From new housing to adaptive reuse, developers and local businesses are on the move in the downtown Phoenix area with plans for a variety of properties and locations.
This month multiple projects were presented at community meetings, and if proposals for these properties are passed the downtown community can expect to see new food, housing, and faces in the neighborhood, and some changes from old favorites.
Here are four projects in the downtown area to keep an eye on, broken down by neighborhood.
Evans Churchill:
Golden Rule Tattoo:
Both Golden Rule Tattoo and Carly’s Bistro are growing and looking to expand their space. Carly’s will expand its footprint into more of the building and Golden Rule will be moving to a new home, a bungalow they own at Sixth and Roosevelt streets, with the goal of staying in the neighborhood. However, the tattoo shop’s move is already facing hurdles. The move puts the new location in a different character area — Evans Churchill East — which doesn’t allow tattooing and piercings. The goal is to pass a text amendment to the character area code that removes this from non-allowed uses. It is expected to be heard at the Central City Village Planning Commission in May, but if passed would go to Council after break. The timeline and council dates keep the shop from being on a Council agenda until at least October. At this time, Carly’s Bistro will halt its expansion as long as Golden Rule needs.
Jane’s Cafe:
True North Holdings, LLC, is hoping to keep an existing unused bungalow and restaurant called Jane’s Cafe. The bungalow, located at 218 E Portland St., will keep the existing house structure and turn it into a three-meal restaurant with a local operator. The plan is to have no on-sight parking, only valet. The developers will be requesting a zoning change from residential to commercial. True North are also the developers with plans to activate the Knipe House and the area around it.
RELATED: Knipe House development incorporates historic preservation
Garfield Neighborhood:
Garfield affordable housing:
Developer Diana James Community Partners brought forth a proposal for 12 housing units which will sit next to Garfield Elementary Schools. Currently, the area is vacant. This first project phase brings six single-family properties, each with a smaller auxiliary unit. The auxiliary units will be 500 square feet properties, below market rate for a period of almost 30 years. They will be kept at price considered affordable by federal housing guidelines. Diana James Community Partners purchased 13 lots throughout the Garfield neighborhood as part of a larger request for proposals submission. This will be the first phase of development. It’s expected to go before Council May 16 and is supported by the Garfield Organization.
Grand Avenue:
Las Palmas Inn could be The Egyptian:
The current historic Las Palmas Inn on Grand Avenue could be developed and restored to become The Egyptian, a 3-star, 47-room hotel with a restaurant proposed by Rebel Hospitality. The name comes from the original name of the motel at that property, and the new hotel hopes to use the original sign. The restaurant and bar will be open to the public, and a representative from Rebel Hospitality said it will be comparable to the their project, the ACME Hotel in Chicago. There will be requests for several variances including expanding the restaurants footprint, noise level, reduced parking and permit for alcohol use.
Contact the reporter at Kara.Carlson@asu.edu.
