The downtown will soon see a spike in the residential population!
The Hub, located at the SW corner of Veterans Way (5^th St.) & College Avenue will open August 2013 and bring in 269 units with 637 total beds. City Council has also approved two other residential developments, which may commence construction by the end of this year.  The Lofts at Hayden Ferry, located at Rio Salado Parkway near Mill Avenue, consists of 4-story apartments with a 5^th level loft totaling 264 units. This project, developed by Oliver McMillan, will have direct access to the Tempe Town Lake area and a short walking distance to Mill Avenue and the downtown’s amenities. Another project recently approved is The Hanover Project, a 6-story 341 unit residential development. This site is located in the heart of downtown, off 5^th Street & Maple Avenue. Yes this is the surface parking lot site, which the project is responsible to incorporate 271 of the parking spaces back into the project by means of a new parking structure. With the resurgence of more residential in the downtown, Tempe is sure to see the continued growth and vision of a 24-hour urban environment that will service the existing businesses and bring in even more goods and services that a walking community needs.

Tempe is holding an open house Feb. 20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Gililland Middle School, 1025 S. Beck Ave., to talk with residents, neighbors and businesses about projects to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities and enhance the streetscape on Hardy Drive between University Drive and Broadway Road and University Drive between Ash Avenue and Priest Drive. You can check out the proposed concepts and comment online www.tempe.gov/hardydrive and www.tempe.gov/universitydrive

The city is also holding a public meeting to talk about Broadway Road on Feb. 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Community Christian Church, 1701 S. College Ave., to talk about a project to improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities while enhancing the streetscape on Broadway Road between Mill Avenue and Rural Road.
Beginning Feb. 25, comment online about the project and view the design concepts at www.tempe.gov/broadwayroad through April 1.

Arizona State University has issued a Request for Qualifications to solicit responses from firms/developers for the planning and development of 330 acres at the north end of the ASU’s Tempe Campus.  “The District” is adjacent to Sun Devil Stadium and Tempe Town Lake.  ASU intends to create a model for planning and development that will demonstrate the future of creative urban neighborhood design and sustainable development.

View more info and the RFQ here:
http://www.asu.edu/purchasing/bids/pdfs/091301.pdf

Visit www.thedistrictatASU.com for more information.

Tempe is also looking for people to serve on a committee to gather opinions of even more community members.  The City Clerk will accept applications through October 15.  An application to participated on the General Plan 2040 Community Working Group is found online at www.tempe.gov/GP2040.

Contact us with questions and comments at GP2040@tempe.gov or 480-350-8073.

The Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge snagged the first place Crescordia trophy for Buildings and Structures: Industrial & Public Works while the Crosscut Multi-use Path Phase II earned Awards of Merit in the categories of Site Development and Landscape: Trails and Art in Public Places for the Contours and Crossings art piece.

There were 120 entries, but only 17 Crescordia and 27 Awards of Merit. Take a look at all the winners: http://www.valleyforward.org/pdf/9.30.12_EEA_Winners_Release_2012.pdf

• The dedication of the Hayden Flour Mill happens this Friday from 5 – 10 p.m. with three musical acts, tours and more than 55 vendor booths.
• The dedication ceremony happens at 6 p.m. and includes Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Diane Enos, the Tempe City Council, Downtown Tempe Community and the Rio Salado Foundation. There may be some surprise special guests with links to the city’s founding past, too.

Jared and the Mill, a band that named itself after the building, will perform starting at 6:45 p.m. The group plays instruments that might have been used by people who lived in the 1870s, when the flour mill was built, such as washboards, banjos, accordions and drums. They blend old tyme with modern style for a fresh folk-pop sound. Take a listen at: 

Take a peek inside the mill with Tempe City Architect Mark Vinson:

Want to know more? www.tempe.gov/haydenflourmill

Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona has built, renovated and repaired more than 825 homes in the metro Phoenix area.  As a result of the city of Tempe’s generous land donation, Habitat’s successes will increase by 3 in the near term.  And, as part of Habitat’s committment to “green” building and sustainability, all three of the new Tempe homes will be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum standards.

Three families will be chosen for these homes so that they can participate in the construction, which is part of the “habitat” philosphy.

For more information about Habitat, or volunteer opportunities, please visit: http://www.habitatcaz.org/volunteer/index.php

For more information about the City of Tempe Housing Program visit:http://www/index.aspx?page=206

The ongoing transformation of Apache Boulevard to a lively Tempe corridor continues with an exciting new infill development named “The District”  that includes 279 new apartments and street level commercial space.  As part of the project the long time Tempe business, Baer’s Den, has been relocated and rebuilt on the site.  The project anticipates opening August of 2013.