Tempe leaders say condos near ASU are too tall

Tempe took a chunk out of plans to build the East Valley’s tallest building in its downtown. The city’s leaders said the 30-story condo project called University Square was too high for a building on University Drive.

The City Council decided Thursday that the development was OK only if the developer lopped some floors off two of the three towers. The developer wanted one tower to climb to 345 feet — and up to 370 with equipment — but Tempe capped the buildings at 300 feet.

“I don’t want to see an air conditioner, I don’t want to see a cover” above 300 feet, said Councilman Ben Arredondo, who complained most about the height. “I’m going to go out there with a ruler.”

The objections followed more than a year of concerns that booming downtown Tempe might have become too popular with developers for its own good. Residents and council members said they feared pricey condo projects and developments — some worth $250 million — will make the college town unaffordable for students and the momand-pop shops that helped make Mill Avenue so popular.

“I think we’re very quickly being viewed as an elitist downtown,” Councilwoman Barb Carter said.

It’s unclear how many stories the redesigned project will have. The original plan had a hotel/condo tower at 30 stories, a 22-story condo tower and a 12-story office portion. It has about 2.1 million square feet of space, but 1 million of that is for parking.

University Square will replace a block of thriving businesses in modest buildings. The most prominent feature is the Arches, a 1960s-era slump block shopping center.

Developer Tony Wall said the project will become a contemporary landmark that features shops on the street level. It’s a place where people can live, work and recreate without using a car, he said, as it’s about three blocks from a future Metro light-rail station.

“It gives a cosmopolitan image to downtown,” Wall said.

A resident of the nearby Orchid House — which at seven stories is the tallest, most massive condo project downtown now — objected to the six-story platform that the towers would sit on.

“You basically are walled off on all four sides,” Mike Wasko said. “I don’t see it being inviting for you to explore.”

The council had previously decided this part of downtown shouldn’t have buildings taller than 300 feet. After Wall agreed to lower his buildings, the council approved the project 6-1. Councilwoman Shana Ellis opposed it after raising concerns about having so much development on one block.

The council required Wall to work with the family that owns Restaurant Mexico after hearing from fans of the longtime downtown eatery. Another redevelopment project forced it from a location on Mill Avenue, and it’s unclear if the family will want to move again. But the City Council made a major point of making Wall ensure the family will have a place in his project or some other place if they want to stay open.

By cutting the project’s height, the city still has the East Valley’s tallest building. That’s Centerpoint Condominiums, a four-tower project a few blocks northwest of University Square that has three 30-story towers planned at 343 feet.

One sticking point remains for University Square and Centerpoint. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether the buildings would be a hazard to flights departing from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.