A hearing over a potential alley abandonment near the historic Barrister Building will be held at next Wednesday’s city council meeting.
The Urban Phoenix Project is challenging a decision from September to abandon the alley for use as part of a Crescent Bay Holdings residential condominium development.
Director and President of the Urban Phoenix Project Sean Sweat said alleys are an important feature of downtown Phoenix.
“Our vision is walking, biking and transit is just as comfortable as driving…Alleys are important for that,” Sweat said. “In my opinion the most important thing they do, is they allow you to put all your utilities, all your back of the house, off the street.”
Urban Phoenix Project argues there are three criterions set by the city for alley abandonment and two are not met by the project. The requirements say the alley cannot be abandoned if: it requires relocating servicing/loading to pedestrian streets, if they result in more driveways and if they negatively impact surrounding properties.
Developing the Barrister Building requires access onto Madison Street, which according to Urban Phoenix Project’s appeal creates a driveway. The advocacy group also argues some utility actions would have to be done on a pedestrian street, and can negatively impact the companies in front of the alley, because they lose vehicular, utility and trash access.
Deputy Planning Director of the City of Phoenix Sandra Hoffman praised the project but said it would have to meet downtown zoning standards.
“The specific Barrister Project you can look at in many different ways, I think it’s a great opportunity for development in Downtown, and their design will be coming to our review to make sure it meets all of our Downtown Code of requirements,” Hoffman said.
The city of Phoenix approved the Jefferson Place Project a year ago, after submitting a winning proposal to “preserve and promote the productive use of a prominent and historic building.”
This project, led by Principal of Crescent Bay Holdings Geoff Beer, plans to implement 88 residential units.
When the project was originally approved in June of last year District 8 Councilwoman Kate Gallego mentioned the importance of the building being accessible from all sides.
Beer said he was advised by his attorney not to speak on the alley abandonment issue due to its pending appeal.
If the alley were to be abandoned it would become private property and belong to Crescent Bay Holdings.
Economic Development Program Manager of the Planning and Development Department Eric Buskirk said even if an alley is privatized, utility coordination with developers is still required in case of emergency.
Contact the reporter at ykenney@asu.edu
