By Jenna-Lee Neff
As the area continues to grow, two developers are in the planning and planning approval process that, if all goes as expected, will bring a 14-story apartment building and a five-story apartment building to the area.
The 14-story high-rise apartment building is planned for the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Bell roads, across the street from The Promenade shopping center. The Hampton Group, Inc., a commercial real estate development and investment firm in Scottsdale, lists the project on their website as a 255-unit multi-family apartment complex in the design and development phase.
In a recent committee meeting, two members of Phoenix’s Paradise Valley Village Planning Committee stated they think the building, which will reach 157-foot according to current plans, is too tall. The proposed building would stand 32 feet taller than the 125-foot landmark Frank Lloyd Wright Spire that stands directly across Scottsdale Road from the development site.
Committee Vice Chairman Joe Lesher, one member concerned about the height, also expressed concerns over the impact the development would have on traffic at the intersection.
Nicholas Wood, a development lawyer from the Phoenix law firm Snell & Wilmer who presented during the committee meeting, says the Valley’s growth is making it a necessity to build taller residential buildings.
The development would still need approvals on the building plans and approvals on rezoning the area to move forward. Those approvals will need to come from the planning commission and the Phoenix City Council later this year. Two businesses currently operate on the proposed site; La Torretta Ristorante and Coconut’s Fish Café would be displaced if the planned development gets the approval to move forward.
The second planned development, a five-story apartment building, which will sit across the street from the Kierland Commons shopping center, will be a 360-unit multi-family building with an attached parking garage.
In a project overview submitted to the City of Phoenix, developer RD Kierland says the project provides an opportunity to redevelop two underutilized one-story office buildings with surface parking on the 7.14 acre site along the Greenway Parkway corridor into the proposed five-story luxury rental residential community.
“The overall goal of the project is to provide a quality, modern urban living experience for its future residents and to create a pedestrian friendly, walkable environment along its three roadway frontages for the benefit of the larger community,” according to the project overview.
Recently, Phoenix’s Paradise Valley Village Planning Committee unanimously approved the general plan and rezone change for the property. However, the project still needs approval from Phoenix’s Planning Commission. The commission is expected to review the project during a Thursday, May 6 meeting.
Snell & Wilmer is representing both The Hampton Group, Inc. and RD Kierland on these projects.
Jenna-Lee Neff is a freelance journalist, digital audience analyst, and nonprofit public relations professional. Learn more about her work at jennaleeneff.com.
