Tempe Development Thread - Page 387

azsunsurfer · #**7721** Posted **Jun 10, 2018, 6:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwwolfe

The Biomedical Campus is being built North of Rio Salado. The lot in question is on the Southeast corner of Rio Salado and Priest. They've been doing some kind of work there lately.

Thanks VWWolfe, you read it correctly!

Mr.RE · #**7722** Posted **Jun 10, 2018, 6:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by muertecaza

DRC packet for "Tempe Crossroads," proposed at Terrace/Orange:

https://www.tempe.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=64652

Tempe Crossroads looks fine to me. Similar to all the other low/mid-rise buildings going up around town, but I'd say better than some. It looks similar to Vertex and should fit in well with Vertex and Sterling.

Could you repost the link? This one says page not found.

muertecaza · #**7723** Posted **Jun 10, 2018, 8:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.RE

Could you repost the link? This one says page not found.

Updated, link should work.

https://www.tempe.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=64680

Mr.RE · #**7724** Posted **Jun 10, 2018, 9:20 PM**

Thank you for that. One thing I wish that this project included was the College Town Apartments as well. That piece has barely any frontage to Terrace and will most likely sit there stuck between two mid rise apartments for a long time. A future developer could build like a 5 story frontage with a bridge that you drive under to get to a taller residential/clubhouse/parking area but thats unlikely. The best thing the existing owner could do a nice renovation and nice frontage landscaping in the meantime. (Wishful Thinking)

combusean · #**7725** Posted **Jun 10, 2018, 10:12 PM**

At 64 du/acre, College Town is fairly dense for what it is, although it doesn't look it. I'm actually OK with having this mix of vintage structures and newer builds, especially as it looks like College Town is not student housing per se with 12 month leases.

Depending on the alignment of fire lanes, etc, it's possible it could be redeveloped to fill out its lot, especially with tuck-under parking and/or a garage in back. The parking path in between College Town and Crossroads is actually an alley, leaving Crossroads lots of room.

I'm looking forward to University Pointe's redevelopment. The owner has been gobbling up an *enormous* assemblage over the years.

muertecaza · #**7726** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 2:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by combusean

At 64 du/acre, College Town is fairly dense for what it is, although it doesn't look it. I'm actually OK with having this mix of vintage structures and newer builds, especially as it looks like College Town is not student housing per se with 12 month leases.

Depending on the alignment of fire lanes, etc, it's possible it could be redeveloped to fill out its lot, especially with tuck-under parking and/or a garage in back. The parking path in between College Town and Crossroads is actually an alley, leaving Crossroads lots of room.

I'm looking forward to University Pointe's redevelopment. The owner has been gobbling up an *enormous* assemblage over the years.

There was like a ~20ish story pre-recession proposal there, yeah? That does seem like the one in that area that is primed for redevelopment.

Classical in Phoenix · #**7727** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 4:18 PM**

Arizona State expects multi-purpose arena to be completed by November 2020 #cawlidgehawkey https://t.co/lnfeWUFNST via @azcentral

Mr.RE · #**7728** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 4:18 PM**

The Carvana Tower at Rural and the 202 is now open. Cars are loaded into the vending machine. I drove by it last night and it looks awesome! The future is here

muertecaza · #**7729** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 4:24 PM**

Coverage of I.D.E.A. campus.

http://ktar.com/story/2100830/construction-underway-for-major-technology-campus-in-tempe/

Quote:

PHOENIX — Construction has started in Tempe on a major tech space project called I.D.E.A., or Innovation, Discovery, Education and Arts.

City of Tempe Economic Development Program Manager Maria Laughner said the project covers 18 acres and more than 1 million square feet for biotech and technology companies that want to set up shop in Tempe...

The first phase of I.D.E.A. opens in early 2020.

exit2lef · #**7730** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 4:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.RE

The Carvana Tower at Rural and the 202 is now open. Cars are loaded into the vending machine. I drove by it last night and it looks awesome! The future is here

I honestly don't understand the vending machine concept. Carvana will already deliver any vehicle from its inventory to the buyer's home. Does having the customer pick up the car from a vending machine save enough on delivery costs to justify the construction costs? Does the promotional value of these vertical vending machines justify the added cost compared to just storing cars in a parking lot?

combusean · #**7731** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 4:57 PM**

^ It's a gimmick and an eyesore. Cars stacked to the sky in what is essentially a giant billboard is the last thing an urbanizing neighborhood needs. Car sales should have long been zoned out of this area.

Ballister · #**7732** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by combusean

^ It's a gimmick and an eyesore. Cars stacked to the sky in what is essentially a giant billboard is the last thing an urbanizing neighborhood needs. Car sales should have long been zoned out of this area.

Couldn't agree more. It's sophomoric to be handed a giant coin to put into a slot to get your very expensive "toy" that you'll be paying for 5 years or more. What I worry about is when the concept has worn out it's welcome, we're stuck with an empty high rise garage.

Obadno · #**7733** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 9:37 PM**

Guys, its stuck up against a highway onramp sandwiched between a shitty hotel and across the street from a strip club and various chop shops and tow yards.

Its not like they built it in the middle of Mill ave.

CrestedSaguaro · #**7734** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 10:05 PM**

People are going to buy cars. I see no difference as to if they buy them in a 10 story "vending machine" or a car lot. I would rather see a 10 story car machine than acres and acres of blacktop car lots any day of the week that take up prime real estate and contribute to the urban heat island.

EDIT: Sorry. I'm grouchy today

exit2lef · #**7735** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 10:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonnieFoos

People are going to buy cars. I see no difference as to if they buy them in a 10 story "vending machine" or a car lot. I would rather see a 10 story car machine than acres and acres of blacktop car lots any day of the week.

I see your point. I just don't understand how it makes financial sense for Carvana.

CrestedSaguaro · #**7736** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 10:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by exit2lef

I see your point. I just don't understand how it makes financial sense for Carvana.

I'm not sure how much they spent on it. Was there a disclosed cost? I don't follow car retailers. What does an average Joe car lot cost to build these days?

exit2lef · #**7737** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 10:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonnieFoos

I'm not sure how much they spent on it. Was there a disclosed cost? I don't follow car retailers. What does an average Joe car lot cost to build these days?

I don't know any exact numbers, but a tower with an elevator must cost more than a surface parking lot. Maybe it would be different in Manhattan or any other dense urban core, but I don't think northern Tempe, despite all that is going on, has developed to that level yet.

CrestedSaguaro · #**7738** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 10:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by exit2lef

I don't know any exact numbers, but a tower with an elevator must cost more than a surface parking lot. Maybe it would be different in Manhattan or any other dense urban core, but I don't think northern Tempe, despite all that is going on, has developed to that level yet.

I agree. But it is a relatively small spot as Obadno posted. I don't think much could have really went there anyway outside of a skinny tall residential tower or a shop of some kind. It is different. I'll give it that.

I don't know what the floor to ceiling height is. If worse comes to worse and they closed up shop, is there enough space to retrofit offices into it? It would make for some really creative office space.

Obadno · #**7739** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 10:47 PM**

Its literally just an advertising gimmick, 99% of Carvana's cars get delivered directly to the buyer, they have several of these things in large metros, its essentially a big fancy billboard

Given the only other thing likely to go there was a fast food joint or gas station/ billboard I think its a way more interesting development

CrestedSaguaro · #**7740** Posted **Jun 11, 2018, 11:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obadno

Its literally just an advertising gimmick, 99% of Carvana's cars get delivered directly to the buyer, they have several of these things in large metros, its essentially a big fancy billboard

Given the only other thing likely to go there was a fast food joint or gas station/ billboard I think its a way more interesting development

This is the tallest one they have though, correct?