The collaborators for Block 23 hosted a topping off ceremony Tuesday to celebrate the completion of the retail building’s vertical construction.
“We are proud to be the anchor of such a creative, forward-thinking development,” Monica Garnes, president of Fry’s Food Stores said.
City officials, developers and corporate partners gathered on the ninth floor of the building overlooking the Talking Stick Resort Arena to recognize the partnership between the many groups who have worked for the past 14 years to make the project happen.
“What a great way to celebrate how high and far we’ve come,” Mike Ebert, managing partner at RED Development said.
Block 23, expected to be completed by the end of 2019, is located between CityScape Phoenix and the Collier Center and will be host to a Fry’s Food Stores, office buildings, below-grade parking and a 17-story apartment building likely to be topped off by the end of February, according to a joint press release.
“Block 23 will be a unique addition to the commercial landscape of Phoenix as it [will] bring everyday convenience retail never before seen to downtown. A supermarket downtown will keep retail dollars from ‘leaking’ to other supermarkets outside of downtown,” Jeff Green, a partner with Hoffman Strategy Group said in an email.
RED Development expects the “mixed-use project” will generate $234 million in annual economic output and almost 1,300 permanent jobs.
“We’ve been anxiously awaiting this forever,” interim Mayor Thelda Williams said.
RED Development has secured Fry’s Food Stores, accounting firm Ernst & Young, and Blanco Tacos & Tequila — a Sam Fox concept — as tenants in Block 23.
Speakers throughout the event emphasized the need for a grocery store in the downtown Phoenix area.
“The missing piece behind it all was a grocery store,” councilman Michael Nowakowski said.
The grocery store will be 67,000 square feet and RED Development is heralding it as “the most technologically advanced grocery store in the state.”
The importance of collaboration and development between businesses and the community was highlighted at the ceremony.
Garnes announced that Fry’s Food Stores will be donating $5,000 to St. Mary’s Food Bank, which will provide 35,000 meals to people in need.
“The City of Phoenix is going to be the city to do business with,” StreetLights Residential President Tom Bakewell said. StreetLights Residential, the developer behind Block 23, plans on pre-leasing the space this summer and residents are expected to move in during the fall.
“It feels like little Phoenix is all grown up,” Christine Mackay, Phoenix Community and Economic Development director said.
Contact the reporters at kniche@asu.edu and Marcus.Chormicle@asu.edu
