Tempe Development Thread

[phoenixwillrise]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

Didn't Phoenix propose something like Tempe town lake decades before Tempe completed their lake?

It's a shame it wasn't done years ago on a grander scale running all the way thru Phoenix and even an offshoot river running through downtown Phoenix like San Antonio's. Also a sand filter system that would make the water pure and dam near drinkable would be huge. The price would have been high but the payback would have been far greater. Unfortunately Phoenix just has never had visionary planners that could have made something like this a reality.

[MegaBass]

GoDaddy Global Technology Center at the ASU Research Park set to open next month h/t ASU Business-Finance

[PHXFlyer11]

I really wish GoDaddy would've ended up in Downtown Tempe.

I think Tempe should go after Taser, perhaps for HFL 3.

[Jjs5056]

Yea, Tempe seems a bit too hellbent on expanding their business presence along Price, but it has two really great central business districts in downtown and Fountainhead, the latter which is becoming as mixed use and sustainable as a suburban business park can be retrofitted into. I think it's always a miss when something goes out to ASU Research Park, or that new Discovery Park across Elliott.

Arquitect pretty much summed up the difficulties with expanding the lake. Plans for turning the western portion into parks and the like have always been discussed and seemed to have gone nowhere - again, probably due to the neighborhoods these parks would serve. Why invest in a linear park running through abandoned industrial areas?

Leo - the original plan was called the Rio Salado Project, designed by ASU students in the... 70s?... and would've run from Mesa through Phoenix; Tempe was the only city to approve the vision, thus setting the stage for the Town Lake.

[nickw252]

The city of Tempe is poised to sell 11 acres of land on Tempe Town Lake to a developer who claims financial backing from Chinese and commodities-trading interests. The plan? A $1.2 billion, 2 million-square foot development on the parcels.

Tempe is preparing to sell the lakeside parcels to Scottsdale-based TrendEx Holdings LLC for $17.6 million.

The project would include offices, condominiums, retail and a hotel on what be one of the largest in developments in the state — if it ever comes to fruition.

The land sits north Rio Salado Parkway and in between Rural Road and McClintock Drive.

The Tempe City Council took a step forward with the sale at its August meeting and has another public hearing scheduled for Sept. 4. There was no debate or discussion on the land sale at the Tempe council’s August meeting and the sale measure moved forward via a unanimous vote. TrendEx will still have to consummate the land purchase after city approval, and there is little known locally about the developer.

The land is part of the Pier 202 area of Tempe, which has seen development plans famously come and go over the years.

TrendEx was the only developer to submit plans after the city issued a requests for proposals last year.

Arizona Corporation Commission filings show TrendEx with a Scottsdale address and Robert Swagger as its corporate manager.

Swagger was also president and CEO of a company called The Trend Exchange Inc., according to ACC filings. The Trend Exchange is a sister firm to a company called Media Derivatives. That company once sought to sell futures contracts based on expected movie box office revenues.

Swagger is also listed in the corporate filings of several other businesses in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, including Veriana Ventures. Sean Bonini, a principal for Scottsdale-based Signature Real Estate LLC, is also part of the TrendEx effort. Bonini said he was meeting with other partners this week and they would be able to talk more of their plans soon.

In an Aug. 20 release, TrendEx said it was partnering with China International Development Investment Corporation Limited (CIDIC) and other partners.

“We are excited to be doing business with our Arizona partners and look forward to deploying substantial resources for a signature development in the dynamic Tempe market,” said Alan Tay, CIDIC North America CEO in the release.

The Hong Kong company also does commodities trading and has been involved in a number of construction projects in China. CIDIC officials did not respond to e-mails seeking comment.

There has been significant Chinese real estate investment in the U.S. of late, but most of that has gone to larger or coastal U.S. markets such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle — not Phoenix.

Phoenix land-use attorney John Berry is also quoted in the TrendEx release.

“I have had the opportunity to work closely with the principals of this project and am pleased with the positive results the proposed project will have for not only the Tempe community but for the state of Arizona at large,” said Berry, the founding partner of Berry Riddell and Rosensteel LLC.

Berry also did not respond to telephone calls seeking comment.

The TrendEX development is just east of the $600 million Marina Heights project being built by Ryan Cos. and Sunbelt Holdings for a State Farm Insurance regional operations hub.

There’s also a planned new 159-room Marriott AC Hotel proposed by Woodbine Development Corp. on a Hayden Ferry Lakeside parcel north of Rio Salado and east of Mill Avenue. The Tempe council is looking at property tax breaks for that project. There are also apartment complexes and other potential real estate development in the area near Arizona State University’s main campus.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n....html?page=all

If something of this scale actually is built, they're going to need to extend the streetcar along Rio Salado.

Also, what will traffic be like on the 202 once State Farm is done?

[Jjs5056]

Yea, makes the Apache piece of the line seem more and more unnecessary. At this point, though, they just need to get the funding and put the shovel to the ground; we're creeping up on the originally-intended launch date.

Neither this article nor the lack of press from Tempe seem too confident in the development happening. But, regardless of size, it would be the most important development to come to the Phoenix metro by far.

[PHXFlyer11]

That was part of my concern. This TrendEx doesn't even have a web site. Nobody knows anything about this "company".

I hope Tempe did some extra homework here.

[nickw252]

Originally Posted by PHXFlyer11

That was part of my concern. This TrendEx doesn't even have a web site. Nobody knows anything about this "company".

I hope Tempe did some extra homework here.

Those two facts don't mean much. Projects like this are often done by business partnerships and/or newly created entities for tax and liability reasons.

A newly created entity isn't going to have a website or a reputation immediately.

That being said, I'm still skeptical about such an ambitious project of this scale.

[Jjs5056]

Well, if they RFPd it, and only received 1 response... they had to have felt it was better than more 4-story apartment proposals.

That land has been the source of proposals since the 90s, IIRC, with a Peabody Hotel planned originally. It'd be great to see it developed finally and now seems to be the time. Though, the north side seems to have stalled a bit which is a shame.

[Tempe_Duck]

Anyone know why Big Bang is closing?


https://www.facebook.com/bangthis/po...542363?fref=nf

[MegaBass]

Devils on College: A new pre-game tradition

This fall, Arizona State University will be rolling out an exciting new tradition before all home football games. The new Devils on College pre-game event will begin three hours prior to kickoff, and will encompass the plaza area around the recently constructed College Avenue Commons building.

Devils on College will include food trucks, cooling stations, music and family games and entertainment. The Sun Devil Marketplace will have items for sale in the plaza, and local vendors will be open for business.

The event will end 30 minutes prior to kickoff to allow fans enough time to get to Sun Devil Stadium. College Avenue will be closed between 6th and 7th Streets beginning four hours prior to kickoff, and will re-open shortly after kickoff.

Later in the fall, Postino Wine Cafe and breakfast eatery Snooze will also be joining the action on College Avenue.

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by Tempe_Duck

Anyone know why Big Bang is closing?


https://www.facebook.com/bangthis/po...542363?fref=nf

Downtown Tempe piano bar to play its last note

In a Saturday Facebook post, the Big Bang, a dueling piano bar occupying a basement location at Fifth Street and Mill Avenue, announced it would play its last note on Sept. 6.

The bar did not reveal why it was closing, though it is possible it could be a financial decision -- the building that houses it has an unusually high turnover for an area frequented by college students. The ground floor has been occupied by multiple businesses over the past 10 years, including McDonald's and The Library, a breastaurant similar to the Tempe-based Tilted Kilt. The building's third story has also played host to a number of businesses.

The Big Bang said it is still accepting reservations for its last two weekends and has "a lot of awesome things happening" to mark the bar's closing.

The bar, part of a small chain based in Tennessee, opened its doors in 2003. The chain's original location, St. Louis, is scheduled to close Sept. 8. Other Big Bangs are located in Nashville and Columbus, Ohio. Another location is scheduled to open in Cleveland in 2015, according to the bar's website.

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by MegaBass

Downtown Tempe piano bar to play its last note

Well that is too bad Ive allways like that the Big Bang is an original sort of concept instead of the cookie cutter bars that dominate most entertainment areas.

I cant believe they arent making money so it most be a decision for the overall company.

[PHXFlyer11]

Originally Posted by Obadno

Well that is too bad Ive allways like that the Big Bang is an original sort of concept instead of the cookie cutter bars that dominate most entertainment areas.

I cant believe they arent making money so it most be a decision for the overall company.

Very strange they would do this right before the busy season.

[ASU Diablo]

There was an article up on www.azbex.com about the new development proposal which included some additional info not published before but it seems like it was taken down?

Anyways, the article stated the highest building at 20 stories and the hotel at 18. Hopefully the article is re-published again

Thanks nickw252!!

[nickw252]

Originally Posted by airomero83

There was an article up on www.azbex.com about the new development proposal which included some additional info not published before but it seems like it was taken down?

Anyways, the article stated the highest building at 20 stories and the hotel at 18. Hopefully the article is re-published again

http://azbex.com/tempe-lakefront-to-...novice-bidder/

[Arquitect]

Originally Posted by nickw252

http://azbex.com/tempe-lakefront-to-...novice-bidder/

I'm a bit hesitant about how "real" this might be. Although, it would be an incredible addition if it were to happen.

On a bit of unrelated news, it looks like Tempe just passed Tucson in number of posts on this forum. I mention this not because of the rivalry between the universities in each city, but rather because it shows how incredibly smart Tempe has been in the past couple decades. It is pretty incredible how Tempe keeps bringing in large developments and creating an urban hub that cities much larger than them wish they had. Being land locked is pretty much the best thing that could have happened to this city, since it has forced planners and city officials to deal with what they have rather than just keep expanding.

[rocksteady]

Originally Posted by Obadno

Well that is too bad Ive allways like that the Big Bang is an original sort of concept instead of the cookie cutter bars that dominate most entertainment areas.

I cant believe they arent making money so it most be a decision for the overall company.

I've always been puzzled why this corner has had such high turnover throughout the years. It's a prime location and great building that never seems to land anything that sticks.

[MegaBass]

Originally Posted by rocksteady

I've always been puzzled why this corner has had such high turnover throughout the years. It's a prime location and great building that never seems to land anything that sticks.

Shame the only constant so far at faux-Laird and Dines Building is Hooters...

[MissingAZ]

Originally Posted by Obadno

Well that is too bad Ive allways like that the Big Bang is an original sort of concept instead of the cookie cutter bars that dominate most entertainment areas.

I cant believe they arent making money so it most be a decision for the overall company.

Was bummed to read this but I've seen it coming. When I was in college back in 2009 this placed was always so crammed you had to wait in line, pay a cover and stand shoulder to shoulder even on the upper floor. Last couple years when I've gone back it always felt half full. For whatever reason the current crop of students just don't want to go there. You'd think with constant turnover of students the concept would remain novel to newly 21 year olds but I guess the newer bars are that much more attractive.