. I am shocked noone would even make an attempt. What about all those investers they were talking about in their last article?

[PHXguyinOKC]

Originally Posted by ciweiss

What about all those investers they were talking about in their last article?

they said the same thing about Elevation Chandler

[KEVINphx]

$8,000,000 minimum bid and can't sell that thing?!?! there has to be over 8,000,000 in glass alone on the building! (really I have no idea, I've never seen a quote for glass on projects like this) but seriously? ? ?

[PHX31]

It's probably the fact that if you buy it for $8,000,000 you still have to finish it for who knows how many more millions. $8mil for something that is useless right now isn't that great of a deal.

[ciweiss]

More on the bike path next to South Bank

http://www.tempe.gov/comdev/WeeklyUpdate/09APR10.pdf

Arizonans drive for miles to see the beautiful wildflowers in places like Superior
or Picacho Peak. This year, Tempe has a display much closer to home. Tempe
is displaying a rainbow of wildflowers in the new park along the south bank of
Town Lake east of Rural Road. About 3 acres are blooming with California
Poppies, Larkspur and Blue Lupine. The wildlflowers aren't just pretty - they
protect the sloped land from erosion. They're also part of a project that will link
Mill Avenue to Tempe Marketplace with paved sidewalks and park space. The
completed pathway should be open this June.

[SethAZ]

I was walking by the old Uno's on Mill and saw the plans in the window. It's going to be a Kampai Japanese Restaurant not a Seasoned Cork as that other article said.

I found this article http://fwix.com/phoenix/share/bd34f9f3df/kampai_sushi_bar_begins_construction

I'm not a sushi fan but I'd rather something fill this spot than sit empty for years.

[Leo the Dog]

More sushi on Mill? Geez.

[TAZ4ate0]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

More sushi on Mill? Geez.

No. It is more like, 'more restaurants on Mill?' Fuck. Lets bring back the some of the unique shops, clubs, and nightlife. Having a whole street full of "eat and drink" your face off, bars and restaurants, does not contribute to a true urban vibrancy.

[nickkoto]

Is that affiliated with the Kampai restaurant on Bell Rd and 35th(-ish) street? I'd take that.

I can only think of one sushi joint on Mill and it's not a very good one.