Tempe Development Thread

[MegaBass]

Lot 58 panels



Hub on Campus/ University House



Manzy



Lot 41/ Law panels



Lemon Street access road





I noticed a few of the residential halls have Maroon & Gold Fight Song lyrics on their windows.



McCord Hall



Sun Devil Fitness Complex addition



Lot 19 panels



Hayden Library lower level (more photos)

[Leo the Dog]

Awesome photo update! I really appreciate these bc I can't see it first hand.

[Jjs5056]

Is there an entrance to the fitness center off Apache?

Though there were several missed opportunities along the way (like lack of retail in any of the new dorms west of Rural to complement Vista) and questionable taste level (like creating a park on the NWC of Apache/Rural, or the sea of gray jail-like structures), taking the curve off Mill onto Apache to McClintock is really amazing when you consider what this corridor looked like 5 years ago.

I hope the answer to my question is yes- would really complete the new frontage in that area with the new police station and Villas across the street.

[Jjs5056]

Also, I have tried so hard to not be nauseated every time I see these horrific solar structures going up everywhere, but I just can't... I understand the benefits, I really do. And, great for ASU taking a stand for sustainable practices. But, Christ, these things are offensive and some of the ugliest structures I have ever seen. I get claustrophobic just looking at these photos of the pringles crammed in under the one set by the MU.

I know my priorities are warped, but it makes me so sad to think of the sight lines near Gammage and attractive landscaping being destroyed for more. Of all the great projects of ASU's that were bankrupted over the years, why did this have to make it through?

I don't expect anyone to agree, but I also couldn't hold back the typing as more and more pics are posted each day.

I will say the ones over lot 59 are fantastic. The flowers and posters are really great-looking. The rest seem so rushed and chaotic in comparison.

[phxSUNSfan]

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

Is there an entrance to the fitness center off Apache?

I believe there is, and that part of the SRC looks great. There is a huge exterior glass wall along Apache and you can see into the building.

[MegaBass]

ASU Business-Finance tweeted a couple of photos



Farrington Softball Stadium panels



College Avenue Commons

[Spitfiredude]

Looks like Milk and Honey is finishing its space. I recently talked with construction workers and they said its weeks away from opening.

AMC Theaters has started renovating the old MadCap space. I have seen multiple contractors there this week renovating the space. I have been waiting for this since they said they would open this fall.

HFL 3 is still in a stall. No word on that project, but there are several dirt hills with no equipment on site.

Lot 59N is almost completely torn up. There is practically only a dirt pad at the site of Marina Heights

The apartment complex project by TCA is progressing slowly but surely.

[azsunsurfer]

Interestingly enough I noticed that the industrial/ quary land to the east of Tempe Marketplace now has a sign from CBRE advertising it for sale as a "mixed-use" site. There is even a pretty large sign seen from the 202 101 interchage. I wonder if the city/ feds will offer superfund site assistance to help redevelop that land. That's how Tempe Marketplace happened next door- a lot of years of environmental remediation.

Also I noticed some heavy equipment at the site of Liberty Center near Priest and the 202. Looks like they are starting some site work there.

[combusean]

Designer of Tempe's Marina Heights aiming for 'work of art'

By Dianna M. Náñez
The Republic | azcentral.com
Fri Sep 6, 2013 9:44 AM

Working in a high-rise at Tempe Town Lake gave architect Mike Davis a bird’s-eye view of the waterfront and an insider’s perspective on developing it.

Davis says it’s his eye for the imaginative and mind for math that scored his Tempe-based architectural design firm the contract to craft Marina Heights, a massive office development on the lake’s southern shore that will house a State Farm regional headquarters.

“I’m a designer that has a pen in one hand and a calculator in the other,” Davis said. “Beauty is one thing, (but) you’ve got to get it built.”

That practical mindset doesn’t stop Davis from recognizing the aesthetics of Marina Heights’ sky-and-water-theme design.

“It’s a work of art,” he said of the project.

Davis heralded the selection of a local firm for the design contract as significant. Billed as the largest office complex in Arizona to date, Marina Heights should be a “community icon,” not just another building, he said.

Marina Heights will span 20 acres along Rio Salado Parkway from Packard Drive to just east of the Bridgeview at Hayden Ferry Lakeside condominiums near Mill Avenue, replacing what is mostly vacant land and parking lots with five buildings ranging from six to 16 stories.

“I think with the varying heights of the buildings, it’s going to have a beautiful approach,” Davis said. “It’s not just a big stack of boxes.”

The sprawling 2 million-square-foot, $600 million development, on which construction started in August, is expected to dramatically change the Tempe skyline and job market. State Farm has begun hiring for the estimated 900 jobs that will be added to the insurance giant’s existing Valley workforce of about 2,100.

The homegrown “Davis” architect firm, housed in the Hayden Ferry Lakeside complex on the southern side of the lake, unveiled stunning renderings of the complex in August.

Civic and business leaders heralded the project at an August celebration to commemorate the design.

“I was at the Marina Heights kickoff that morning … (and) what I saw was pretty incredible,” Tempe City Councilman Corey Woods said.

Digitally created images illustrated what the completed project would look like.

“Later, I gave a presentation to the Kiwanis Club of Tempe,” Woods said. “The crowd was very wowed by what they saw.”

Tempe leaders have long sought to attract construction on the underdeveloped lake property. The lake opened in 1999 and initially attracted high-profile development. When the recession hit, most construction froze.

“It is very important that this happens in Tempe,” Woods said. “This council and the council that preceded ours had a big vision for the Rio Salado corridor and Tempe Town Lake, and that vision is coming to fruition.”

State Farm could have chosen any site in the country but selected Tempe because of the city’s amenities, Woods says.

“We are a very centrally located city, surrounded by freeways, minutes from the airport and minutes from ASU,” he said. “The culture and residents and the vibrancy and livability are why State Farm chose to locate this project in our city.”

Davis said he understands why some consider the landmark development a testament to Tempe being the little city that could.

Town Lake has become a “nice postcard for the Valley,” he said. “Tempe for a long time has really been kind of our (Valley’s) urban place.”

Marina Heights and the State Farm hub are a “powerful statement and further attention-getter to attract other companies,” Davis said.

Davis said his team had the desert and Salt River in mind when they drafted the design.

“I began this thing around the idea that water is very precious in the desert,” he said. “We’ve got this whole Salt River watershed. Town Lake … has created this beautiful recreation amenity.”

Davis wanted a design that would bring to mind blue waters and blue skies.

“The buildings there are made in a beautiful semi-transparent glass, they effectively look like the sky, white and blue,” he said. “The metaphor of the buildings is they are essentially clouds.”

Tempe residents can expect the project to expand upon their hometown’s urban reputation, Davis said.

“It’s one of the things I’m most excited about,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 36 years, and I’ve always been particularly fascinated with infill and urban development.”

The project may see some push back during construction, as expansive projects that change a skyline and community often will, but Davis believes the residents realize the benefits at stake.

“Certainly there’s other big tracks of land in the Valley (State Farm could have selected),” he said.

Town Lake landed the project because of its “proximity to downtown Tempe and ASU,” he said, adding that Marina Heights illustrates the city’s potential for future growth and development.

Construction timeline

>> August: Workers began preparing the site for a 19-acre, two-level, below-grade parking structure.

>> Mid-2015: Complete a nine-story 370,000-square-foot building.

>> Fall 2015: Complete a 16-story 600,000-square-foot building.

>> End 2015: Complete a six-story 250,000-square-foot building.

>> Summer 2016: Complete nine-story 365,000-square-foot building with an above-grade parking structure.

>> January 2017: Complete 11-story 440,000-square-foot building with an above-grade parking structure.

[HX_Guy]

Ooooh shiney...

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

Is there an entrance to the fitness center off Apache?

It didn't appear that there was one off Apache. Here's a video tour of the newly expanded Sun Devil Fitness Complex.

[ASUSunDevil]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Ooooh shiney...

EPIC!

[SunDevil]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Ooooh shiney...

[img]http://www.nitnelav.com/marinaheights.jpg[img]

Will the FAA allow such a reflective surface in that location, might blind pilots or something.

[Spitfiredude]

I would say the entire MH project site is about 55% site dirt at this point. Only about 45% of the site is still asphalt. Looking to progress quickly

[Jjs5056]

Roads have finally opened up near College so went on a drive today. The new Marriott is a great addition to that part of downtown- the ground floor restaurant looks ready for business, and it is clear there a fee additional retail spots added to the inventory of space from the existing garage. Am hoping the guaranteed traffic from the hotel itself will bring in some potential tenants, as this area could really use the increased foot traffic to start connecting College and Mill. The Tempe Transportation Center across the street is another great asset.

Unfortunately, the design leaves a lot to be desired- the stucco trend continues, making it look horribly cheap looking, and at the very least, more vibrant colors could've been chosen as the browns and oranges force the structure to blend into the natural surroundings.

Block 12 is making progress. Wish it was a couple floors higher or that another phase was completed in conjunction as the rest of the plot is in desperate need of development. But, in isolation, it is great that at least a part of this dead zone is being activated and, in conjunction with the massive amount of retail across the street at Hub, should help College move closer toward fulfilling its potential of being a secondary urban corridor to Mill. At least one spot at Hub is being transformed into a sandwich shop... I think we will see a good deal of that retail space leased, which will be exciting for expanding downtown Eastward.

Additionally, as feared, the solar panels going up at Gammage look horrible and they have completely gutted that wonderful landscaped median.

Some questions:
1) when can we expect groundbreaking at USA place? The hotel and phase one are set for a Q4 opening (2014), IIRC, so shouldnt this happen rather quickly?
2) should we be worried about the 2 important residential developments planned for downtown- Lofts at Hayden Ferry and Hanover?

[PHX31]

Is this the landscaped median that you are talking about?



I don't think it is that great. Just grass and a few random trees that aren't anything special. It's not like it is/was like some of the great landscaped areas on campus.

[Jjs5056]

I was just going to agree that it wasn't anything special, and realized I called it "wonderful" in my last post... That was definitely overdramatic. But, I still think it's a shame that they are tearing down trees and greenery for these strcutures.

The Gammage area of campus is one of the few that looked "complete." It had nice views, with landscaping, interesting architecture.... No dirt lots, parking lots... I don't think these add anything aesthetically; rather, they add a kind of chaotic/hodge podge feel to the area.

[PHX31]

What did they do with the grass? Is it still there and they just got rid of the trees?

[Obadno]

I am really bummed about the solar panels, campus had only been improving over the last several years but these new structures look horrible.

They look extremely industrial and I don't like them at all, it was a bad decision by the school and I predict they will spend a lot of money to take them down or replace them with more attractive designs in a few years.

It makes ASU look cheap not collegiate at all.

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by PHX31

What did they do with the grass? Is it still there and they just got rid of the trees?

Everything was gone when I drove by and took photos around the campus.