Tempe Mayor Corey Woods and other City leaders recently highlighted progress in economic development, transportation and other areas during the State of the City address.
Woods acknowledged Tempe, like other cities, faces challenges on the housing and rent fronts, but praised the City’s initiatives to improve affordability. He took special steps to highlight Tempe’s “Hometown for All” initiative, which has so far raised $6M to acquire sites, remediate City-owned properties and partner with developers to create new housing.
He also praised the City’s combined historic preservation and economic development efforts, pointing out the particular challenges in rehabilitating the Hayden House as part of the 100 Mill development, and noting rehabilitation are key components of both the Tempe Depot redevelopment and the Flour Mill project.
He added new innovations are part of what will move Tempe forward, including the Tempe Streetcar project, which has experienced delays due to supply chain disruptions but will open by April 2022. Tempe is also in talks for a possible extension of the Streetcar project to Sloan Park in Mesa.
Councilmember Doreer Garlid spoke in a video presentation and pointed out the zero-car Culdesac Tempe multifamily development as an example of the City’s innovations in promoting alternative transportation.
Lastly, Vice Mayor Randy Keating noted the City’s growth as a hospitality hub, pointing out the developments at the Omni Hotel site on Mill and University and the VIB Tempe, which is scheduled to open this year. (Source)