The developer of an affordable housing project along the Metro light rail line in Tempe has scaled the development back again as it tries to win over opponents from two historic neighborhoods.
Gracie’s Village is now slated to rise three stories along Apache Boulevard with a small area for a fourth floor, compared with an original plan for six floors. But neighbors still attacked the idea, saying the project would tower over their neighborhood on Apache and near McClintock Drive.
So many opponents spoke at a Tempe City Council meeting last Thursday that the council decided minutes before midnight to postpone taking a vote until June 14.
Grace Community Church owns the 2-acre site where it proposes to raze Gracie’s thrift store. Wisconsin-based Gorman and Company would build a residential building that would include retail space for Gracie’s.
Gorman initially proposed a six-story, 75-unit project that became a four-story, 50-unit development. Many residents said they only recently discovered some of the most recent changes and didn’t have time to study the new proposal.
Mayor Hugh Hallman frequently engaged with opponents to point out the developer had met many of the demands some neighbors made early on, only to get more pushback.
Gail Martelli has lived near Gracie’s 25 years and told Hallman residents have also become upset over how the City Council has dealt with them.
“You have been badgering and interrupting the neighbors,” she said.
Hallman said he and other members of the council worked years ago to help designate the neighborhood historic and to reduce density along Apache. The site would have allowed 50 units per acre in some circumstances had the council not stepped in years ago, Hallman said.
Many residents oppose the 42-foot height on a part of the building that will be far away from homes. Hallman said redevelopment is inevitable. He warned that another developer could build even more units than Gorman proposes under the city’s zoning.
“Nothing is not an option here,” Hallman said. “What you’ll end up with is a 35-(foot-tall) stick and stucco, two-story apartment complex 10 feet from the back wall and there will be nothing you can do about it. And I think that’s a disaster for our community.”
Hallman said some residents were being hypocritical for previously wanting affordable housing and social services, only to now say those things will hurt their neighborhood.
Gracie’s Village would be open only to residents with low or moderate incomes, between about $18,000 and $52,000. Gorman attorney Manjula Vaz said a project like this is important because it provides housing for people such as teachers, food service workers and others who work in Tempe but can’t afford to live there.
Because of a legal protest by adjacent property owners, Gracie’s Village requires six out of seven votes from the City Council to win approval. Without the protest, it could be approved with just four votes.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6548 or ggroff@evtrib.com
Iss posted at 1:15 am on Tue, Aug 7, 2012.
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AnotherVoice posted at 12:30 am on Wed, Jun 6, 2012.
It would be nice to see accurate information provided at some point, maybe even a little balance.
Even the article title begs the question, making it sound as if the neighborhoods do not understand the need for affordable housing.
But do the numbers. As originally allocated our federal tax dollars, the 75 unit proposal would receive $21.7 million from our pockets. That is $290,000 per unit. And that is not the full cost of the units but only the part of the construction that can be depreciated once built. Is that right? Is that part of why our taxes keep going up? It sort of begs the question, what is affordable about this?
The original proposal included providing showers to the homeless twice per week. Is that the way to help develop a vibrant new retail environment along Apache and to attract other developments to the area to build the live/work/play vision for a modern light-rail focused community of people and business that want to inhabit the corridor? Keep in mind that this is the first project in the area. What a start.
The original proposal started at 75 feet and 75 units. That is 215% of the maximum height and 187.5% of the maximum number of units allowed under the current zoning. And the current zoning was only put in place in 2005, with an eye toward what would be needed to make the light-rail corridor work. Before 2005 the zoning conditionally would allow only 8 units on a site of the same size in the area. The increase in value given properties in these areas in 2005 was then a compromise concession by the neighborhoods, it was negotiated. It was to set the maximum in order to see a better Apache, a better Tempe, and yes, better neighborhoods.
An the article echos the claims of the mayor that "site would have allowed 50 units per acre in some circumstances had the council not stepped in years ago". The facts speak differently.
The article also echos the criticism that the neighborhoods used to be concerned about the height and density, but are only giving "more pushback" now that those have been reduced. No. The other issues have been there, and expressed, from the beginning. It is just that the height and density were so outrageous they were the easiest to address, and the most urgently needed focus.
What is much, much more of concern is that in February 2011 the City of Tempe signed a certified statement that 74 units was at the time allowed on the site and so would be allowed to the project on this site. That scale is not even allowed under the existing Master Plan. The Master Plan was approved by a 75% majority in 2003. What sort of government ignores what its citizen have said and certifies, in writing, that they will allow something that so greatly exceeds what the citizens have said, as guidance to be used by our government, is the maximum limits on growth through the year 2030? And do so with the first project that tries to locate into the area? Is anyone reporting on the apparent violations in state law involved here?
Give me a break, please. A 35 foot stick and mortar building 10 feet from the back wall ! No one that has read the design guidelines for the Apache area transportation district, or the limits on maximum setback or require rear stepback, or that understands the economics of developing commercial space with the requirement that parking must be in the rear in this area could place any respect in such statements being made. Please, give me a break.
Is reporting supposed to serve only to be a mouthpiece of those that are determined to ignore what is in the best interests of Tempe, of the future of this area of Apache, and of the adjacent neighborhoods? The issues may have started with excessive scale, with impacts on the future of this major corridor and major opportunity for Tempe, but the hidden behaviors that have been brought to light had added to the issues. The actions of the government only encourage those behind the project to not negotiate in good faith with the neighborhoods, not until the scale of the opposition and protest became obvious to them. They have almost come to what should have been the starting point for all party to try to find the right way to make the best win-win, but that happens in a last minute announcement at the start of the "second and final" public hearing at the Council? Speak of proper process, of community involvement, or respect for others and their concerns !
And why is nothing not an option here? Is not the role of our government to do the best thing for the City, to respect and uphold the law and the expressed wishes of the citizens? Should not all outcomes be in the running until the proper solution is found? Why does the mayor believe that nothing is not an option? It might be the best option, including for the property owner and their future possibilities with the property.
Juggernaut8000 posted at 1:08 pm on Tue, Jun 5, 2012.
Projects like this will cause this crime rate to dramatically increase and the previous occupants in the area will move away.
Whoever decided this project should be forced to live in the builidng with their whole family so they can enjoy the full spectrum of crime these buildings harbor.
DrJCA1 posted at 11:09 am on Tue, Jun 5, 2012.
The ultimate insult to those of us who can afford to live in nice places is putting low income housing near our homes. You live where you can afford to. It makes us folks who have studied and worked hard for many decades very angry at this kind of PC garbage. Perhaps the government at some level should subsidize me living in a multi-million dollar house somewhere because I can "only" afford a half-million dollar house. I used to be very liberal, but as I grow older, I become more conservative because I'm fed up with those who have-not demanding part of my money to give them things they cannot afford. Taking anyone's money without their permission is called theft and just because the govenment does it, does not make it right or legal. Sooner or later this stupidity from our elected leaders will drive us affluent folks out of this country. Thousands have already left.