Big changes are coming to the area of 12th Street and Missouri Avenue, thanks to two proposed development plans.
The first is a 20-unit condominium housing project planned for 11th Street and Missouri Avenue. The developers have purchased the two-story brick office buildings on the south side of Missouri, as well as a smaller, one-story brick office building to the west of them in the same complex. Although many of the businesses have moved out, current tenants still include three real estate companies, two medical supply companies, and a handful of independent legal and therapy offices. All the buildings will be torn down and a representative from the developer confirmed that all the mature landscaping, including more than a dozen trees, will be removed.
The project includes two-story units with two-car garages at the base, with an approximate total height of 25 feet. Units would range in size from 1,947 square feet to 2,343 square feet, and some will have the option of a rooftop patio. The developers anticipate sales above $400,000 per unit.
The “Uptowne 11” condominiums are being proposed by 1121 Missouri Development, LLC, a subsidiary of K. Hovnanian Homes. Currently the developers have a zoning change request moving through the city, which would change the underlying zoning from C-O (commercial office) to R-2 single-family attached for the 2.14 gross-acre property. The zoning request is being handled by Valley law firm Earl, Curley & Lagarde, P.C.
A community meeting about the project was held Oct. 20, and residents and business owners did express some concerns about the proposal, particularly how it would impact traffic for the neighborhood along 11th Street and where it curves west into Denton Lane; 11th Street does not go through to Missouri Avenue. Nearby businesses in the same general complex also were concerned about cut-through traffic.
However, most of the issues raised would be better addressed after the developers submit their formal development plans. Currently, the only thing being considered is the rezoning request, which goes before the Camelback East Village Planning Committee at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Devonshire Senior Center, 2802 E. Devonshire Ave. From there, it moves on to the Phoenix Planning Commission at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8, with a final vote by the Phoenix City Council at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2016.
Residents and business owners who wish to comment on the zoning change request can send comments to the Phoenix Planning Department, 200 W. Washington St., 2nd Floor, Phoenix, AZ, 85003. Reference case No. Z-55-15-6.
Many neighborhood residents were happy to see the check-cashing business at the southwest corner of 12th Street and Missouri Avenue close in 2014, but were then puzzled when the building was torn down earlier this year down. Fencing has been up for months, but few knew what was actually proposed for the now-vacant property.
Turns out, it was acquired by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, which currently has offices kitty-corner from the lot, at 1202 E. Missouri Ave. The Piper Trust also recently acquired the purple-maroon building just to the south of the former check cashing store site, which was the longtime home of Imágery Skin Care and Cosmetics.
After 28 years of business inside the 1,800-square foot studio at 5340 N. 12th St., Imágery owner Denise Nahat made the decision to scale down, moving this fall to a new location right around the corner inside the Camelot Square complex at 1110 E. Missouri Ave., Ste. 110. Nahat sold her building to the Piper Trust but leased it back from them for several months before finding the right “fit” for her new location.
Piper Trust officials say they are now ready to move forward with their plans, which include remodeling the building for additional office space and turning the vacant lot into a well-landscaped, attractive parking area. Officials say the permitting process has begun, however, no signs have been posted as yet for rezoning or other changes that might require city approval.
