By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
An outdated and poorly performing Embassy Suites hotel on 3.79 acres on East Thomas Road between 24th Street and the Grand Canal could soon become a 200-unit multifamily complex under a planned unit development request submitted to the Phoenix Planning Department last week.
Commercial uses lie to the north, east and west of the 2333 Thomas property, according to the submittal. The Arizona Grand Canal sits to the south, and there is a single-family residential neighborhood beyond that. One of the two parcels making up the property is the hotel, which will be converted, while the other consists of a parking area, which will remain.
The property lies on the planned Bus Rapid Transit route for Thomas Road, and the proposal cites providing more affordable housing options along the route as one of its goals. Another stated goal, in addition to increasing the Phoenix housing supply, is to provide connections between the site and the Arizona Grand Canal. The City of Phoenix completed a bridge replacement project at 24th Street in the immediate area of the proposed project in early 2020.
The Grand Canalscape, a showcase project to develop a convenient canal pedestrian and bicycle path from central Phoenix to Tempe, was completed in late 2019 and should serve as an amenity for residents of 2333 Thomas, if approved and built.
The planned unit mix for 2333 Thomas consists of 194 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units. The exterior of the building will be repainted and undergo other, non-structural improvements and renovations to enhance its appearance. In the interior, each unit will be upgraded to apartments and will receive new flooring, updated bathrooms, improved kitchens, air conditioning and new paint.
Common spaces will be updated to provide amenities, including a pool area, clubhouse and fitness center. A rooftop deck and outdoor gathering space are also planned.
(CUT THIS PARAGRAPH IN ONLINE VERSION) The owner is Thomas 24 JL LLC. The developers are Unified CRE Partners, LLC and Harc Holdings. CCBG Architects, Inc. is the architect, and the project is represented by Withey Morris, PLC.
