By BEX Staff for AZBEX
Aspirant Development wants to build a two-tower mixed-use project with 539 apartments and 7.3KSF of ground-floor restaurant space on 3.66 acres near Rural Road and University Drive in Tempe.
According to news reports, the developer paid $16M for two parcels that will combine into one to create the community, which is currently being called 955 E Mixed-Use.
The towers will be 18 stories and 16 stories under the current proposal. The planned unit mix calls for 156 studio units, 219 one-bedroom, 272 two-bedroom and 84 three-bedroom units.
The project will require a rezoning of the site, a planned area development overlay to set the development standards, and a development plan review for the building, landscaping and site plan. News reports list additional features including an amenity deck with a pool, green space connecting the towers, and a luxury gym. A golf simulator and other activity items are also possible.
A bar and a self-storage facility currently on the site will be demolished to make way for the new development.
The news report quotes Empire Group Partner and Head of Capital Markets Randy Grudzinski as saying the focus will be set as a high-end luxury development with rents set by market studies. “Our intent is to make it feel like the Aria in Las Vegas,” he said. “It will be the most luxurious for-rent apartment in Tempe.”
The Tempe Development Review Commission recommended the rezoning, PAD overlay and development plan review for approval in its Aug. 22 meeting. The project is scheduled to be introduced at the Sept. 9 City Council meeting and voted on at the Sept. 28. meeting.
The Empire Group of Companies/Aspirant Development is the developer. Gensler is the project design firm. The project is represented by Sender Associates, Chartered.
