By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
The Tempe Development Review Commission earlier this week recommended approval of a development plan review and planned area development overlay for a 72-unit live-work multifamily project called Minima Apartments at 5454 S. Beck Ave.
Located southwest of Priest Drive and Baseline Road, the live-work community from developer Ridgeway Investments will also include 4,825SF of commercial space. Five of the seven two-story residential buildings are situated around a central amenity area, while two will stand along the eastern edge of the irregularly shaped 2.9-acre vacant parcel.
The site was previously entitled in 2005 for a mixed-use condominium development that was never built, according to the staff report. It has remained vacant ever since. Surrounding uses include an outdoor storage site to the north, multifamily to the east, single-family residential and utility uses to the south and a self-storage/mini-warehousing development to the west. The Highline Canal trail system lies further to the west.
To help create a walkable environment and connect properties to the north and south, the developer plans to install a sidewalk along Beck Avenue, according to the submitted project information. There are also several walking paths planned throughout the development to connect the units and the on-site amenities, which include a pool, ramada and other lounging areas. Plans also call for an office/clubhouse building of nearly 5KSF.
The Minima plan has been under consideration since 2023 and has gone through a total of six reviews, the report says, adding, “The length of the project review timeline was due in part to a change in applicant group and site ownership.” It was first presented to the DRC in February 2023.
According to the submitted information, “The project team has been working with the City of Tempe staff to design the project with a high level of design, function and safety. With safety in mind, the building orientation has changed, gates have been added, additional walls are included and pedestrian pathways have been located to ensure access internal to the Project… In addition, the Applicant’s proposal creates a community where residents can live and work with two-bedroom units and office/retail areas included in the project.”
Planned density for all two-bedroom development is 25 units/acre, which is the maximum permitted. Planned parking spaces match the required total of 142. No designated spaces are planned for the office/retail component. There will be a total of 55 bicycle parking spaces, while the minimum requirement is 52. Building heights are planned at 50 feet.
Regarding the development’s aesthetic, the submittal says, “The residences and commercial space of 5454 S Beck have been organized around a large central amenity space on the east side, and additional residences along a greenbelt along the west side. The commercial space is located along Beck Street, designed to be a prominent feature of the entire development. The residences have been designed with strong minimalist architectural features on the front and back to enable the forms to have strong articulation along the street. This is a bypassed parcel, and this unique architecture will strongly complement the existing neighborhood.”
The property owner is Flats at Beck Ave LLC. Ridgeway Investments is the developer. The design firm is Legacy Drafting and Design. The owner, developer and design firm are all based in Utah. R.B. Williams & Associates, Inc. is the engineer. Landscape design is by Everett Landscape Architecture. The project representative is Withey Morris Baugh, PLC. Y2K Engineering prepared a parking study in 2023.
