Old Town visitors, residents and neighboring businesses, look up \u2013 and meet Scottsdale City Center.<\/p>\n
Though not by any means all of the piece, this is a big chunk of the massive, unprecedented \u201cScottsdale Collection\u201d approved by a razor-thin 4-3 council vote Dec. 7, 2020.<\/p>\n
Current Councilwomen Solange Whitehead and Kathy Littlefield cast two of the three votes against the project.<\/p>\n
Five years later, the 3-acre Scottsdale City Center \u2013 one of the anchors, along with the Remi Hotel, of the Yari brothers\u2019 Scottsdale Collection \u2013 rolled through a key pre-construction application with little pushback.<\/p>\n
After light questions and heavy praise, the Development Review Board unanimously approved a massive addition to the edge of Old Town.<\/p>\n
The long-planned project at Scottsdale and Camelback roads moved closer to becoming reality after the Dec. 11 meeting.<\/p>\n
The plan calls for 138 \u201cdwelling units,\u201d which may be apartments and\/or condos, and 35,000 square feet of commercial space.<\/p>\n
The tall project\u2019s short story, as provided by Greg Bloemberg, a city planner:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe proposal consists of four buildings surrounding a large, publicly accessible plaza space \u2026 A pair of two-story buildings front Scottsdale Road and Camelback Road respectively, with the taller 14-story buildings more centrally located on the site to minimize impacts from massing at the pedestrian level along the street.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parking?<\/p>\n
That will be taken care of by a six-level parking garage, \u201cwith two levels sub-grade and four levels above grade that will be concealed from off-site view by the amenity levels of the residential buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Residential units begin at the fifth level of both buildings, with the first four floors for retail\/restaurant use.<\/p>\n
The project continues the old-becomes-new transformation of Old Town.<\/p>\n
Across Scottsdale Road from Fashion Square, Scottsdale City Center will continue the Yaris\u2019 vision for the formerly modest north end of Old Town.<\/p>\n
The new project is next to Steven and Shawn Yaris\u2019 seven-story W Hotel, which they built in 2008, and the even swankier 12-story Remi Hotel, which made its debut this fall.<\/p>\n
Looking to the west, City Center residents will wave at those living at the 13-story Waterfront Towers, constructed in 2006.<\/p>\n
Five years ago, when successfully (albeit barely) pitching a plan that required zoning and \u201cbonus heights,\u201d the Yaris\u2019 Scottsdale Collection plan called for \u201cseveral buildings across 6.5 acres with a mix of uses including multi-family residential, office, restaurants and travel accommodations \u2026 ranging in height from 60 feet (three stories) to 156 feet (12 stories), consisting of up to 580,451 square feet of commercial floor area, up to 512 units of multifamily residential and the potential for a 164-room hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yari empire<\/strong><\/p>\n The Yaris\u2019 Riot Hospitality Group also runs the booming Cake, Dierks Bentley\u2019s Whiskey Row, El Hefe and Maya Day and Nightclub.<\/p>\n The brothers almost singlehandedly created the Entertainment District, carving out the long-underused northeast section of Old Town.<\/p>\n Just before the opening of the Remi, Shawn Yari told the Progress the new hotel \u201cis absolutely part of the chess game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a grand vision for this quadrant many years ago \u2013 kicked off by the development of the W.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the pitch for the Remi and City Center submitted five years ago, then revised earlier this year: \u201cThe largest owner of real estate in the area, Stockdale Capital, is looking to evolve and mature the greater Entertainment District-area into a mixed-use district.<\/p>\n \u201cArt will be the unifying theme of Scottsdale\u2019s next great neighborhood with extensive shade and buildings designed with varying heights and uses.\u201d<\/p>\n Like the Remi Hotel (originally to be called the Maya Hotel), the City Center project is part of the Scottsdale Collection rezoning.<\/p>\n The brothers\u2019 development projects stretch far from Scottsdale, into Texas and California.<\/p>\n The Yaris\u2019 Stockdale Capital Partners, according to its website, \u201cis a vertically integrated real estate investment firm headquartered in Los Angeles \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThe firm currently manages approximately $2.8 billion in gross assets under management.<\/p>\n \u2018Inspired design\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n At the Dec. 11 meeting, John Tran, a City Center architect, walked the Development Review Board through the project, emphasizing \u201cpedestrian enhancements and ways to bring people into this project.\u201d<\/p>\n He noted the open-air plaza has a large turf area, seating elements and a public art sculpture.<\/p>\n Tran promised \u201cgreat ambience for this project.\u201d<\/p>\n Tran\u2019s 10-minute presentation was followed by a few detail-oriented questions from DRB members \u2013 who then showered City Center with compliments.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is going to be a real entryway to Scottsdale,\u201d promised Ed Peaser, a board member since 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be quite an interesting, unique project. I like this project very much.”<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very inspired design,\u201d added David Mason \u2013 also on the board since 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cVery good presentation,\u201d said Barney Gonzales, a longtime Scottsdale architect and the Planning Commission representative on the board,<\/p>\n \u201cI did the construction management of the original building that is on there right now,\u201d Gonzales said, alluding to the modest office building on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Camelback. \u201cThankfully, I didn’t do the remodel.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the thing is, this area is very the most difficult spec I ever did \u2026This is very well done,\u201d he concluded, regarding the City Center plan.<\/p>\n There was no public comment on the project.<\/p>\n Adam Kwasman, the City Council representative on the DRB, did not ask any questions but joined the above-mentioned three in voting for the project.<\/p>\n Board members Jeff Brand and Ali Fakih were not present.<\/p>\n According to the staff report on Scottsdale City Center, \u201cIn addition to compliance with the International Green Construction Code, now required for all new development in Scottsdale, this project incorporates design elements that align with the City\u2019s goal of sustainability, including redevelopment of an underutilized site, refuse and recycling bins for residential units, shade canopies over storefronts on the commercial buildings, low water use\/drought tolerant landscaping, exaggerated eaves and overhangs over balconies, and high performance glazing for windows.\u201d<\/p>\n The Yari brothers\u2019 application takes it a step further:<\/p>\n \u201cLush but water-efficient desert vegetation will fill the public plaza and private amenity deck and special attention will be given to circulation along the canal, which cuts diagonally across the corner of the site, breaking the city grid and drawing people into the plaza.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Western flavor\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n The Progress asked Councilwomen Kathy Littlefield and Solange Whitehead to summarize their 2020 votes against the Scottsdale Collection \u2013 and thoughts on the project, now that the Remi Hotel is up and running and Scottsdale City Center cleared to move ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are quickly losing our reputation for a Western, low-profile, city that caters to folks who are looking for that kind of atmosphere,\u201d Littlefield responded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a unique Western flavor that is increasingly difficult to maintain.\u201d<\/p>\n Whitehead\u2019s reflection:<\/p>\n \u201cWhile beautiful, the Collection\u2019s building heights did not fit Scottsdale\u2019s Old Town character. In response, I voted on reforms that now protect Old Town\u2019s scale by lowering bonus heights and mandating open space, pedestrian connectivity and improved landscaping.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Old Town visitors, residents and neighboring businesses, look up \u2013 and meet Scottsdale City Center. 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