Multifamily Mixed-use Planned for Marana

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX 
Preliminary plans for a new multifamily, mixed-use development called The Alexander were recently recommended for approval with conditions at the Town of Marana’s June 24th Planning Commission meeting. 
Developer, Sears Financial Corporation was requesting to rezone approximately 10.74 acres at the SWC of Aerie Drive and Thornydale Road from Neighborhood Commercial to Specific Plan. They were also requesting approval of a land use category change in the Marana General Plan from Commercial to Master Plan Area. 
The Alexander, while entirely conceptual at this time according to the staff report, is expected to include a market rate, high-density multifamily development on the western part of the site, while two acres on the eastern part of the site will be reserved for a potential future phase of additional multifamily and/or commercial development. 
The documents show several proposed design configurations, with residences ranging from 211 to 266 units housed in multiple four-story buildings. Units will be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The maximum building height is 85 feet; however, staff added a condition to limit the maximum building height to 55 feet, with any additional height requiring a conditional use permit. 
While some configurations show additional residential units on the eastern portion of the site, some show one-story commercial buildings ranging in total from 16.4KSF to 19KSF. “The commercial uses could include dining establishments, retail shops, and/or office tenants,” the documents state. 
On-site amenities included in the project are a pool and spa, fitness and business center, multiple courtyards, barbeques, ramadas, storage units, garages, and a dog park. On-site parking ranges from 490 to 525 spaces. 
“A portion of the property… has been dedicated to Pima County for the construction of the extension of The Loop shared-use path along the northern bank of the Cañada del Oro Wash,” according to the project documents. “To capitalize on the natural asset adjacent to the site, The Alexander Apartments contemplates providing several buildings that will be oriented toward the CDO Wash to maximize scenic and recreational use of this vital wash/riparian area and river path amenity.” 
According to Sears Financial Corporation, Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in Q1 2021. 
Sears Financial Corporation is the owner of The Alexander and Ways Architects is the design firm. The Planning Center is the land planner on the project and Perry Engineering is the civil engineer. The general contractor is Tofel Dent Construction, LLC.