Tempe Development Thread

[Jjs5056]

Originally Posted by ASUSunDevil

Completely agree with this. Young professionals want to live near campus, not on it. Would still like to see the hotel/convention center/athletic facilities/retail (grocery store) happen.

Work has begun on The Palms conversion and they are finally landscaping the parasols next to Gammage.

At this rate, Tempe will finally see the dreaded Ash/University eyesore get a high rise.

I know I mentioned the hotel and HQ as being obvious choices for financing, but the residential is really, really important. If built was planned, this project would've blurred the lines between downtown and the campus, making it a truly urban area with a diverse population. Tempe desperately needs to add 21+ residents to the core as Hanover is really the only luxury rental in the area, as I assume W6 is more than half students. This is especially important as more companies move in, and because of this new height drama.

The design is also important and a trend I wish could catch on - lining small streets with loft-over-retail, which would allow for a much more attractive retail environment than the common, isolated mega-project with no relationship between the residential and retail, nor the retail and neighborhood.

No way will retail happen without the residential. Look at the sports district downtown... a TGI Friday's and Hard Rock are all the tenants they attracted. The hotel and Mill Ave frontage would likely have restaurants/bars, but none of the service/neighborhood retail that's also badly needed downtown.

Lastly, I don't think the location would be an issue. A main street bisects the traditional campus and the development. In a landlocked city, urban living across the street from the back of an architecture school shouldn't be a deal-breaker. The excitement the proximity brings definitely outweighs it: streetcar, USA BB, Mill Ave, Gammage, College Ave Commons and Annex, SDS...


...and, yet, this carefully crafted development designed with urban best practices and targeting a much needed demographic with the potential to bring services to the center of a rising city won't get funding, while every 'suburban apartments with no setback and central garage that's taller than the highest residential floor' will.

Have you seen renderings of the Palms/was there an image outside? That was quick!

[combusean]

The idea that residential living at USA place is "on campus" vs being two blocks "off campus" is a minor technicality that will be overlooked by the vast majority of its potential residents. How many people even know or care about its land leasing arrangements? Anything built in place of that parking lot/tempe center remnant won't look like campus proper, won't be a part of campus proper, wouldn't be 100% students walking to class like the rest of the campus, and won't be subject to ASU regulations in the same way an on-campus residential living would be. If people are looking for a close-to-campus place to live without being in a dorm, this is the closest spot they'll be able to find.

[CrestedSaguaro]

4th Tower crane going up on the West end of Marina Heights!

I didn't expect one to go up on that spot. Could we see 5 total before they pull the first down?

[DevilsRider]

Lincoln Property Co. wants to a build a 350-unit luxury apartment complex called Southbank via two four-story buildings on the site

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/...o-vote-on-tempe-town-lake-apartment.html

Tempe Development Review Commission shot it down, Council may override and approve. Unless the plans have changed recently, this is really a sad use of that land. But the most interesting part of the article was at the end.

Tempe now controls most of the remaining parcels and has a development RFP out for bid, according to city staff.

If this is true, hopefully it means we'll see much better proposals for the remainder of the development...

[EDIT] The City's website has a bid under review (14-074) for

Lease/Purchase and Development of City-owned Land - South Bank of Tempe Town Lake - Pier 202

. So there's that...

[MegaBass]

Rendering of the new video board at Phoenix Muni (located in right center) during today's press conference of ASU new baseball coach Tracy Smith h/t ASU Senior Associate Athletics Director Scottie Graham

[RichTempe]

Originally Posted by RonnieFoos

4th Tower crane going up on the West end of Marina Heights!

I didn't expect one to go up on that spot. Could we see 5 total before they pull the first down?

Driving by Tempe today on the 202, I saw a total of 7 tower cranes! 1 for Argo/Skywater, 4 for Marina Heights, 1 for the 2nd tower at the Hub/University House and 1 for the residential development at Lemon & Terrace (can't recall if it has a name yet). HFL3 would make it 8. It's getting crazy!

[azsunsurfer]

I know ASU has gone through two building booms (the campus itself) in recent years, however given the fact that they are investing into College Ave and their new "district" I wonder what projects do they have in the works for the campus itself? I know that Del Webs old building was originally to be redeveloped...not sure if that is still the case. I remember seeing the masterplan for the campus a couple of years ago...it was very aggressive including the redevelopment of some of ASU's older buildings.

[Jjs5056]

Glad to hear Tempe will be taking control of SouthBank; wonder if it will end up in ASU's Stadium District? I would hope they uphold the denial- why box in the new owners?

In terms of ASU: The last version of the master plan, ca. 2011, was pretty scaled back from the previous one from 2006ish. Both are somewhat broad, but the newer of the two had much less integration with the city, which was a major goal stated in 2006; for example, the earlier plan showed areas like Wells Fargo being wrapped in mixed use structures, all of the north campus housing being densified, etc.

The new one seems to focus on replacing obsolete buildings and using that as an opportunity to reorganize the campus with edges and defined malls. Del Webb would be replaced in phases to allow for a green space at Orange/Palm Walk, Orange Mall would be the 'main street' of campus with the bookstore moving to PE West next to an expanded MU. Research buildings would be constructed all along Rural, and Hayden Library would have its entrance brought to surface level. North Campus remains almost the same, with 'TOD' planned for Frat Row.

PV Main, Irish and Hayden would be upgraded, and housing was planned as part of Block 12 and behind the Annex.

Who knows how much these plans have changed... moving the Law School, the boom in student housing, etc.

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

I know ASU has gone through two building booms (the campus itself) in recent years, however given the fact that they are investing into College Ave and their new "district" I wonder what projects do they have in the works for the campus itself? I know that Del Webs old building was originally to be redeveloped...not sure if that is still the case. I remember seeing the masterplan for the campus a couple of years ago...it was very aggressive including the redevelopment of some of ASU's older buildings.

ASU Capital Improvement Plan 2015-2017

• Renovating Hayden Library
• Student Pavilion located east of Hayden (for student orgs and services) could start next year
• Renovate PV Main, East and West
• Haven't hear what will happen to Armstrong Hall and Law Library after O'Connor School moves to Downtown Campus in 2016
• Engineering building to replace Engineering Center A-F
• Olympic athletics relocation and Intramural fields at Karsten course (clubhouse and practice course will remain)
• Alpha Drive development
• Wells Fargo Arena renovation/replacement
  

[MegaBass]

The Mill Avenue District Announces Free Lunchtime Trolley

[Spitfiredude]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

The Mill Avenue District Announces Free Lunchtime Trolley

How cool!
I think it will do great
I wonder if they're doing it through the end of August because its like a test period for them. I'm sure if the ridership is overwhelming they will probably make something of it and obviously connect to Marina Heights.

[TempeSilverFox]

Tempe City Council voted to delay consideration of the proposed Southbank Project. I spoke with one of the Council Members yesterday and I was told that the developer had some changes they wanted to incorporate into their proposal and that they were not yet ready to submit their proposal. This Council Member didn't think it would pass even when the developer resubmits in July because the project does't promote the type of density that the City envisions for the lake. I hope they are right

In Tempe, the City Council voted to delay consideration of a proposed 350-unit apartment complex on Tempe Town Lake.
The council will consider Lincoln Property Co.’s Southbank apartments on July 17.
Lincoln attorney Nick Wood told the Tempe council the developer needed more time before the project was ready to be brought up for a vote.
The apartments would be on a parcel previously slated for the never built Pier 202 development.
Tempe’s Development Review Commission rejected Lincoln’s apartment plans last year, preferring greater density on the vacant parcel near Rio Salado Parkway and Rural Road. Lincoln has the land under contract from Wolff Co. contingent on city approval.
The Tempe council did approve the redevelopment of two buildings near Broadway Road and Priest Drive into commercial condominiums. The redevelopment is called the Hohokam 56 Center.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/...lition-of-compadre-stadium.html?page=all

[azsunsurfer]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

ASU Capital Improvement Plan 2015-2017

• Renovating Hayden Library
• Student Pavilion located east of Hayden (for student orgs and services) could start next year
• Renovate PV Main, East and West
• Haven't hear what will happen to Armstrong Hall and Law Library after O'Connor School moves to Downtown Campus in 2016
• Engineering building to replace Engineering Center A-F
• Olympic athletics relocation and Intramural fields at Karsten course (clubhouse and practice course will remain)
• Alpha Drive development
• Wells Fargo Arena renovation/replacement
  

Thanks for the update on ASU Megabass!

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

PV Main, Irish and Hayden would be upgraded, and housing was planned as part of Block 12 and behind the Annex.

I thought Hayden Hall was renovated around 2006/2007?

The Walk Only Zone site briefly had up what looked to be the next phases on Palm Walk and Tyler Mall between Bateman Physical Sciences Center and Engineering Center.

Arizona State Master Plan Update December 2011 (pdf)

[phoenixwillrise]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

Rendering of the new video board at Phoenix Muni (located in right center) during today's press conference of ASU new baseball coach Tracy Smith h/t ASU Senior Associate Athletics Director Scottie Graham

Hope they are smart enough to move it to left field as right field looks right into the sun. Also hope they dump some of the add boards and make it look like the original stadium with minimal add boards.

[Spitfiredude]

Exact words for the sign outside of 230 W 5TH street:

"City of Tempe Zoning"

"Request for a Planned Area Development Overlay for 230 West 5th Street to modify the maximum building height from 50 ft. to 300 ft. in the City Center zoning district. The project consists of one (1) proposed 26 story building with 255 dwelling units and ground floor retail / restaurant space with support parking, located at 230 West 5th Street. The applicant is Urban Land Advisors, LLC.

COMM MEETING: 07/07/14
DEV REV COM: 7/22/14
COUNCIL 1: 08/14/14
COUNCIL 2: 09/04/14

Looks good thusfar. Great height for this lot. Good for connectivity between downtown / lake. Competitive for West 6th. Looks like they want to push this through quickly.

[michael85225]

^^^^^^^^^^

Sounds great, I want more cranes in Tempe!

[MegaBass]

Restoring a ‘Jewel in the desert’

On top of a hill behind the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park in Tempe is an adobe house built in 1930 that was the winter home of a Jewish widow from Chicago.
The house is now being developed into the Eisendrath Center for Water Conservation, a component of the Carl Hayden Campus for Sustainability in Papago Park. The first phase of construction is complete and the Rio Salado Foundation recently launched a community campaign to raise the remaining $1 million needed to finish the project.
History of the house
Rose G. Eisendrath, the widow of a Chicago glove manufacturer, Joseph N. Eisendrath, was one of many wealthy Chicago residents who discovered Arizona during the 1920s and made it their winter home, according to the Rio Salado Foundation.
After she was refused accommodation at Valley resorts because she was Jewish, Eisendrath purchased a 40-acre parcel above the Salt River in North Tempe in April 1930 and hired local architect and master builder Robert T. Evans to build her a two-story home. Her first winter in the home – which she called Lomaki (“pretty house” in Hopi) – was in 1931, and she returned each winter until she died there at age 66 on Dec. 24, 1936.
After her death, the house stood mostly vacant for four years, until Eisendrath’s children sold the house and a succession of owners and tenants followed. In 2002, the City of Tempe purchased the nine-acre Eisendrath property.
“Rose Eisendrath’s house stands for someone who stood up against discrimination and that’s a story that’s crucial to human history to preserve, protect and tell,” former Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman told Jewish News in 2010.
A ‘desert mansion’
Approaching the house, one can imagine the grandeur it once represented. The Pueblo Revival Style adobe home, constructed of concrete, adobe and wood, originally had 12 rooms and three baths, according to the Rio Salado Foundation, and there were also balconies that offered views of the desert against the background of the Papago Park mountains. There was also a citrus grove, an aviary, stables, a kennel and a swimming pool.
“It was a desert mansion,” said Kim Knotter, executive director of the Rio Salado Foundation, during a recent tour of the house. “She entertained often,” Knotter said.
The 6,433-square-foot house has been vacant since 1996, and the first phase of construction was started by Sundt Construction in 2010.
The first phase included restoring areas that had been damaged, including structural repairs. In some areas, the contractors had to pull out the plaster and replace the old adobe bricks with new bricks made of mud from the Salt River, Knotter said. The first phase also included much of the electrical and plumbing, restoring the exterior, constructing the SRP education center, installing security fencing, lighting and some landscaping.
Phase two will include the west parking area and interior finishes, as well as finishing the electrical, plumbing and landscaping, installing air conditioning equipment and bringing the property up to date with current safety and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) codes.
The project was halted in 2012 due to lack of funding. To date, $3.2 million has been raised and another $1 million is needed to complete the project, according to Knotter. Major donors so far are the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Salt River Project (SRP) and Vestar, as well as one donor who wishes to remain anonymous.
Future plans for the house
The Rio Salado Foundation, a nonprofit that manages historically significant restorations and economic development projects along the Rio Salado Corridor, is restoring the property for use as a historic landmark and a community meeting venue, as well as the home for the City of Tempe Water Conservation Department in partnership with SRP.
“This will allow the house and property to serve the public as a reminder of the region’s past and as a touchstone for its future as a sustainable, diverse community,” according to materials from the foundation. The Eisendrath Center for Water Conservation will include:
• A tribute to Carl Hayden, which will honor the Tempe native, Maricopa County sheriff, state legislator and U.S. representative and senator with exhibits on water conservation.
• Rose Eisendrath Interpretive Center: Information about the history and restoration of the home and site will be displayed – including information about Rose Eisendrath and architect Robert Evans, whose other work includes the Jokake Inn – and Tempe Historical Society docents will conduct public educational tours as well as provide educational programs on water conservation and sustainable practices.
• Office space: City offices and staff of the City of Tempe’s Water Conservation Program will be housed at the Eisendrath House.
• Program space: Adjacent to the house is the SRP Education Center, which is currently being used for water conservation classes and meetings. Civic, educational and neighborhood organizations will be able to hold meetings, classes and special events in both buildings.
In addition to contributing to the campaign, members of the community can help in other ways, such as by serving on the grand opening committee or by volunteering. Earlier this month, 30 employees from Liberty Property Trust helped clean up the grounds and the house as part of a community service project. “It’s all about that collaborative effort,” Knotter said. “And the effort to really make it all happen.”

[nickw252]

Originally Posted by Spitfiredude

Looks good thusfar. Great height for this lot. Good for connectivity between downtown / lake. Competitive for West 6th. Looks like they want to push this through quickly.

Maybe they're trying to push it through before FAA rules are changed reducing the max building heights in flight paths.

[PHXFlyer16]

This is great news! A 26er on that side would be amazing! Glad to hear retail and restaurant space will be a part of it.

Originally Posted by nickw252

Maybe they're trying to push it through before FAA rules are changed reducing the max building heights in flight paths.

I know this came up years back with the FAA declaring buildings "hazards." I don't believe the FAA can actually stop something from being built, however, if they were to declare a building a hazard, it could effect the ability of the owners to get insurance, or drive up the cost of the insurance on the building.

Anyone else know if there is anything they can really "do" to enforce these new requirements? Also, do we have if downtown tempe is within the 10,000 foot range? what about downtown Phoenix?