Tempe Development Thread

[TempeSilverFox]

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

I love the look of the butte against the shiny buildings. Looks great.

Tempe was supposed to build an observation deck at the top of A mountain at one point; I wonder if that will ever happen? The more unique attractions/amenities downtown, the better!

I remember that too! Something about moving the antennas off the summit and relocating them to the top of West 6th and then putting in a nice observation deck! I think that would be AWESOME! How many other downtowns can boast a mountain in the middle to view things???

[DevilsRider]

A few more photos I took this morning. A/C Marriott is moving dirt, but not much else. HFL3 looking good. SALT has a small portion above ground, but lots of underground work on the rest of the site still to do. And Sun Devil Stadium bleacher demolition continuing on progress. The East Wing demolition is basically done, only the columns remain.

[RichTempe]

Does anyone have any idea what's being done at the SE corner of 55th St & Broadway by the San Portella apartments? They cleared the lot last week and now a construction fence has gone up. I work nearby in Fountainhead, but haven't heard or seen anything about this parcel.

[azsunsurfer]

Those two smaller townhouse/ loft developments are going up in North Tempe. I think one is off Curry and the other one is a block or two north of that near the new Hampton Inn. You can see one of them off of the 202.

[azsunsurfer]

http://azbex.com/aps-slates-700m-ocotillo-power-plant-upgrade/

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

http://azbex.com/aps-slates-700m-ocotillo-power-plant-upgrade/

IS that awful power plant tower coming down! awesome.

The only thing I wish phoenix would do is bury some power lines but that doesn't seem like its ever going to happen.

[KEVINphx]

Originally Posted by Obadno

IS that awful power plant tower coming down! awesome.

The only thing I wish phoenix would do is bury some power lines but that doesn't seem like its ever going to happen.

I agree, it would be AMAZING if more valley cities buried the utility lines - the horrible massacring of tree landscaping around power lines in this town is disgusting.

[DevilsRider]

Just remembered that I saw a new big red development review sign up at the site on Rio Salado east of Rural, where those proposed 4-story apartments were denied and that Asian investment deal fell through. I wish I had stopped to take a picture, but I'll try to remember this weekend. If anyone else knows anything about what's going on though, maybe you can fill us in?

[PHXFlyer11]

Originally Posted by DevilsRider

Just remembered that I saw a new big red development review sign up at the site on Rio Salado east of Rural, where those proposed 4-story apartments were denied and that Asian investment deal fell through. I wish I had stopped to take a picture, but I'll try to remember this weekend. If anyone else knows anything about what's going on though, maybe you can fill us in?

Very interesting, it will probably show up on the agenda for the 4/28 DRC meeting which is not yet posted. Hoping for a nice surprise or two on there!

[DevilsRider]

I've been busy this week jetting around Tempe! Saw this today, and I don't think this has come up here yet (this iteration, at least). Meetings coming up for University/Forest parking lot site.

[Jjs5056]

Wow, I hope that project actually happens. 440+ apartments has to translate into some decent height, especially if a hotel is also proposed on the site.

Maybe a hotel at this location could take the place of what was planned at USA Place? An Omni takes the city to whole new level, IMO, and I would love to see it still happen.

EDIT: I found the following website for the project. Unfortunately, no renderings or much in the way of details, other than square footage and a note that they are "investigating high rise development." There is a photo of the actual site, however, and it matches what someone posted about a while back. It only has 7th Street frontage, which is unfortunate; I hate that empty lot on Mill.

http://wexforddevelopments.com/location/tempe-7th-street/

[DevilsRider]

I believe that site is a different development, JJS. The one with the zoning sign is that massive parking lot south of the linked site (bounded by University, Forest, 7th St, and Myrtle). That looks like a cool project too though!

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

Wow, I hope that project actually happens. 440+ apartments has to translate into some decent height, especially if a hotel is also proposed on the site.

Maybe a hotel at this location could take the place of what was planned at USA Place? An Omni takes the city to whole new level, IMO, and I would love to see it still happen.

EDIT: I found the following website for the project. Unfortunately, no renderings or much in the way of details, other than square footage and a note that they are "investigating high rise development." There is a photo of the actual site, however, and it matches what someone posted about a while back. It only has 7th Street frontage, which is unfortunate; I hate that empty lot on Mill.

http://wexforddevelopments.com/location/tempe-7th-street/

[PHXFlyer11]

Originally Posted by DevilsRider

I believe that site is a different development, JJS. The one with the zoning sign is that massive parking lot south of the linked site (bounded by University, Forest, 7th St, and Myrtle). That looks like a cool project too though!

So if I have been following everyone correctly, we should see the following coming up on the DRC:

1) DevilsRider above project on 7th
2) Silverfox's mention of an upcoming project for another lot there with the developer he referenced with a Minnesota project rendering
3) DRC sign that DevilsRider saw near the proposed TrendEx site that ultimately failed

Do I have all that correct? If so, the good times should continue to roll in Tempe!

[DevilsRider]

I think Silverfox's mention with the Minnesota project rendering might be the same site as the 7th St project I found the DRC sign for, but I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by PHXFlyer11

So if I have been following everyone correctly, we should see the following coming up on the DRC:

1) DevilsRider above project on 7th
2) Silverfox's mention of an upcoming project for another lot there with the developer he referenced with a Minnesota project rendering
3) DRC sign that DevilsRider saw near the proposed TrendEx site that ultimately failed

Do I have all that correct? If so, the good times should continue to roll in Tempe!

[PHXFlyer11]

Originally Posted by DevilsRider

I think Silverfox's mention with the Minnesota project rendering might be the same site as the 7th St project I found the DRC sign for, but I'm not sure.

Ah! I thought that one went from 7th to University, but I was probably mistaken. Either way, can't wait to see the plans! Hopefully another one that will break ground quickly.

[Jjs5056]

Originally Posted by PHXFlyer11

Ah! I thought that one went from 7th to University, but I was probably mistaken. Either way, can't wait to see the plans! Hopefully another one that will break ground quickly.

There's no way any project except for the old University Square lot will extend from University - 7th Street, so I'm guessing the project that Silver's project is the one I provided a link to. It matches his description almost perfectly - he mentioned it having 7th St frontage and none on Mill Ave.

I'm not convinced that these aren't all one project; it seems too coincidental that two projects named "7th Street West" would be in the works. But, yes, I guess we will see.

I'd feel a little bit more confident in these projects if they included office as opposed to hotel. And, 440 units is fantastic - I just hope they follow Hanover's lead in not allowing co-signers on applications. Otherwise, I really want to see some condos back in the downtown market.

[azsunsurfer]

If you all looked at the City of Tempe's website you will see that two lots of the Pier 202 site have plans being reviewed, both max height at 84'.

[rocksteady]

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

There's no way any project except for the old University Square lot will extend from University - 7th Street, so I'm guessing the project that Silver's project is the one I provided a link to. It matches his description almost perfectly - he mentioned it having 7th St frontage and none on Mill Ave.

I'm not convinced that these aren't all one project; it seems too coincidental that two projects named "7th Street West" would be in the works. But, yes, I guess we will see.

I'd feel a little bit more confident in these projects if they included office as opposed to hotel. And, 440 units is fantastic - I just hope they follow Hanover's lead in not allowing co-signers on applications. Otherwise, I really want to see some condos back in the downtown market.

JJ, do you have a brief history on University Square. I remember LOVING it for that corner and would have totally made that corner great, especially if it was paired with USA Place across the street. Did it fail because of the financial collapse in 2008? Any chance of it coming back to life or has things been built in its path since then? I'm viewing from a distance so not as up to date as a local. Thanks in advance!

[Jjs5056]

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

If you all looked at the City of Tempe's website you will see that two lots of the Pier 202 site have plans being reviewed, both max height at 84'.

Thanks for the link and directions on how to find the info on the Tempe site.

Originally Posted by rocksteady

JJ, do you have a brief history on University Square. I remember LOVING it for that corner and would have totally made that corner great, especially if it was paired with USA Place across the street. Did it fail because of the financial collapse in 2008? Any chance of it coming back to life or has things been built in its path since then? I'm viewing from a distance so not as up to date as a local. Thanks in advance!

University Square had two versions proposed during the last boom cycle. The original called for a massive hotel, residential, and retail project; once the residential market collapsed, they revised the plans to include only a hotel. However, that never got off the ground, either, and no - I highly doubt there is any chance of it coming back in either of those forms.

The first version was pretty impressive and a real "big city" vibe to it, but the second version looked completely out of scale - a massive superblock with a single squatty hotel tower on top.

VERSION 1: http://www.tryno.com/tempedev/site1/usquare/index.htm
VERSION 2 was essentially the first, bu without the tall towers, leaving just the ground hotel portion.

[rocksteady]

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

Thanks for the link and directions on how to find the info on the Tempe site.



University Square had two versions proposed during the last boom cycle. The original called for a massive hotel, residential, and retail project; once the residential market collapsed, they revised the plans to include only a hotel. However, that never got off the ground, either, and no - I highly doubt there is any chance of it coming back in either of those forms.

The first version was pretty impressive and a real "big city" vibe to it, but the second version looked completely out of scale - a massive superblock with a single squatty hotel tower on top.

VERSION 1: http://www.tryno.com/tempedev/site1/usquare/index.htm
VERSION 2 was essentially the first, bu without the tall towers, leaving just the ground hotel portion.

Thanks for the information! Man, that first version would have looked great there as the south entrance to Mill. What a shame. If that was built, plus USA place as was originally planned, that would be quite the "big city" corner.