High-rise developers may build condos as high as 250 feet in one of the oldest pockets of Phoenix, just south of the heart of downtown.
Phoenix officials last week rezoned about six blocks out of the city's Warehouse District into the Downtown Core district.
"We didn't lose any historic buildings (with the transfer)," said Councilman Doug Lingner, adding that the Warehouse District is ultimately supposed to become an entertainment zone.
He said this step gets the city closer to the mix of retail and residential that's needed to create the vibrant, 24/7 downtown that city officials have been craving.
The Warehouse District was created to preserve the historic character and varied architecture in that section of the city. There are about 40 warehouses remaining in the area that runs roughly from Madison to Lincoln streets between Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street.
The City Council's decision requires developers to have a site plan approved by a planning hearing officer within three years, and then begin construction on their project within three years after the City Council approves that plan.
City officials delayed addressing height throughout the rest of the district until March 7. Buildings there are now capped at 56 feet, or 80 feet with a waiver. The debate now is over what the trade-off should be with developers to preserve the remaining buildings.
