So, it looks like Stadium District will end up being TMP, only supersized to pull office and residential investment out of downtown, too. The NWC corner of Rural/University will be Phase I of development and Catellus is finalizing contracts with an anchor tenant for one of three office buildings planned, and has significant interest in developing the multifamily component, as well. The office space contains 30,000 sq feet of retail, and the residential has 50,000.
Rural evolving into a more urban corridor is not a bad thing. But, why is the City investing in a streetcar line if major employers are being lured to this project, which is off the transit grid? More high-wage jobs in downtown is what will drive condos, shops, and services; instead, 500 jobs will be housed on Rural/University. And, 80,000 square feet of retail which mostly faces inward ASU roads, will certainly not help downtown.
It looks as though the District will be filled with really beautiful and well-designed buildings, going so far as to include underground parking in the residential project. If the execution is close to the vision shared in this PPT, the District will essentially be everything downtown should be. When ASU has empty parcels like Block 12 and Uni/Mill, and has consistently failed in developing urban-appropriate building in both Tempe and Phoenix, I have to say it pisses me off that they're pouring all their resources in an area that is already developed and finally utilizing good design.
http://documents.tempe.gov/sirepub/c...6011629136.PDF
The streetcar should be canceled and replaced with high capacity transit on Rural. Not only will that connect South Tempe residents to ASU, the lake, etc., it would serve this entire District, be walkable from Marina Heights, and would connect to LRT at 8th/Rural for direct access to the area covered by streetcar.