Tempe Development Thread - Page 165

Jjs5056 · #**3281** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 1:17 AM**

Thanks for doing some digging. On one hand, their developments look urban and quite beautiful in their portfolio. On the other hand, they seem to have a templated approach to their developments, which is going to hurt downtown Tempe in this case.

The parking is concerning-this is the second apartment proposal we have heard of where the garage will be taller than the apartments. On that note, I definitely agree that added height would have been ideal, as this lot is one of the few left with the potential to give the city a true skyline. Even The Hub is a bit too far north to complement West Sixth. 14-story structures here and on the Ash/Uni lot would have gone a long way toward making the West Sixth towers seem less out of place. At least a taller portion would have helped, even if the majority was 6 stories.

I was also hoping to see a design that complemented the courtyard out front of West Sixth,which was designed with the (never built) 3rd and 4th towers in mind, I'm sure. A curved entrance into the new structure would have been nice, with retail space on 5th (the north-south street is pretty much a waste, so might as well make that hold garage entrances, etc.).

Jjs5056 · #**3282** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 1:23 AM**

In the end, we will get a nice looking, urban-designed residential midrise, which will continue bringing mire permanent residents to the core and hopefully draw some attention to the remaining prime lots- Mill and 7th, Ash and University, Farmers Arts District, etc. Hopefully, those will bring density,height and mixed use.

It's just a shame that we are blowing the chance to:
1) spread downtown beyond Mill through additional retail
2) connect Mill with the future sreet car line on Ash; also, a missed chance to prepare Ash for much needed investment once that comes
3) build synergies with West Sixth by mirroring its plaza and complementing its height

Arquitect · #**3283** Posted **Oct 23, 2012, 7:05 AM**

Yeah, I really wish there was a way for W6 not to look so out of place. But with this lot being developed the way it is planned, it only leaves very few other options for tall development around tit. Farmer, will probably be more mid-rise development. It will be mixed use, but it is planned as a stepped aproach from a tall downtown (wether it ever happens or not) and the neighborhood scale. So I expect that all the developments that end up occupying the empty lots on Farmer will be 4 to 8 stories tall (similar to the Encore). This leaves only Ash and University, the north side of 5th and Ash, and Mill and 7th as potential lots for tall development.

I think the more cohesive skyline taking place east of Mill. The reason I say this is because we already have the Hub and the Hotel being built. At the same time, the schematic design for Block 12 included a 12 storie building (which could be part of the other two phases). And I have a hope that the lot west of Forrest on University will eventually be developed by taller buildings. That in addition to whatever ASU develops along the Rio Salado ecoDistrict (Stadium district) gives this area very interesting. The buildings probably won't have the height of W6, but they probably will not look as out of place as the two towers currently do.

Jjs5056 · #**3284** Posted **Oct 24, 2012, 6:42 AM**

I wonder if anything might happen with the Monti's site/100 Mill Ave? I love me some skyscrapers, but do think the original proposals were way out of scale. I remember Monti saying that developing the parking lots was the only way he could afford to keep going, so I'd assume we will something there at some point. Something a bit taler than the US Airways building would make a nice gateway to downtown and perhaps aesthetically connect W6 with the lakeside developments.

It's fun to see The Hub and Marriott under development - two sites that had proposed 'scrapers during the boom. Will be interesting to see if others are resurrected in some capacity.

Arquitect · #**3285** Posted **Oct 24, 2012, 8:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

I wonder if anything might happen with the Monti's site/100 Mill Ave? I love me some skyscrapers, but do think the original proposals were way out of scale. I remember Monti saying that developing the parking lots was the only way he could afford to keep going, so I'd assume we will something there at some point. Something a bit taler than the US Airways building would make a nice gateway to downtown and perhaps aesthetically connect W6 with the lakeside developments.

It's fun to see The Hub and Marriott under development - two sites that had proposed 'scrapers during the boom. Will be interesting to see if others are resurrected in some capacity.

There isn't anything out there yet about that site. Although, I am glad that the previous proposal didn't come to fruition. It did salvage part of Monti's, but only the original building, not any of the historical additions. I would like to see the parking lot developed though. Now that the Mill grounds have been restored, the connection between Mill and the lake has a lot of potential.

nickkoto · #**3286** Posted **Oct 25, 2012, 12:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

I remember Monti saying that developing the parking lots was the only way he could afford to keep going

I was thinking that if he needed some more revenue, he could always try to address the restaurant's decline in food and service quality over the last 10 years.

Arquitect · #**3287** Posted **Oct 25, 2012, 8:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickkoto

I was thinking that if he needed some more revenue, he could always try to address the restaurant's decline in food and service quality over the last 10 years.

Haha. Exactly what I was thinking. Although, I think that was just a smoke screen to get the city to expedite the permit for the towers. If Monti's was really in that bad of shape, they wouldn't have spent money fixing up their patio area.

MegaBass · #**3288** Posted **Oct 27, 2012, 1:24 PM**

Is there a site for The District (across the street from The Vue on Apache)?

Jjs5056 · #**3289** Posted **Oct 28, 2012, 1:35 AM**

http://www.thedistrictonapache.com/default.aspx

Nice to see Apace growing denser and denser, from Mill down toward the 101. Excited to see Gracie's upon completion. Love the way Grigio looks near that Metro stop, so it will be fun to see more development near by.

Arquitect · #**3290** Posted **Oct 28, 2012, 4:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jjs5056

http://www.thedistrictonapache.com/default.aspx

Nice to see Apace growing denser and denser, from Mill down toward the 101. Excited to see Gracie's upon completion. Love the way Grigio looks near that Metro stop, so it will be fun to see more development near by.

The Grigio is pretty cool. But I feel bad for the person with the corner apartment. They have those massive windows that have great view of the gas station. It would be nice if something nicer could go up on that corner.

I remember one of my college professors once told me that Apache was going to be the new Mill Ave. This was a couple years before the light rail was being built and Tempe Marketplace still hadn't been built either. Apache has always been dense, lined by many apartment buildings, but mostly the old-school gate-community approach to rentals. So it seemed kinda crazy at the time to think that Apache would not only become urban, but also become a destination. I am really glad to see that she was right. And the best part of it is that with projects like the one for Gracie's, it will be a diverse community, not just student apartments.

DevilsRider · #**3291** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 2:58 PM**

Saw a new Red Zoning sign up at the Hayden Harbor site yesterday (430 N Scottsdale Rd in Tempe), SW corner of Scottsdale Rd and the 202. Took a picture with my phone but it's not letting me upload right now, so I'll just retype the important stuff below.

It says "The City Council will provide a statement of findings for the previously approved request for" 6 mixed use towers (220 to 278 feet) for hospitatlity, residential, restaurant, and retail, 1 12-story office buildingbuilt on top of a 6 level garage, 1 1-story office building, and 3 surface parking lots, all over 13.6 net acres. Gross floor building area of 2,059,580 sq feet.

Case number PL070506, Rob Lane of Gammage & Burnham P.L.C. is the applicant. It was posted on 10/25/12 and the meeting's at City Council Chambers on 11/15/12 at 7:30pm.

Has anyone heard anything about this development recently, or have any idea what this posting means in City Council legalese?

dtnphx · #**3292** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 5:10 PM**

Found it straight away. Looks nice.

http://www.wrtdesign.com/projects/detail/Hayden-Harbor-Mixed-Use-Development/166

Arquitect · #**3293** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 6:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtnphx

Found it straight away. Looks nice.

http://www.wrtdesign.com/projects/detail/Hayden-Harbor-Mixed-Use-Development/166

That is a really great looking design. Is this something new or something that was designed before the economy crashed and is now being picked back up? Either way, it would be an amazing addition to the lakefront.

MegaBass · #**3294** Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 12:46 AM**

@UrbanRealty: Goodbye ugly 6th Street & Mill vendor stand!

nickkoto · #**3295** Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 1:21 AM**

Cutie's seemed like it was only ever open when Mill was closed off for arts festivals, when it had lots of other street vendors to compete with.

Leo the Dog · #**3296** Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 3:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtnphx

Found it straight away. Looks nice.

http://www.wrtdesign.com/projects/detail/Hayden-Harbor-Mixed-Use-Development/166

Wow! Now this is something different for Tempe. I like it so far.

azsunsurfer · #**3297** Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 6:48 PM**

Looks like that vacant parcel next to the VUE will finally be developed. I got this from the Development Review Comission's next agenda.

"Request for an Amended Planned Area Development Overlay and Development Plan Review consisting of a proposed mixed-use development including 327 dwelling units all within a (14) fourteen-story building for THE GROVE AT 1000 EAST APACHE (PL120130), located at 1000 East Apache Boulevard. The applicant is Snell & Wilmer, LLP."

TempeSilverFox · #**3298** Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 7:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arquitect

That is a really great looking design. Is this something new or something that was designed before the economy crashed and is now being picked back up? Either way, it would be an amazing addition to the lakefront.

This was designed before the economy crashed. I remember seeing this a couple of years ago. I love the idea of a small pier extending into the lake too. A very cool and modern design.

MegaBass · #**3299** Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

Looks like that vacant parcel next to the VUE will finally be developed. I got this from the Development Review Comission's next agenda.

"Request for an Amended Planned Area Development Overlay and Development Plan Review consisting of a proposed mixed-use development including 327 dwelling units all within a (14) fourteen-story building for THE GROVE AT 1000 EAST APACHE (PL120130), located at 1000 East Apache Boulevard. The applicant is Snell & Wilmer, LLP."

Noticed the Lemon Street parcel north of the Vue was on DPR agenda recently. Any word on the old M7 parcel?

Arquitect · #**3300** Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by azsunsurfer

Looks like that vacant parcel next to the VUE will finally be developed. I got this from the Development Review Comission's next agenda.

"Request for an Amended Planned Area Development Overlay and Development Plan Review consisting of a proposed mixed-use development including 327 dwelling units all within a (14) fourteen-story building for THE GROVE AT 1000 EAST APACHE (PL120130), located at 1000 East Apache Boulevard. The applicant is Snell & Wilmer, LLP."

14 story mix-use development, sounds pretty great. With the District coming up as well, that area is gaining some really great density. I just hope that it is not just student appartments though. It would be great to see some of these apartment buildings be more diverse. I know that ASU is huge, and it continues growing, but at some point, the market might end up being over-saturated of student-only apartments.