By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX
Overland Group, Inc. is looking to develop a horizontally integrated mixed-use project with commercial and residential uses on a vacant 22.6-net acre property at the NWC of Avondale Boulevard and McDowell Road in Avondale.
The developer recently submitted a request to the city for a Freeway Corridor Specific Plan Amendment to increase the maximum allowed building height from three stories to four stories, as well as a request to rezone the property from Agricultural to a Planned Area Development. The property, while vacant, has been mainly used for agricultural/farming purposes.
The project, known as Avondale Commons, is proposed to include a 324-unit multifamily residential component on 12.5 net acres of the site, along with supportive commercial, hospitality, retail and office uses on the other 10.1 net acres.
The Residential Portion
The project documents note the residential portion of Avondale Commons consists a mix of 128 one-bedroom, 164 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom units distributed between, “four L-shaped four-story, elevator-served multi-family buildings and eight three-story carriage buildings featuring two floors of living space above ground floor tuck-under garages.”
Indoor and outdoor amenities are provided for the residential development including a centrally located, one-story clubhouse, resort-style pool with a lounge area and cabanas, playground spaces, pickleball and bocce ball courts, grilling areas, and free play turf areas.
The primary access into the residential development is from a right-in right-out only driveway from Avondale Boulevard and full four-way access from McDowell Road. “The Avondale Commons project is designed around a private spine road and roundabout that loops through the property, connecting the project’s primary Avondale Boulevard access to the site’s primary McDowell Road access,” the documents state. “The spine road serves as the delineator between the PAD’s commercial district, located on the eastern half of the site, and the multifamily residential area on the western half.”
Resident parking is accommodated in the tuck-under garages as well as in one-story garages and canopy-covered spaces. Uncovered spaces will be provided as well bringing a total of 608 parking spaces to the development.
The development also utilizes 27 percent of open space and promotes walkability and connectivity to all development areas.
The Commercial Portion
The commercial portion of the mixed-use development includes restaurant, retail, medical and professional offices and hospitality uses.
While the site plan shows a potential configuration of the buildings, the documents state that exact sizes and configuration will not be determined until users identified.
“Though the specific layout may change, key design considerations that will be carried through to any future site plan for the property include, but are not limited to, the siting of buildings along the site’s McDowell Road frontage such that the buildings screen parking behind, siting of buildings on both sides of the central spine to create a walkable main street commercial area, clustering of commercial buildings to create courtyards or other meaningful open spaces between them, and provision of a plaza area to accommodate outdoor dining and create a focal point at the intersection of Avondale Boulevard and McDowell Road.”
Because of the Mixed-Use designation, the developer agreed to limit construction of the residential portion to 50 percent until construction begins on the commercial portion so the project can be developed concurrently.
The City of Avondale heard both requests at its August 18th Planning Commission meeting.
