7 minute read
CRE
Sterling Grove in Surprise, Arizona
Landscape Trends in COVID-Era Residential Development
The year 2020 brought so many challenges, yet so many great stories. Isolation from lockdown simply reinforced our need for community and desire for social connections. “Netflix and chill” gave way to a beautiful spring where tree-lined pathways through community greenbelts were filled with joggers and bikers. Pet adoptions were at alltime highs, and the development of dog parks and pet-friendly spaces provided a great opportunity to get outside and bond with fellow pet owners in a socially distanced manner.
While our beautiful Arizona climate allows for year-round outdoor activities, one thing is certain: Shade is still a premium feature in the desert landscape. Whether it be shade cabañas around a resort-style community pool or arbor-covered al fresco dining areas equipped with BBQ grills and other outdoor kitchen amenities, being able to live life outdoors is best enjoyed by creating cooler microclimates within these larger community spaces. Needless to say, regardless of the landscape features that are being proposed, the addition of beautiful shade trees are an integral part of creating welcoming and livable landscape spaces.
As daytime gives way to night, large-scale fire pits equipped with comfortable seating have become a favorite place for families to gather and enjoy evening drinks or s’mores over the open fire. The flexibility of movable furniture that can be rearranged to meet the scale and dynamics of the group gathering is a huge benefit within all outdoor spaces.
Finally, any current community design that wants to incorporate more active recreation components must consider inclusion of the fastest-growing sport in the country – Pickleball. Between the relatively easy learning curve of the sport (especially for anyone who has played tennis, racquetball or table tennis in the past) and the minimal physical demands of the game, pickleball is a great sport for people of all ages who are looking for a great social sport and physical activity. The smaller play surface area of pickleball, when compared to other traditional sport court games such as tennis or basketball, makes this even more affordable in terms of construction costs and ease of fitting this feature into the community spaces.
If there is one good thing this global pandemic has revealed, it is the reaffirmation that mankind was intended to live in community. We were never designed to live in isolation; rather, we have been created to lean into community, constantly being shaped and developed by the people around us who share in our journey of life. This sense of community is vital to our health — whether it be physical, mental or spiritual — and the beginning of true community starts in our own neighborhoods and radiates out into our world. —Ryan Trudell, vice president of landscape architecture at Creative Environments (creativeenvironments.com), a Tempe-based outdoor living environments and custom landscaping company founded in 1950 GET REAL
by RaeAnne Marsh
Multifamily Development in Downtown Phoenix
JE Dunn Construction and Lincoln Ventures, an Austin-based student housing and national multifamily developer, recently broke ground on 811 N. 3rd Street, a 24-story, 326-unit multifamily development located in the heart of the arts district in Downtown Phoenix. This is Lincoln Ventures’ first multifamily development in Phoenix.
The to-be-named project will feature market-leading amenities, among which will be a ground floor coffee to cocktails concept, co-working and conference spaces with a business lounge, secure bike parking and a dog run. The rooftop pool deck will boast incredible views of Downtown Phoenix, plus an aqua lounge, grills and spa. jedunn.com • lincoln-ventures.com
New Peoria Self-Storage Facility
Glendale-based land development company Mangat Group has partnered with Aberdeen Management & Development for a locally owned and operated Arizona Self Storage facility on the southwest corner of Loop 101 and Olive Avenue in Peoria. This is Arizona Self Storage’s ninth property in the state and third in the West Valley. Construction began in late October with a year build, setting an opening for October 2022. Aberdeen Management & Development will oversee the development and ongoing operations of the facility. RKAA Architects has designed, and Campbell Development will build. mangatgroupinvestment.com • selfstoragesolutions.com
Denver-based Comunale Properties and Stevens-Leinweber Construction recently broke ground on Chandler Connection, a 201,000-square-foot, mid-bay Class A industrial project within the booming Chandler Airport industrial submarket in Chandler, Arizona. The project, which is located at 2411 E. Germann Road, between Gilbert and Cooper roads, is Comunale’s first ground-up industrial development in Arizona. It is slated for completion during second quarter 2022.
Butler Design Group serves as the project architect for Chandler Connection. Ken McQueen and Chris McClurg from Lee & Associates are the development’s exclusive leasing brokers. comunaleproperties.com • bit.ly/lee-germann
Tri Pointe Homes Adding New Homes in Three Metro Phoenix Communities
Toyota Financial Services Center Opens with Regional Design and LEED Cert
In our hot housing market where low inventories are a big part of the problem, Tri Pointe Homes (which served the Phoenix market for more than 25 years under the name Maracay®) has acquired 210 homesites on which it plans to build new homes in three communities across the Phoenix metro area. The land purchases in Chandler and San Tan Valley fit the homebuilder’s growth strategy and focus on areas with convenient access to major transportation and employment corridors, as well as educational centers and consumer attractions.
Tri Pointe Homes acquired 86 homesites in Chandler on almost 26 acres that formerly served as a plant nursery. On tap for the new community, Treeland, are nursery-inspired community gardens and greenspaces as well as easy access to employment centers and the restaurants and high-end retail of the Ocotillo area. Development is anticipated to start in late 2021, with an opening expected in 2023.
Less than 14 miles to the east in San Tan Valley, Tri Pointe Homes acquired 52 homesites for development into a new neighborhood in Oro
Toyota Financial Services Experience Center West was recently completed. Located in Allred Park Place at 1650 S. Price Road in Chandler, Arizona, TFS West is a 56,219-square-foot workplace organized into neighborhoods with a variety of spaces to support employees’ unique work styles and changing needs. Focus zones, formal meeting environments and informal collaboration spaces provide flexible and dynamic options for various work types. The office contains individual seating for 300 employees and features exposed ceilings to facilitate an open, bright and functional space. The design incorporates sound mitigation strategies that include acoustical wall treatments and sound-reducing 3form Clario Clouds.
Award-winning international design firm Ware Malcomb partnered with TFS to provide design services for the consolidation of 29 locations into three regional experience centers – West, Central, and East. The firm also provided design services for the East experience center located in Alpharetta, GA. For these locations, the aesthetics needed to reflect the natural professionalism of Toyota’s brand yet align with a regional design expression.
Providing workplace strategy, interior architecture and branding services for the West experience center, Ware Malcomb utilized nature-inspired materials such as stone, wood and greenery for a coastal aesthetic, creating a biophilic connection between people and nature. The general contractor for the project was Hardison/Downey Construction, Inc.
TFS has spent decades curating lasting relationships with customers and dealers while striving for quality, convenience and consistency. Consolidating the U.S. dealer service operations will enable TFS to increase efficiency and elevate customer and employee experience.
The Experience Center West project achieved LEED v4 ID+C: CI, Gold Level certification. Ware Malcomb worked in collaboration with Verde, the sustainability consultant, to execute strategic goals focused on minimizing Ridge. Backed by the stunning San Tan Mountain Range, the community is expected to include a trail system and pocket parks, and will offer easy access to East Valley commercial and entertainment centers such as Schnepf Farms. Development by Tri Pointe Homes is underway with sales anticipated to start in 2022.
Lastly, Tri Pointe Homes’ approximately 27-acre acquisition, also in San Tan Valley, is slated to become a 72-homesite neighborhood in the second phases of the master-planned community of Bella Vista Farms. Anticipated to open in 2023, the community offers easy access to major tech employment centers and plentiful shopping, dining and entertainment options in Queen Creek.
Tri Pointe Homes builds high-performing homes with cost and environmental savings in mind through its LivingSmart® program, which spans design and development to construction and the ongoing operation of a home.
Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. tripointehomes.com
waste and energy while maximizing efficiency and enhancing the health and well-being of employees and guests. Ware Malcomb’s in-house branding team designed a branded environment, signage and custom graphics for a curated tour path within the office for visitors and employees to experience a unique journey through the company’s sustainability history and mission.
hardison/downey construction, Inc. hardisondowney.com Toyota Financial Services toyotafinancial.com/us/en.html Ware Malcomb waremalcomb.com Verde verdepp.com
