Phoenix Development News

[cheesy bob]

yeah but then what are they going to do with all of the freight traffic just put it onto trucks? that would just defeat the purpose to alleviate traffic

[HX_Guy]

Construction Updates February 05, 2007

44 Monroe: 34 Stories - 411'





Sheraton Downtown Hotel: 31 stories - 360'






Summit at Copper Square: 23 stories - 253' Topped Off



215 E McKinley

[hkskyline]

$1.7 billion in state money sought for light-rail project
22 February 2007

PHOENIX (AP) - The agency running the planned light-rail system in the Phoenix metropolitan area is asking Arizona for $1.7 billion in state money to speed up construction plans and add route extensions.

Metro Executive Director Rick Simonetta outlined the request at the agency's meeting Wednesday.

Simonetta wants to finish the voter-approved 57-mile system in 2020 rather than 2025 and add 23 miles of track by 2027.

His plan assumes the federal government will chip in about a third of the money and that rail can be built for $75 million a mile, more than the $70 million figure the starter line is costing.

"I have no intention of ponying up any money for light rail. It's a debacle," said state Sen. Ron Gould, the Lake Havasu Republican who chairs the Senate transportation committee.

The notion of accelerating and expanding light rail comes as cities on both ends of the Phoenix area have expressed growing interest.

Some cities west of Phoenix want relief from Interstate 10 traffic while Chandler has asked about becoming a Metro member and Scottsdale is under way with a rail study.

On Wednesday, Metro awarded a $2.3 million contract to begin an accelerated study of a westward extension along I-10 and also into Glendale. Similar studies were launched late last year for planning rail additions in Mesa and Tempe.

Metro's request must be approved by the Maricopa Association of Governments which would forward it on to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ADOT Public Transportation Director Jim Dickey said no proposal is off the table, but the extent of the requests is substantial.

After trimming the wish lists, Dickey expects to submit a plan to Gov. Janet Napolitano on April 6.

[IRepTucson]

Originally Posted by Woonsocket54

From today's AZ Republic:

This looks brilliant. I'd love to see something like this running throughout Arizona. That's what Arizona desperately needs - better infrastructure.

[hkskyline]

Light-rail extension revised; will now have 3.2-mile first phase
15 March 2007

PHOENIX (AP) - A light-rail expansion northwest of Phoenix will have a 3.2-mile first phase and not the full 4.6 miles that was originally planned, officials said.

The first phase would open on time in 2012 using $273 million in local funds, adjusted for inflation.

Completing the extension would have to wait until after 2014, when federal money could be secured, and those plans could be altered.

"We are trying to get as far as we can by 2012," said Wulf Grote, director of project development for Metro, which is running the 20-mile light-rail project that is expected to start service next year.

City and Metro officials said they faced the choice of building all of the line late or using money exclusively from a 2000 local sales tax to finish as much of it on schedule as possible.

They said the 2012 date was no longer realistic because federal requirements had grown too onerous and time-consuming.

Current estimates show 6,000 to 7,000 people will board the 3.2-mile extension on a one-way trip by 2030. The extra 1.4 mile doesn't add enough projected ridership, according to federal models, although transit agencies question assumptions in those models.

Ed Zuercher, deputy chief of staff to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, said the action does not break faith with voters, who were promised a MetroCenter line by 2012.

[Minimaha]

I'm thinking of getting a winter place in the Phx metro area in the future. The place that I like is Scottsdale, can any AZ native break down this area in terms of development, livability, and (most importantly) winter weather?

[haux]

For Scottsdale, you'd better be wealthy.

[Krasna Sreča]

Originally Posted by Minimaha

I'm thinking of getting a winter place in the Phx metro area in the future. The place that I like is Scottsdale, can any AZ native break down this area in terms of development, livability, and (most importantly) winter weather?

No problem!

You have the Metro valley, consisting of 5 major cities; Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendele,Tempe. You also have fast groing little cities; i.e. Gilbert, Chandler, Paradise Valley, Goodyear, Peoria, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills, etc.

I'll go ahead and describe the major cities and point out some facts on the littler ones.

Phoenix

Phoenix is your major city in Arizona, with many businesses being in downtown (still developing). Phoenix has its good areas and its bad areas. the western side of phoenix is much more on the down side than the rest, while the south is developing, houses here don't go for much but then again neither does the area if you get my drift. Northern phoenix on the other side has more in common with Scottsdale due to its more "luxurious" and money spending population, houses here tend to be in the 200k+ range. East Phoenix is an ok area, not too bad if you are looking for houses that are cheaper with an area that is pretty calm. Eastern Phoenix is also close to Mesa, and depending on your local not too far from downtown Mesa or Phoenix.

Winter Weather:Tends to be cool and windy, sometimes there is frost in the morning. Rains a bit but when it rains longer, streets flood.

Mesa

Mesa isn't known for its great homes or wealthy but it has plenty of golf courses for any golf addict. Mesa also has its share of good and bad neighborhoods. Mesa isn’t a bad place to buy a house for a person who doesn't want to spend too much but wants something good out of what they do dish out from their pocket. Basically, Mesa has a lot in common with eastern Phoenix. However lacks many places to shop but offers a lot of recreation like rock climbing.

Winter Weather: Cool and windy, frosty at times and rainy.

Scottsdale

Scottsdale’s basically you're prestige city of Arizona, mentioned by many magazines as the second Beverly Hills and golf course haven. Scottsdale is definitely not cheap, average houses here cost in the ranges of 300,000 to 3 million. However Scottsdale offers more than any other city. The city offers fine dining in handfuls, shopping in armfuls and recreation to your hearts content. Scottsdale is also the headquarters for many companies like Cold Stone, Go Daddy, and others. Scottsdale is also known for its greenery, the city keeps plants as one of its priorities, and you will definitely notice that going down the streets.

Winter Weather: Very cold and windy, frost in the mornings and windy troughout. Heavy rains but little flooding.

Glendale

Glendale is not too shabby, it offers many newly built homes and pretty decent neighborhoods, however it sadly also has its share of bad neighborhoods, but not many. Glendale is not a bad area to move in if you are looking for cheap homes with descent surroundings or for newly built gated communities. Glendale offers many shopping area just like any other city but not many in walking distance. You can also note that since this is western Phoenix it does have the burden of wal-marts every 2 miles.

Winter Weather: Cold and windy.

Tempe

Tempe is basically a huge college campus, if you don't want to deal with college students all over the place than this area’s definitely not for you. Tempe hosts one of the major campuses of ASU (Arizona State University) so its not surprising that a lot of Tempe’s residents are students. Tempe is a pretty good place to live, with its little building boom in downtown and many great shopping and fine dining areas. Tempe also has pretty descent home prices which don’t tend to fluxuate too much.

Winter Weather: Cold, windy but sunny at times with wind, also frosty at times.

Paradise Valley

The only place in Arizona that beats Scottsdale in home pricing.

Queen Creek

Newly built homes right around the desert, your daily view is literarily the desert when you wake up.

Fountain Hills

A follower in Scottsdales steps but doing it better, houses here aren't cheap and neither is anything else. Basically, Fountain Hills is Scottsdale’s little sister.

Anyway I'm sure you could do more research on this and find out even more info, these are just basic facts, if you want to go more in depth visit each cities official site, they offer tons of information.

[Krasna Sreča]

[Krasna Sreča]

[Krasna Sreča]

You can see a lot of the new towers in the background like the Sheraton.

[Krasna Sreča]

[Krasna Sreča]

After much delay....

Their rendering...

[Krasna Sreča]

[metropolismayor]

Hello Arizonians,
So, Ive flown into your airport a couple times in the past few months and I was wondering something about your downtown. From the airplane, it looks like the your city has two downtown-ish areas, or at least two groupings of skyscrapers. It looks like there's a long patch of green in between. Is that the case? Why the seperation?

Thanks!

[AzChristopher]

Originally Posted by metropolismayor

Hello Arizonians,
So, Ive flown into your airport a couple times in the past few months and I was wondering something about your downtown. From the airplane, it looks like the your city has two downtown-ish areas, or at least two groupings of skyscrapers. It looks like there's a long patch of green in between. Is that the case? Why the seperation?

Thanks!

Poor planning would be the short answer.

What you see is the main group of downtown buildings which is south of I-10 and a second group that lines Central AVE going north from there.

There are also a few other mini downtowns with activity around them scattered around Phoenix and then of course there are the smaller cities around which have grown pretty healthy downtowns over the last decade.

[haux]

The Arizona Republic has an article today about a new skyscraper the city is planning and one that's being built.

Source.

Apartment towers on track downtown
Jet set for approval as construction begins on Alta Phoenix Lofts

Jahna Berry
The Arizona Republic

The Jet, a high-rise complex with 675 apartments, could land in downtown Phoenix soon.

As planned, the $200 million project would include 36- and 23-story towers on Second Avenue between Fillmore and Van Buren streets.

The 360-foot tower would be among the tallest buildings downtown.

The Jet is one of two major apartment developments slated for downtown.

The other is Alta Phoenix Lofts, a smaller complex with 332 apartments under construction near the southeastern corner of Fillmore and Third streets. Residents could move in as early as summer 2008. Both projects, close to light rail, are part of a regional apartment-building frenzy fueled by a glut of condo projects, rising rents and a demand for apartments, a real estate expert says.

That's not the only thing the projects have in common.

Both are getting an eight-year tax break and other incentives from the city that could save the developers millions. The Jet, however, would have about 80 units set aside as affordable housing.

Phoenix leaders are trying to spur housing that regular working people can afford, said Phoenix Councilman Michael Johnson, who supports such incentives.

"We need to make sure that we are setting up downtown so that we have attainable housing," Johnson said. Both projects are in his district.

On Tuesday, the City Council's housing and neighborhood subcommittee unanimously recommended that the council approve the Jet development deal.

The proposal could go before the council as early as July, said Downtown Development Director John Chan.

Many would-be condo developers are building posh apartments, but the market could be getting saturated, said Ron Brock Jr., vice president of Pierce-Eislen, a Scottsdale multifamily-housing research firm.

"If you build really high-end, you can have them become condos later on," he said.

This year, 32 apartment communities are under construction in the Valley, which would add about 8,000 units to the market, Brock said.

An additional 60 developments are in planning stages and would pump 18,400 units into Valley housing stock over the next 24 months.

Even with thousands of new residents each year, Brock said, the Valley market can usually absorb only about 7,000 new apartments in one year.

The Jet and Alta Phoenix Lofts developers hope to lure downtown workers to their projects.

"This is for downtown workers who are priced out of downtown," said Jim Onken, a partner with UrbanLogic, which is developing the Jet complex.

This is the first project that Onken and Paradise Valley investor Tony Corey have built under their newly formed company. Onken, 59, is a retired real estate development executive from Intrawest, a resort developer.

Construction could begin on the 36-story tower late this year or early 2008, and it could open as early as fall 2009, Onken said.

As planned, it includes 20,000 square feet for shops and 120,000 square feet of office space.

The rents on the affordable units could range from $630 per month for a studio to $1,200 a month for a large one-bedroom, depending on the tenant's income. The rest of the building would be market rate.

Wood Partners is building the Alta Phoenix project. The apartments will have exposed ductwork and other loft-style details, said David Kubin, a Wood Partners director.

The firm recently finished the Pietra apartments at the Loop 101 and Cave Creek Road in north Phoenix and has plans for apartment projects in Tempe and Peoria.

Alta Phoenix will include 10,000 square feet of retail space and a parking garage.

Wood Partners and UrbanLogic have similar leaseback deals with the city. Under the agreements, Phoenix would acquire the land the buildings occupy after construction is over. The developers would retain control of the building and have ultra-low lease payments.

The setup allows the city to abate excise taxes on each project for eight years. For the Jet, the tax deal could save the developer about $8 million. A figure was not available for Alta Phoenix Lofts.

[hkskyline]

Commuter rail being considered to help ease traffic woes
17 June 2007

PHOENIX (AP) - Commuter rail service is being considered as a possible way of helping to ease some of Arizona's traffic woes.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, who is among the leaders pushing for commuter rail service, asked his staff to begin looking at transportation options, including commuter rail.

The city produced a regional-transportation strategy map showing three commuter options for rail lines that could be built.

One would run through Gilbert. Another would cut diagonally from north Phoenix through Casa Grande. The third option would lead from north Tempe to Tucson, through Maricopa.

The commuter-rail lines would be in addition to light-rail lines under construction from the southeastern part of the metropolitan Phoenix area and into the city of Phoenix itself.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has proposed several freeways to bypass Interstate 10 from Phoenix to Tucson and Interstate 17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff. It also is working on a study that would double the width of I-10 through metro Phoenix to 24 lanes by creating one route for local traffic and another for express traffic.

Hallman and other mayors also are pushing for construction of a proposed freeway through Ahwatukee that would allow motorists and trucks to bypass I-10 and complete Loop 202 around metro Phoenix.

But even with the proposed freeway through Ahwatukee, transportation planners say the state can't keep up with rapid growth coming from the city of Maricopa and other parts of Pinal County.

The Maricopa Association of Governments is studying the possibility of commuter rail. Gov. Janet Napolitano had ordered the state's transportation department to prepare a transportation-options study.

The study was due in April, but transportation officials asked for a 90-day extension and are still working on it.

The transportation department and the governor's office won't revealed details until the study is done.

"We are seriously looking at commuter rail," Napolitano spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said last week. "I don't know specifically the details."

Jim Dickey, director of the transportation department's public transportation division, said the agency is using federal transportation funds to study commuter-rail options.

The study includes using Interstate 8 near Casa Grande as the southern boundary for Pinal County in a possible route to build a line for commuter rail.

Freight trains, once floated as an idea for carrying passenger cars, cannot be used for commuter rail because of federal railroad rules and safety considerations.

Besides, the freight lines are running at or beyond capacity and operate at irregular schedules, according to community leaders.

The other hitch is that the freight lines are privately owned and have little incentive to give over any of their track capacity for commuter rail.

Hallman said state leaders need to work now to designate a route and buy land for commuter rail before businesses and homes are built.

"The most important thing we can do right now is protect the right of way," he said. "If we don't protect it now, it will be too late to do so in the future."

[cheesy bob]

Originally Posted by haux

The rents on the affordable units could range from $630 per month for a studio to $1,200 a month for a large one-bedroom, depending on the tenant's income. The rest of the building would be market rate.

they call that affordable

[Santa_Claus]

Originally Posted by IRepTucson

This looks brilliant. I'd love to see something like this running throughout Arizona. That's what Arizona desperately needs - better infrastructure.

Wow im in Arizona on vacation with my grandparents for the whole summer and on the way to their house from the airport I saw some of these communter trains and was telling my grandmother about them and she didnt believe me