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Kerry Fehr-Snyder
The Arizona Republic - Aug. 11, 2006 12:00 AM
Ahwatukee Foothills' first high-rise development in
decades is months behind schedule and likely years away from
reality.
Parkhouse 50, a residential, retail and commercial
project near Interstate 10 and Chandler Boulevard, was
supposed to have begun construction months ago, with initial
phases of the project finishing in fall 2007, according to
its own promotional materials.
But so far, the 35-acre site once owned by Wal-Mart Stores
is a vacant lot. And at least one business owner interested
in leasing space and buying one of the 55 luxury condos said
he has given up on the project.
"They got all the permits and now nothing. Just crickets
chirping," said Duncan Robertson, owner of Duncan Salon in
Ahwatukee.
Robertson and his wife had wanted to relocate their salon to
Parkhouse 50 and buy one of the development's lofts to
save commuting from Maricopa, where the couple live.
Robertson said he has given up on that idea now.
"I call these guys, I e-mail these guys, and they never even
get back to me," he said. "I don't think they know what
they're doing, to tell you the truth."
Two of the project's principals, Anh Nguyen and Tom Piposar,
didn't return calls seeking comment about the delays and
referred questions to their spokeswoman, Linda Rosso.
"We may have a bit of a customer perception issue that needs
to be cleared up," Rosso said of prospective
condo
buyers such as Robertson. She said she didn't know why his
calls and e-mails haven't been answered.
Rosso said some of the project's delays have come because
the developers underestimated the amount of time it would
take to get city approval for various aspects of the
project.
"Probably to be honest with you, we got a little bit ahead
of ourselves," she said of announcing a 2006 construction
start date and a 2007 opening.
The project's zoning attorney, Larry Lazarus, said the
project is wending its way through Phoenix's development
process.
"This project is going to take several years to get done,"
Lazarus said. "It takes time."
Six 8-story buildings are planned on the site.
The project won high-rise zoning approval in April, Lazarus
said. City planners and the developers are still working on
issues involving sewer lines, flood control, fire codes and
other technical issues, Lazarus said.
The project is envisioned as an urban alternative to the
bedroom community lifestyle of Ahwatukee. Rather than living
in the community and driving elsewhere to work, residents
would be able to live in the lofts, walk to their offices in
the project, dine at restaurants during the day or night and
buy groceries all without leaving the project.
If built,
Parkhouse 50 would be Ahwatukee's first high-rise
development in years. The Best Western Grace Inn at Elliot
Road and 51st Street in the original part of Ahwatukee is 6
stories tall.
Artists' renderings of Parkhouse 50 depict an open plaza
with outdoor restaurant seating and a grocery store with a
farmers market-type setup. The project includes a total of
590,000 square feet of office space, retail shops and
restaurants. The condos would range from 900 square feet to
3,600 square feet each.
"It's a wonderful project, but it's a complicated project,
with retail, commercial, residential and open space. It's a
big deal, it's not a small undertaking," Lazarus said.
Lazarus said he doesn't expect condo sales to begin for at
least 12 to 18 months.
Among Robertson's frustrations is finding out the price of
the condos.
"If you've got what they say is this immense, wonderful
plan, you know what you're going to charge, what you're
going to be asking," Robertson said. "I'm not even bothering
thinking about it any more."
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