http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sto...dest=STY-93876
July 25, 2007
Dial site redevelopment could rival French Quarter
Ari Cohn, Tribune
New Orleans may have its French Quarter, but if redevelopment plans for the existing Dial Corp. headquarters are approved, Scottsdale may get its own “Scottsdale Quarter.”
It’s the latest concept for the project that previously had been called Scottsdale Crossing. The city’s Development Review Board is expected this week to get is first look at the proposal to turn Dial’s 200,000-square-foot Airpark office building on a 29-acre parcel on Scottsdale Road into a 1.2 million-square-foot commercial, entertainment and residential district.
“We’re hoping the idea of a Scottsdale Quarter will catch on,” said George Melara, of the architectural firm Nelsen Partners, which designed the Kierland Commons project immediately across Scottsdale Road from the proposed project.
The Scottsdale Quarter is intended to be a pedestrian-friendly entertainment area centered around a palm tree-lined park. Although Kierland is owned by Westcor and the Scottsdale Quarter is a joint venture involving Vanguard City Home and the Wolff Co., Melara said the idea is to connect the projects in the minds of shoppers and revelers.
“We’re trying to create a district where people will go back and forth between the two,” he said.
It’s expected to take up to five years to finish the project’s three anticipated phases, which ultimately could include 365,000 square-feet of retail, 246,000 square-feet of offices, 408,000 square-feet of residential space, a boutique hotel and a movie theater.
The first phase, which the board will review on Thursday in advance of a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 23, would involve four commercial buildings along Scottsdale Road. Melara said the plan is to have the buildings built and occupied before Dial moves its offices next year to a new building under construction on the northwest corner of the Scottsdale Road and Loop 101, in the $1.5 billion One Scottsdale development.
Where Scottsdale Road intersects Butherus Drive and the Greenway-Hayden Loop, developers plan to build onestory buildings to house a restaurant and a boutique grocery, Melara said.
Two additional buildings intended to house shops and offices are planned to face Scottsdale Road, as well, he said. The rooflines of the two structures would rise from about 36 feet along the road and up to 60 feet further back, he said.
Also, two garages — one 60-feet tall and one 50 feet — with a total of more than 2,500 parking spots are planned on the northern and southern boundaries of the Scottsdale Quarter.
Melara said developers are in talks with local artists to design artwork for several square, 20-foot panels on the garages. The art would change periodically, he said.
“They’re not going to look at all like parking garages,” Melara said. “We’re kind of in the middle of that dialogue right now with certain artists. They’ll be pretty large pieces.”
Hank Epstein, project coordinator for the city, said such large murals are uncommon in north Scottsdale.
“Both would have large, oversize graphics to screen the parking structures,” Epstein said.
The Development Review Board’s Thursday study session is intended to identify any problems that need to be corrected before the Scottsdale Quarter has a public hearing, he said.
“They’re looking at whether or not the project makes sense from a design standpoint, and whether there are any issues that need to be resolved,” Epstein said.
Dave Roderique, Scottsdale economic vitality director, said the Airpark is one of the few areas left in the city where such a major commercial development can occur.
“I think it’s probably a reflection of the growth we’ve seen up there and a demand for a variety of services,” he said. “There aren’t many locations where you can put a major development of this sort. The Airpark is one where you can develop to a greater intensity level.”
As for the building density of the project being about six times greater than the current Dial offices, it may be necessary from a financial perspective, he said.
“Whenever you redevelop property, inherently it’s more expensive,” Roderique said. “Typically, you’re going to need to develop to a higher intensity level.”
Melara said the second phase of building would happen after Dial moves out. It’s offices would then be redeveloped into an entertainmentoriented area with restaurants, shops, and some offices. The first two phases are expected to cost about $100 million to build, he said.
The third phase is more conjectural at this point, he said, but it’s expected to include condominiums and a hotel on the eastern side of the complex.
By the numbers
Scottsdale Quarter amenities (in square feet):
• Existing Dial Corp. offices (to be replaced): 200,000
• Retail and restaurant: 365,000
• Office: 246,000
• Residential: 408,000
• Boutique hotel: 170,000
• Movie theater: 38,000
• Total: more than 1.2 million
Learn more
What: Development Review Board
When: 12:15 p.m. Thursday
Where: City Hall Kiva, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd
Prev
Linear Mode
