A large mixed-use development will be making its way to Roosevelt Row next fall, adding a three-story commercial building and more dining, gallery and retail options to Phoenix’s premier arts scene.
Desert Viking development firm announced today its newest project dubbed “The Blocks of Roosevelt Row,” due to be completed in the fall of 2017. The project will boast a combination of the old and the new, featuring the adaptive reuse of three bungalow-style homes, the renovated Flowers building and the construction of a new three-story commercial building all along Fifth and Sixth streets on Roosevelt — the last two contiguous blocks of the original arts district, coined the Churchill Addition in 1888.
“Our goal is to enhance what other people already started,” said Desert Viking founder and President Niels Kreipke, praising the work of the artists, businesses and architects who have already turned Roosevelt Row into a unique destination.
“For us to be able to come in and join that momentum and be part of something that sets this area apart from anything else in the Valley is something we’re truly passionate about,” Kreipke said.
He also stressed there was an emphasis within the project on protecting the historical integrity of the neighborhood by preserving some of the bungalows and older structures that have stood in the area for many years.
The bungalows, originally built in the early 1900s, will be expanded and renovated to accommodate new restaurants, while the renovated Flowers building will now host dining and retail options in its space.
Meanwhile, the new three-story building will offer creative loft spaces for retail and office users, as well as a rooftop terrace and artwork commissioned by local artists.
While the project is not expected to be completed in its entirety until fall of next year, some parts of the project will open earlier in spring of 2017, including the Flowers building.
Contact the reporter at Charles.T.Clark@asu.edu.
