Tempe Development Thread

[Jjs5056]

Disappointed to hear that Argo has stalled. I asks about it a while back and everyone still seemed hopeful that it would be moving forward. Too many of these Tempe projects are demolishing buildings and leaving empty lots in their wake.

This was a really interesting project on paper- anywhere/anyone we can ask for the true status?

[Arquitect]

Glass is going up on the retail areas of the Hub. The project is getting really close to being completed. I am actually excited to see the amount of retail area that they are going to have. And the retail spots are quite spacious. it be great if they can fill them up quickly.

I also noticed that the glass facade on the northern face of Manzanita Hall has been placed. I am surprised about how cool it looks. At first I thought the remodeling would keep the old feel of the building, but it really seems like it is going to be an interesting blend of both the old Modern structure and a more contemporary feel for the rest.

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by Arquitect

I also noticed that the glass facade on the northern face of Manzanita Hall has been placed. I am surprised about how cool it looks. At first I thought the remodeling would keep the old feel of the building, but it really seems like it is going to be an interesting blend of both the old Modern structure and a more contemporary feel for the rest.

Yeah I was going to ask about that. To think they were considering knocking that down 8 or 9 years ago.

I see that restaurant behind Safeway on Rural is going to be a Potbelly Sandwhich Shop and Starbucks.

[combusean]

^ When was Manzanita's demolition ever considered? I never heard about that and was going to ASU around that time.

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by combusean

^ When was Manzanita's demolition ever considered? I never heard about that and was going to ASU around that time.

It is an urban myth that goes around. But ASU never considered demolishing it. Not only is it one of the landmarks for the campus, it brings a ton of dorm space to he university. With the university expanding at the rate it is, they really need to keep as much of these spaces as they can, hence why they are remodeling it.

[Tempe_Duck]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

Yeah I was going to ask about that. To think they were considering knocking that down 8 or 9 years ago.

I see that restaurant behind Safeway on Rural is going to be a Potbelly Sandwhich Shop and Starbucks.

I thought it was going to be a Chick-Fil-A.

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by Tempe_Duck

I thought it was going to be a Chick-Fil-A.

The Chick-Fil-A is going up on University. Across the street from Zia Records, where Burger King used to be.

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by Arquitect

It is an urban myth that goes around. But ASU never considered demolishing it. Not only is it one of the landmarks for the campus, it brings a ton of dorm space to he university. With the university expanding at the rate it is, they really need to keep as much of these spaces as they can, hence why they are remodeling it.

Well that's what I saw from the 2005 Master Plan listed under PHASE 4 Long Term Projects.

[Arquitect]

I noticed today that the steel framework has gone up in the addition that Architekton is doing to their office (Farmer and 5th street). It is looking really cool, except for a very distasteful OSU flag flying on top of it

It is going to be a pretty cool mix-use project, unfortunately they don't have info about it on their website, but there are renderings of it on the storefront windows of their office.

[manorastroman]

Originally Posted by Arquitect

I noticed today that the steel framework has gone up in the addition that Architekton is doing to their office (Farmer and 5th street). It is looking really cool, except for a very distasteful OSU flag flying on top of it

It is going to be a pretty cool mix-use project, unfortunately they don't have info about it on their website, but there are renderings of it on the storefront windows of their office.

The new building is for a PR company called Zion and Zion. They also occupy the same building as Architeckton but are now moving into a bigger building once it is completed.

[MegaBass]

Walked by University today and noticed they were finally demoing the old Dos Gringos/Barneys Boathouse.

[ASUSunDevil]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

Walked by University today and noticed they were finally demoing the old Dos Gringos/Barneys Boathouse.

Saw this today as well... thank goodness, that half standing building was hideous!

I'm curious as to what's going on just north of Manzanita where the fraternity houses used to be. It seems like they're moving dirt around every few days... there's nothing posted outside of the fencing indicating their future plans.

Still waiting for Argo and the Oliver McMillan project to get underway. Looks like the new Archstone project on Rural & Curry is going to be awhile as the land is now up for sale again. I wish they would just build Sotelo all the way out to Rural - Sotelo was recently completed just west of where Archstone was going to be, it looks great IMO.

[PHX31]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

Walked by University today and noticed they were finally demoing the old Dos Gringos/Barneys Boathouse.

Boooo. Maybe it's partially nostalgia thinking about all of the coronas I drank at the old dos gringos when I was at ASU... but college towns need those types of grungy old hangouts. Not everything needs to be shiny tall and new. In fact, grungy places like that add to the urban diversity, bustle, and city/college experience.

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by PHX31

Boooo. Maybe it's partially nostalgia thinking about all of the coronas I drank at the old dos gringos when I was at ASU... but college towns need those types of grungy old hangouts. Not everything needs to be shiny tall and new. In fact, grungy places like that add to the urban diversity, bustle, and city/college experience.

I agree with you, but it is good to see the half-torn-down building go. Its a shame that we lost that landmark, but the blight from the graffiti and the ruins was a really big eyesore right on University.

[PHX31]

True. .. I guess I just hoped it could have been rehabbed to look like the old house. Not realistic though. Anyone know how old the houses were? 30s?

[Jjs5056]

Originally Posted by ASUSunDevil

Saw this today as well... thank goodness, that half standing building was hideous!

I'm curious as to what's going on just north of Manzanita where the fraternity houses used to be. It seems like they're moving dirt around every few days... there's nothing posted outside of the fencing indicating their future plans.

Still waiting for Argo and the Oliver McMillan project to get underway. Looks like the new Archstone project on Rural & Curry is going to be awhile as the land is now up for sale again. I wish they would just build Sotelo all the way out to Rural - Sotelo was recently completed just west of where Archstone was going to be, it looks great IMO.

Just FYI that the Oliver McMillan project land deal just closed about a week ago so there is some movement there at least.

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by ASUSunDevil

I'm curious as to what's going on just north of Manzanita where the fraternity houses used to be. It seems like they're moving dirt around every few days... there's nothing posted outside of the fencing indicating their future plans.

Originally Posted by MegaBass

Found this on ASU's Campus Planning site

Mixed use Transit Oriented Development

[ciweiss]

This should be interesting. I wonder how well this will do.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/prime_cuts/2013/05/gringo-star-street-bar-bringing.html

Gringo-Star Street Bar bringing vintage video games, street art to downtown Tempe


Tim Gallen
Reporter-
Phoenix Business Journal

Vintage video games, street art and food truck-inspired grub will converge in a bar opening next week on Mill Avenue in Tempe.
Gringo-Star Street Bar will open May 9 at the southeast corner of Fifth Street and Mill, on the ground floor underneath Hooters.
The concept mixes arcade games from the 1980s and ’90s with an urban street scene. The kitchen is outfitted with a food truck-style window for patrons to order their grub, which is much like what’s available from those rolling restaurants.
The 6,500-square-foot bar, which will employ between 50 and 60 people, features a stage for live music and performances, as well as 25 large-sceen televisions to watch sports.
It will house 15 arcade games, including Pac-Man and Street Fighter. In addition, Gringo-Star will rent out classic video game consoles such as Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 to play at various spots around the bar.
The owners hope the games will resonate with students from Arizona State University.
“It’ll be a really different attraction for the students,” said Hartley Rodie, managing partner of Gringo-Star, who developed the concept along with Stephen Sperry and Sonny Thurman. The partners also operate American Junkie in Scottsdale.
Also involved in the Gringo-Star venture are Phoenix-area restaurant operators Ryan Jocque, Chad Landau and Julian Wright, who operate the Handlebar, La Bocca and several other spots on Mill.
Rodie said Gringo-Star has been in the works for about a year and involves an investment of about $800,000.

Another new bar seems to be opening up at the old Margarita rocks bar - I think it is called Moonshiners or something?

On a side note - Does anyone think the lack of new construction kind of strange? There were all these new announcements but it seems to be slow going. An example is the third Hayden Ferry building that they said would start late 2012. What seems strange to me is that other buildings (Gateway) seem to have filled up rather quickly so you think they would have started on the 3rd building by now. Are companies anticipating a economic slowdown or you think it could be something else. Lack of construction workers, bank loans etc. Any thoughts?

[Spitfiredude]

Originally Posted by ciweiss

This should be interesting. I wonder how well this will do.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/prime_cuts/2013/05/gringo-star-street-bar-bringing.html

Gringo-Star Street Bar bringing vintage video games, street art to downtown Tempe


Tim Gallen
Reporter-
Phoenix Business Journal

Vintage video games, street art and food truck-inspired grub will converge in a bar opening next week on Mill Avenue in Tempe.
Gringo-Star Street Bar will open May 9 at the southeast corner of Fifth Street and Mill, on the ground floor underneath Hooters.
The concept mixes arcade games from the 1980s and ’90s with an urban street scene. The kitchen is outfitted with a food truck-style window for patrons to order their grub, which is much like what’s available from those rolling restaurants.
The 6,500-square-foot bar, which will employ between 50 and 60 people, features a stage for live music and performances, as well as 25 large-sceen televisions to watch sports.
It will house 15 arcade games, including Pac-Man and Street Fighter. In addition, Gringo-Star will rent out classic video game consoles such as Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 to play at various spots around the bar.
The owners hope the games will resonate with students from Arizona State University.
“It’ll be a really different attraction for the students,” said Hartley Rodie, managing partner of Gringo-Star, who developed the concept along with Stephen Sperry and Sonny Thurman. The partners also operate American Junkie in Scottsdale.
Also involved in the Gringo-Star venture are Phoenix-area restaurant operators Ryan Jocque, Chad Landau and Julian Wright, who operate the Handlebar, La Bocca and several other spots on Mill.
Rodie said Gringo-Star has been in the works for about a year and involves an investment of about $800,000.

Another new bar seems to be opening up at the old Margarita rocks bar - I think it is called Moonshiners or something?

On a side note - Does anyone think the lack of new construction kind of strange? There were all these new announcements but it seems to be slow going. An example is the third Hayden Ferry building that they said would start late 2012. What seems strange to me is that other buildings (Gateway) seem to have filled up rather quickly so you think they would have started on the 3rd building by now. Are companies anticipating a economic slowdown or you think it could be something else. Lack of construction workers, bank loans etc. Any thoughts?

Interesting concept. I wonder if it will work though.

As for new construction, I think there was a lot of talk like there was in 03-08 but a lot is not constructed. I feel a lot of cities are this way (especially right now). A developer wants to develop land, but cannot find financing because banks don't want to be held liable. Also, I think with US Airways leaving soon, it could be a sign that office development is not needed (considering 250,000-half million sq ft of office space will soon be available). However, there is a bright outlook for the near future. With State Farm building their regional headquarters along the lake, I expect to see more development (office, residential, commercial) spur up along Rio Salado, the lake, and downtown Tempe. Also, the hotel project where the current Chili's is on ASU land will help spur development. The future is bright.

[phxSUNSfan]

Originally Posted by Spitfiredude

Also, I think with US Airways leaving soon, it could be a sign that office development is not needed (considering 250,000-half million sq ft of office space will soon be available).

US Airways will still have a presence and staff in the building as a regional office. The rest of the floors that will be vacated already has a perspective tenant; and at the moment, the name of the tenant eludes me...