McKinley Row: will dirt turn in September?

McKinley Row, the brownstone style condominiums slated for the historic Roosevelt neighborhood look likely to break ground this September. Now taking reservations, the project is comprised of 4 separate four-story buildings facing 4th Avenue just south of Roosevelt Ave. Floorplans range from 700-1540 square feet and feature large windows accenting the high 10 or 12 ft. ceilings. Prices range from the mid $200’s for the one-bedroom units ranging up to the high $400’s for the larger floorplans. Within walking distance of the light rail, McKinley Row looks to be an affordable and welcome addition to the Roosevelt district.

If you’re interested in McKinley Row or the other new project Metro4Twelve soon to break ground in the same historic area please give us a call. Roosevelt has seen a dramatic upturn in the past 5 years, with many of the single-family homes and, in fact, entire streets renovated. With few lots available for high-density development the time may be right to make your move to this charming residential neighborhood.

W Developments LLC begins the push for Omega condominiums

In a few weeks the developer of Summit at Copper Square is set to move into their new sales office in the ground floor of the Orpheum Lofts. At that time W Developments LLC will conclude the sales of the last 31 units at the Summit and begin sales on their new project Omega. W’s new $100M 32-story development will be located at Second Avenue and Adams Street. Omega is expected to break ground in 4thQ 2007 with completion sometime in 2009. Omega will feature 214 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units starting at $400 per square foot. Residences will range from an approximate low of $300,000 for a one-bedroom and top over $1 million for a 2,400 penthouse dwelling. Unit finishes will include granite countertops, marble baths, and all-wood cabinets. Omega amenities planned are a 12th-floor pool, workout facilities, a rooftop party room and meeting rooms, and six floors of parking (the residents at Orpheum Lofts are sure to want a few of those!). More news to come once the sales office officially opens later in August.

Mercury Development pushes big plans downtown

Calder Tower, Lido on Roosevelt, and Phoenix Gateway Center. These are the plans for Mercury Development, based in central Phoenix, and they want a little of the spike in demand expected for apartments in downtown Phoenix. Currently only 1,000 units have been built since 2005 whereas a demand for over 10,000 apartment units are forecast through 2014. Smaller projects have been built or rehabbed in the market, and the Alta Phoenix Lofts are now under construction just north of the Arizona Center, but currently there are few major serious projects under development to handle the future market demand. Mercury’s principals Kim Kristoff & Virginia Senior, have backgrounds as professional architects and experience running both design firms and real estate development companies. Their current proposals would bring over 900 new units to the market in 3 locations: Calder Tower at Fourth Avenue & Van Buren @ 39 stories and 420 units; Lido on Roosevelt at Fifth & Roosevelt @ 19-stories and 380 units; and Phoenix Gateway Center at 12th St & Washington @ 8-stories and 100 units. If Mercury can get the money put in place construction of Phoenix Gateway Center could start as early as late-2007.

Profile: Metro4Twelve

th_metro4twelve-phoenix-arizona-condos-lofts-townhomes.jpg Nestled in the historic Roosevelt neighborhood on 4th Avenue just north of Fillmore St., Metro4Twelve was designed to blend into this quaint neighborhood with its arched doorways and central courtyard while providing a modern flair with interior exposed masonry walls and large windows that offer beautiful views of the surrounding neighborhood and downtown.
project: Metro4Twelve type: Townhome-style condos
location: 618 N. 4th Ave., Phoenix, AZ | 4th Ave. between Fillmore & McKinley | map
price: $400,000+
unit size: 1300-1700 sf | All units are 2 bedroom
community size: 12 units
year built: Construction planned to begin Fall 2007
developer: MacyMetro Development
architect: Michael Underhill
general contractor: Urban Edge Builders
details & features: Masonry/block construction | Stainless steel appliances | Granite countertops | Large, high performance low E windows | Townhome-style, 2 and 3-story units available | 2-car parking | Private yard (per plan) | Loft (per plan) | Balconies (per plan) | Wood flooring (per plan)
neighborhood: Downtown Phoenix | Historic Roosevelt neighborhood | ‘Next door’ to Palatte and Cibo Pizzeria | Within blocks of Roosevelt Row, shopping, restaurants, & entertainment | Walk to future light-rail stations | Easy access to I-10

Profile: PRD845

Everyone knows that “green’s the thing” but some builders had the environment in mind before the concept became de rigueur. Greenroof Development has built their flagship green development PRD845 in a prime location with views of the city and easy access to the roads and highways that make life just that much easier. Move-in ready, PRD845 combines modern design and great pricing within a short walk from FQ Story and Roosevelt Historic Districts. So, if downtown’s in your mix and contemporary urban fits your aesthetic, give me a call and we’ll take a little green tour down Roosevelt.

As a ‘green’ built community, PRD845 has specific design features not found in any other project in downtown Phoenix. Throughout PRD845 you will find renewable/recyclable and non-traditional materials such as the Avonite countertops. The exterior surface of PRD845 includes a corrugated cement board cladding using rainscreen technology. This ventilated and self-drying rainscreen provides advanced moisture protection that results in a better performing, healthier, more breathable building for you to live in.

Always indecisive on my favorite PRD845 features, today it is the large insulated, low E windows throughout. The windows provide a variety of beautiful views from the city to the neighborhood to the skyline while providing natural light and creating an openness rarely found inside units in Phoenix. The specifically chosen size and placement of the windows minimize the impact of our desert sun. Since there are just too many features to pick favorites though, I’ll just let you play the game once you step inside. There are just 3 units left so, while “green” is here to stay, the PRD845 tours will soon be history.

project:PRD845
type: Townhome-style condos
location: 777 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, AZ | SE corner of 8th Ave. & Roosevelt St. | map
price: $247,800+
unit size: 934-2140
community size: 12 units
year built: Ready for move-in
developer: Green Roof Development Co.
architect: Studio Ma
general contractor: Urban Edge Builders
details & features: Gated Community | Green and non-traditional building materials throughout | Avonite countertops (manufactured from recycled material) | Concrete floors (1st level) | Upstairs laundry | Modern design | Large, high performance low E windows | One-car garage + Additional covered parking
neighborhood: Downtown Phoenix | Walk to shopping, restaurants, & entertainment | Easy access to I-10

Profile: Roosevelt 11

Want to buy a new condo in downtown Phoenix, but not interested in “apartment-style” living? Roosevelt 11 offers town-home style units at prices lower than any other new project downtown…ranging from $279,900 to $369,900. The high-quality of materials (steel and concrete) and standard features (polished concrete floors and stainless steel appliances) make this project standout. Each unit has its own yard and over-sized one-car garage. Move-in expected in September…only 6 units remain, so don’t miss out!
project: Roosevelt 11 type: Townhome-style condos
location: 930 N. 9th St., Phoenix, AZ | SW corner of 9th Street and Roosevelt St. | map
price: $279,900-399,900
unit size: 1200-1500 sf | 1 & 2 bedroom floorplans available
community size: 11 units
year built: Under construction - completion expected 1st Quarter. 2008
developer: Sam Greene & Allan Gutkin
architect: Michael Underhill
general contractor: Urban Edge Builders
details & features: Masonry/block construction | GE Profile stainless steel appliances | Polished concrete floors | Modern design | Large, high performance low E windows | Townhome-style, each unit is 3 levels | Individual oversized one-car garage | Individual yard
neighborhood: Downtown Phoenix | Historic Garfield neighborhood | Within blocks of Roosevelt Row, shopping, restaurants, & entertainment |
Walk to future light-rail stations | Easy access to I-10Sales by: Durnford Group LLC

Profile: Palmaire Condominiums

If you are a fan of mid-century modern architecture, then you’ll want to get your hands on a unit at Palmaire Condominiums. This 1960s Palm Springs style apartment complex is currently undergoing an extensive remodel and conversion into 18 condominium units. I am always skeptical about condo conversion projects and find few projects that I will give a fervent thumbs-up. But Palmaire is one project, that in my book, was made to be remodeled and converted to condominiums. The smaller, intimate community (18 units); sand-blasted block walls; bamboo floors; landscaping; and the prices are the biggest pros for me. My only complaint…downtown Phoenix needs a project like Palmaire.

project: Palmaire Condominiums type: Condo conversion
location: 1630 E. Georgia Ave., Phoenix, AZ | 16th Street, North of Camelback Road | map
price: $199,000-325,000
unit size: 950-1400 sf | 1, 2, & 3 bedroom floorplans available
community size: 18 units
year built: Originally built in 1960s - conversion/remodel in process
developer: Ryan Spiekerman
details & features: Block construction | Bamboo floors | Low E windows | Large patios/balconies | Walk-in master closet
amenities: Community pool | Fitness center | BBQ area with covered cabana | Bicycle storage
neighborhood: Biltmore
area | Within blocks of shopping, restaurants, & entertainment |
Easy access to Hwy 51 | Across the street for city park

Green Standards still debated but coming to a location near you!

From MSNBC.com - Going Green:

Want to go green? Take your thoughts off that gas-guzzling SUV for a moment and consider this: The average U.S. home causes twice as much greenhouse emissions as a single car.

That’s right. A typical house requires power for heating, air conditioning, hot water and lighting — enough to cause the emission of tons of polluting carbon gases each year. A typical house is responsible for the emission of more than three tons of carbon annually, compared with about 1.5 tons for the typical car, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

So it shouldn’t be a surprise that green home building is poised to be the next great sales pitch in America’s environmental renaissance. By 2010, half of new homes built are expected to be classified as “green” as more builders try to appeal to consumers worried about global warming, the environment and rising energy costs. Builders say green homes are more durable and tend to sell much faster than traditionally built houses.

But how do you tell if a “green” home is truly green?

For the full article:
Prepare for confusion - Going Green

Palmcroft apartments go poof! Hello Encanto Parkside.

The Palmcroft apartments at 15th Ave & McDowell Rd. went to dust in preparation for the planned Encanto Parkside townhouse complex. The 87-unit four-story upscale units are seen as a dramatic improvement from the drugs and crime infiltration that had recently darkened the doorways of the apartments. Located in the Encanto-Palmcroft Historic District, the 1940’s complex was originally built as inexpensive housing for returning GI’s, and while preservationists tried to keep the apartments as a homage to Phoenix’s past, the developer Scott Haskins saw the existing structures as a lost cause and moved forward with residential structures more inline with the upscale nature of the area.

Haskins elaborates, “The Encanto-Palmcroft neighborhood is a treasure in the heart of Phoenix. With Imagination and creativity, we are replacing tired, worn-out apartment buildings that had minimal historic value and destabilized the neighborhood with first-class, modern residences. I want this neighborhood to rejuvenate McDowell Road as a gateway to downtown, while enhancing property values of the surrounding neighborhood.

The Development will include ground-floor commercial spaces, gated access, underground parking, and community facilities. Construction is slated to begin in early 2008, with completion expected mid-2009. Sales prices are expected to range from $400-900K. Local architects Virginia Senior and Kim Kristoff of SRK Architects are designing the project.