Warehouse developer looks to sue Phoenix over Suns parking lot
Downtown warehouse developer Michael Levine is upset with the city of Phoenix and Phoenix Suns over demolition of building near US Airway Center and plans to use the parcel as surface parking lot. He wants the area to be more pedestrian friendly. Mike Sunnucks Senior Reporter- Phoenix Business Journal Maverick warehouse developer Michael Levine plans on taking the city of Phoenix to court over a municipal board’s approval Thursday of plans from the Phoenix Suns to turn a downtown parcel into a parking lot. Phoenix’s Board of Adjustment approved a Suns permit petition for a surface parking lot just west of US Airways Center. The property is owned by the Suns. The team bought two parcels next to the arena in 2007 that housed two small brick buildings that were small motels first built in the early 20th century. The Suns tore down one of those buildings. The team wants to use the lot for parking for games and events at the arena. Levine — who owns several downtown warehouses and properties near the arena and Chase Field — said the adjustment board should not have approved the Suns parking lot permit because plans failed to comply with city codes and Thursday’s process did not follow proper procedures. Levine said he will take legal steps in Maricopa Superior Court to try to undo the city approval and the parking lot plans. He is owner of redevelopment firm Levine Machine LLC. The Suns did not respond to a request for comment. |
DOWNTOWN PHOENIX MIGHT GET A NEW OBSERVATION TOWER AT 400 FT TALL BY 2015:And thus join the likes of Seattle with the Space needle, St louis with the Arch and others as well.
Theres also an article about this in the Most recent issue of PHOENIX MAGAZINE. Im not opposed to most of anything getting built, But I do question the height. THE HEIGHT SHOULD BE WAY MORE THAN 400 FT. TALL! The chase tower being higher at 483 ft. would "BLOCK SOME OF ITS OBSERVATION!!!! ":shrug: |
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Where exactly they come up with the numbers, I have no idea. But its not like it really matters, there's rarely demand for buildings in PHX to go over 300', much less 500'. |
More specifically it's about the clearway and climb gradient required by an airplane with an engine failure on departure. Everything in aviation is about planning for the worst case scenario. Also, Sky Harbor still has hopes of adding a 4th runway on the north side (even closer to downtown) where Honeywell currently sits. I would assume the FAA limits are set with this future expansion in mind.
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It would be exciting for this to be a reality. Now we wait for permits????
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Bank of America tower in midtown Phoenix sold for nearly $15 million
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IF I remember correctly, the FAA has NO power to stop a building. It is a recommendation to avoid being a hazard, and generally not a good idea to build hazards, but I believe the FAA can't actually prevent building... I suppose they can however sue. I think this topic came up in the early 2000s when things were booming. |
^It has the same effect. If the FAA declares it a 'hazard', it's impossible to get insurance for either construction or the finished product.
I'm still trying to figure out how they got around it for the Stratosphere in LV. |
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guy who was one of the managers of the Phoenix Planning Department that I had been led to, while I was questioning another guy from the same Department about Downtown Phoenix getting something that STICKS-OUT and Iconic. He told me that some Private developer is planning this observation tower project project. Thats where I got the PHOENIX MAGAZINE , that has articles about this project. BARNES&NOBLE normally carries this magazine, or even any FRY FOOD STORES also carries this magazine. Check those places out! |
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I'm not very optimistic about this tower even getting built but if they really are serious then they really need to move it somewhere else where they can build taller. It's an observation tower and I never even heard of one being that short (except for the Sunsphere). There are certain spots in Downtown where you can build around 600 something feet and that would be the perfect height for a potential new landmark.
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They are trying to tie it into other attractions though I believe and that's why this spot makes sense, right in Heritage Square, by the Science Center. It would be a bit odd if it was just in the middle of a neighborhood or next to office towers.
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Ahwatukee
Hi guys,
So I live in Ahwatukee; and I thought Id mention some new housing developments sprouting up down here. Whats interesting is that they are apartments/ condos or densely packed single family homes with smaller yards. They are also smaller developments, 20 houses here a dozen condos there. None of this huge master planned stuff like eastmark(I think that's what its called) out in Mesa And they are being built in lots that have normally been passed over through leapfrog development over the last 20 years. I think its encouraging to see new housing developments/ increasing density in existing suburbs instead of places like San Tan or Maricopa. Of course it might just be the natural constraints in the area as all the available land has been gobbled up already. But, seeing new development is always good for the city's economy and proof of all the recent Job growth in our area. Cheers! |
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Hopefully we'll also eventually see some of those nasty strip centers redeveloped into something nicer. Ahwatukee, for all its many flaws (I grew up there from K-8, I know it well), has some things going for it. I do wish though that it least had a couple walkable blocks, a main street that gave it its own center, and sense of place. |
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I will literally never understand. |
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