Tempe Development Thread

[MegaBass]

Valley’s 4th Postino to open next to ASU campus this fall

Postino will open its fourth Valley location – and second straight in the East Valley – next to ASU this fall in the Art Annex Building on College Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets.

Postino Tempe will take over the north side of the ASU-owned property, according to New Times. It will have the same menu as the other locations.

It’ll be familiar territory for Postino founders Craig and Kris DeMarco, as well as business partners Wyatt and Lauren Bailey, all of whom attended ASU.

Postino’s most recent location opened in Gilbert in March 2012.

[rocksteady]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

Valley’s 4th Postino to open next to ASU campus this fall

Nice addition to the area with all new jobs coming soon. Not the typical college bar/restaurant the area is filled with and always solid with business.

[Jjs5056]

While this office will help the Playa del Norte development aesthetically by blocking Grigio, adding height, filling a dirt lot, filling in land near the lake, etc., it's being built in a very suburban and auto-oriented area. It's great that PDN includes residential options, but it's certainly not ideal. There is a traffic analysis included in the PDF, but that portion of Rural is a cluster. I can't imagine rush hour with an office space, and/or when someone finally develops the northwest land. Maybe we'll get ferry commuting?

HFL3 has stalled, and the trend seems to be more and more offices out in suburban locations. ASU Research Park and Discovery Camous each have a building under construction, and Fointainhead has several 10-12 buildings in planning. Even Marina Heights, sans streetcar is fairly suburban and auto-centric (though, hopefully that streetcar gets here quickly!). I think it would be great to see taller offices down University, with mid or high rise development following on east and west of Mill.

USA Place at least is bringing in all the right pieces; I just hope it gets built as proposed. I smell a CityScape with that one, but optimistic for now. No light rail access, but the walk is manageable and biking or taking the bus is definitely an option. The residential better not get cut.

[Jjs5056]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

Valley’s 4th Postino to open next to ASU campus this fall

Awesome! Glad to see College getting a mix of some more 'upscale' options so it integrates beyond the campus into downtown. Now, for some nice market rate apartments on one of the many lots between there and Mill.

[alexico]

Originally Posted by rocksteady

Nice addition to the area with all new jobs coming soon. Not the typical college bar/restaurant the area is filled with and always solid with business.

As a 30 yr old who lives in tempe I welcome it!

isnt the yard aka culinary drop out supposed to open in tempe soon too? by th railyards?

[Spitfiredude]

You will probably never see a development in the Valley built without parking. No one drives more anywhere else, but here in Phoenix. It would not make sense or be ideal to have no parking. Since its not a high end project being built (like State Farm or USA Place), its cheaper to put the parking above ground. I'm just satisfied that there will be height and its another proposal.

Just a note, I saw some Hanover construction workers disputing labor rights of the Hanover Co. on 5th and Maple. Just random..

[Jjs5056]

Originally Posted by Spitfiredude

You will probably never see a development in the Valley built without parking. No one drives more anywhere else, but here in Phoenix. It would not make sense or be ideal to have no parking. Since its not a high end project being built (like State Farm or USA Place), its cheaper to put the parking above ground. I'm just satisfied that there will be height and its another proposal.

Just a note, I saw some Hanover construction workers disputing labor rights of the Hanover Co. on 5th and Maple. Just random..

Yea, definitely. I am actually surprised we are getting as much height as we are. I just wish some of the office developments of this size were coming closer to downtown is all.

[Phxguy]

The Postino's article mentions that it will be taking the north-side of the block which is the same block as the new College Commons. Does this mean they will be building an entirely new building beside it?

[Tito714]

^^^If I'm not mistaken the Art Annex would be the building right across the strett from the new building, so the building right next to Mona Plummer.

[azsunsurfer]

Rumor has it that HFL3 is in talks with a tenant which is why we may be seeing some activity on the site. Again that is the reason why the developer is going for a more agressive approach with regards to Playa Del Norte. If you all remember this recent version is a reitteration of their first proposal...then they scaled it back to a 2 story medical office and now they are going back to their original proposal just updated. I think a while back I read there are approximately 6-10 companies that are sitting on the sidelines with 100k+ sqft. office requirements.

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by Phxguy

The Postino's article mentions that it will be taking the north-side of the block which is the same block as the new College Commons. Does this mean they will be building an entirely new building beside it?

It will be located in one of the retail spaces for the College Commons.

[Jjs5056]

Originally Posted by Arquitect

It will be located in one of the retail spaces for the College Commons.

Awesome! That is perfect, and what I mean when I say the downtown buildings need to integrate wih the community more. Having The Vig part of the Commons makes it truly a mixed use building to be enjoyed by students and residents of the city at the same time.

[ASU Diablo]

Originally Posted by Tito714

^^^If I'm not mistaken the Art Annex would be the building right across the strett from the new building, so the building right next to Mona Plummer.

This...it's going to be in the Art Annex building and not College Commons

[azsunsurfer]

I thought ASU was technically a "dry campus"?

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

I thought ASU was technically a "dry campus"?

And this building is "technically" not in campus. But yeah, not really sure how that was worked out either.

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by airomero83

This...it's going to be in the Art Annex building and not College Commons

You are correct, I was getting confused between the other retail tenant that is going into the Commons.

This article states that it is indeed going in the Annex:

http://millavenue.com/news/pr/postino-winecafe-to-open-in-tempe

[MegaBass]

Wetta Ventures, ASU to redevelop College Avenue

Wetta Ventures and Arizona State University today announced a partnership to redevelop a portion of College Avenue as part of an adaptive reuse project that includes the former ASU Annex.

Begun in December, the project will convert the Annex, a 7,323 square-foot-building on the corner of College Ave. and Sixth Street next to the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, into a two-restaurant building. Wetta Ventures already has a commitment from local favorite Postino Winecafe for the northern space as well as interest from various restaurant operators for the second space. Postino is expected to open in August 2014.

The Annex is across College Avenue to the east of College Avenue Commons, a five-story, 137,000 gross-square-foot building now under construction that will house the Del E. Webb School of Construction, a prospective student visitors center, and Sun Devil Marketplace, a next-generation college store featuring dining and congregation spaces, books and soft goods, and the best of emerging digital technologies revolutionizing the world of books and publishing. College Avenue Commons will open summer of 2014.

“We are thrilled to partner with ASU on the transformation of College Avenue and to help bring to life the shared vision of creating a one-of-a-kind dining destination in Tempe,” said David Wetta, founder of Wetta Ventures. “The first phase, redeveloping the Annex, is a truly unique project. We will reinvent this old structure to create a warm, inviting space that will be full of personality. The charming and humble design from the 1950s will be preserved, while integrating modern touches and functionality. We could not ask to be part of a more exciting project.”

The Annex, a 1950s schoolhouse turned multi-functional building that was once the Sun Devil weight room during the Frank Kush era, will be transformed into two building spaces connected by a central breezeway. The windows along the front of the building will be replaced with rollup glass garage doors, midcentury modern design and interior features such as wood ceilings, exposed brick and industrial ductwork. Two large patios for outdoor seating will run along College Avenue. Michael Rumpeltin of Brick & West Design is working in collaboration with RSP Architects on the architectural design of the project.

Postino Winecafe will occupy the northern 3,838 square-foot building and will have a 2,500 square-foot patio. A second restaurant will occupy the southern building that is 3,484 square-feet with a 1,640 square-foot outdoor patio.

Wetta Ventures recently completed Old School O7, an adaptive reuse and new construction project in Midtown Phoenix. The project consists of a 1948 church that has been repurposed as a restaurant, Taco Guild, a freestanding Starbucks and a 1955 school building that will serve as new shop space for a general retail tenant.

In addition to being an ASU alumnus, Wetta has a longstanding relationship with ASU through his membership in the President’s Club and membership in the Sun Devil Family Association.

“Creating a destination place on College Avenue, where downtown Tempe, the ASU Tempe Campus, and ASU public performance venues meet, is an important part of activating the street and making College Avenue a nexus for people to come together across campus and community,” said Morgan R. Olsen, ASU executive vice president, Treasurer and CFO. “The presence of these destination dining venues as part of this exciting place will only enhance the creative environment ASU is fostering for its faculty, staff and students, and our community stakeholders.”

This development project will be done in conjunction with ASU’s College Avenue Streetscape project that is slated to begin this spring. Running along College Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets, it will include green spaces, a shade structure, pedestrian walks, outdoor dining and event spaces and street beautification.

Former Art Annex


Rendering courtesy of Brick & West Design and RSP Architects

[PHXFlyer11]

Pretty cool news MegaBass. Tempe just keeps doing everything right while Phoenix continues to struggle. I really like that they are keeping this building, and the two restaurant concept will really liven up the street. I feel there is alot of residential there, but no sit down restaurants unless you go to Mill.

This could get really interesting. When this is complete, Block 12 is finished, then the second phase of University House goes vertical College could turn into a nice little street.

After that takes places I bet it will generate more infill and redevelopment between College, University, Mill and 5th.

Good work, Tempe and ASU.

[Jjs5056]

PHXFlyer- absolutely. I'm always a bit more critical of Tempe, but only because they still have a shot at getting this right. I can't decide if the Annex or Commons would be better, but I think I'm sold on what they're planning. The patios alone will bring so much more life to the street. And, regardless of location, having two sit-down, rather upscale restaurants is a huge turning point for College.

I'm sure it'll get visitors from the new Marriott, but I am just clinging to hope that one of the dusty lots between College and Mill gets a nice-sized mixed use project aimed at professionals. I have to imagine that's the goal of ASU and Temoe if they are attracting these kinds of restaurants since they have to know there is literally nowhere for Postino's clientele to live anywhere near there; HFL or Orchid Lofts, I suppose.

[PHX31]

Originally Posted by PHXFlyer11

Pretty cool news MegaBass. Tempe just keeps doing everything right while Phoenix continues to struggle.

It is definitely a cool project, but I don't understand your comment regarding Phoenix struggling. Phoenix is the leader in adaptively reusing old houses and buildings for restaurant purposes. I can think of dozens of them in Central Phoenix that are great and constantly busy. With many more on the drawing board and under construction.