By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX
Developer, MILHAUS, is planning its second urban mixed-use community in Tempe, this one to be located on the south side of Apache Boulevard extending to Wildermuth and River Drive.
The first one, called MILHAUS North Tempe, is a joint venture with Banyan Residential and phase one is currently under construction. The $177M project is anticipated to be completed in early 2023.
This project, known as MILHAUS @ Apache & River, will sit on seven total parcels. According to the project documents the site is currently underutilized and contains a vacant industrial building and automotive business, an existing RV Park, and a few vacant residences. The purpose is to, “transform small, underutilized properties along the Apache Boulevard light rail corridor into a fun, urban living environment comprised of a mix of residential, employment, retail and amenity uses.”
MILHAUS @ Apache & River will include a four-story mixed-use building at the Apache Boulevard frontage and a four-story multifamily residential building along River Drive and Wildermuth Avenue. The project will house 219 units comprised of a mix of 31 studio, 117-one, and 71-two-bedroom units. Five street-level units along Apache Boulevard will be live-work space providing approximately 1.5KSF of space.
Twenty-nine of the residential units in the apartment building will have private and secured garages, while all units will include a private balcony or patio. The live-work units will feature covered patios with low decorative walls for visual interest to the streetscape.
The project will also include a 590 square foot retail/coffee shop space along Apache Boulevard and a 4.2KSF lobby and leasing office. “The project’s incorporation of live-work units, retail/coffee shop space and/or walkout residential units at street level…combined with a vibrant street frontage design that includes shaded seating, will bring an inviting and pedestrian friendly environment to this section of Apache Boulevard light rail corridor,” the project documents state.
Amenities provided for the development include a fitness center, pool and spa with pool deck patio, game lawn, barbeque area, dog washing station and park, and bicycle repair station.
The development will provide approximately 260 parking spaces including 212 courtyard spaces and 48 spaces within the private garages. A hundred and thirty-three of the courtyard spaces will be covered. Seven spaces will be tandem and in front of garage units. Sixteen on-street spaces and 212 bicycle parking spaces will also be provided.
According to the documents, most of the parking will be located behind buildings, screened from street view.
The project is set to go before the City of Tempe’s Development Review Commission today. MILHAUS is requesting a Zoning Map Amendment from Commercial Shopping and Service and R-4 Multifamily Residential General, to Mixed-Use High Density. They are also requesting a Planned Area Development Overlay, a Use Permit to allow tandem parking spaces and Development Plan Review Approval.
The City Council will have its first public hearing for the project on June 24th and is expected to have a second hearing on July 1st.